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Provost Announcements

Appointment of Interim Associate Provost for Digital Education and Teaching Innovation

January 6, 2023

I hope each of you had an enjoyable and rejuvenating Winter Break. 

I am pleased to announce that Audra Longert will join the University of Pittsburgh as Interim Associate Provost for Digital Education and Teaching Innovation on January 9. As has been discussed at Council of Deans meetings, there is a current, urgent need to advance online education at Pitt strategically and efficiently. Audra will help us build momentum in online education and better coordinate the University’s approach.

Michael Colaresi: Associate Vice Provost for Data Science

December 19, 2022

Dear Colleagues, 

I am delighted to announce that Dr. Michael Colaresi, the William S. Dietrich II Professor of Political Science and the Research and Academic Director for the Institute for Cyber Law, Policy, and Security, will step into a new role at the University. Effective January 1, he will serve as Associate Vice Provost for Data Science. 

In-state Students to Receive Additional Relief Funding from the Commonwealth

August 24, 2022

Dear Colleagues,

Today, all in-state graduate and undergrade students (all campuses) will receive an email informing them that the University of Pittsburgh will distribute $7.5 million to more than 20,000 in-state students on all five campuses. These funds represent 100% of Pitt’s one-time state allocation of COVID-19 relief money that was recently granted by Governor Tom Wolf’s office. 

Leadership Transitions

August 4, 2022

Dean James R. Martin, the U.S. Steel Dean of the Swanson School of Engineering, has shared with me his decision to accept a new role as Vice Chancellor for STEM Research and Innovation in the Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Research. In his new role, Dr. Martin will work to help integrate our STEM programs and leverage their collaborative potential and build pipelines to further diversify the student body and faculty in STEM. Senior Vice Chancellor Rutenbar and I are grateful for his willingness to take on this important task.

Rick Esch Appointed President of Pitt-Bradford/Pitt-Titusville

July 1, 2022

Dear Colleagues,

I am very pleased to share with you that I have appointed Rick Esch to serve as president of Pitt-Bradford/Pitt-Titusville, effective July 1, 2022. As you may know, Rick has served as interim president since July 2021. 

Rick began his career at Pitt-Bradford in 1995 as the director of auxiliary services. In 1999, he was named chief business and administrative affairs officer and was promoted to vice president for business affairs in 2003. In 2012, he was also named vice president for business affairs at Pitt-Titusville.