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Provost Announcements

Laurie Kirsch Transition

February 3, 2020

Dear Colleagues:

For the past 27 years, Laurie J. Kirsch has provided exceptional and transformative service to the University of Pittsburgh.

Throughout her time at Pitt, Laurie has deeply engaged with its faculty—first as a faculty member herself in the Katz Graduate School of Business as Professor of Business Administration and then as senior associate dean for professional programs at Katz, where she supported faculty hiring, promotion, and tenure processes and oversaw all masters and executive programs.

The Center for Governance and Markets

October 10, 2019

Dear Colleagues,

Today we will be announcing the launch of a research center to examine how political institutions, markets, and technology impact human well-being in the United States and around the world. The Center for Governance and Markets will build upon the existing teaching and research of faculty members Jennifer Murtazashvili, Ilia Murtazashvili and Martin B.H. Weiss.

Pitt Momentum Funds

October 7, 2019

Dear Colleagues,

The Plan for Pitt calls for us to continue to seek out innovative ways to increase the impact of the excellent research happening across the University. This year, the Office of the Provost and the Office of the Senior Vice Chancellor for Research have collaborated to find ways to both enhance and streamline internal funding opportunities while continuing to support high-quality research, scholarship, and creative endeavors.

Dr. Bruce Childers to serve as Special Assistant to the Provost for Data Science

September 13, 2019

Dear Colleagues,

Over the course of the last year, as I’ve established my priorities as Provost, the area of data science has emerged as one that is central the University’s forward progress. From scientific and mathematical discoveries through computation and pattern recognition, to the visualization and analysis of demographic and linguistic data, and the analysis of texts and images, the continuing expansion of digital data and our ability to store, retrieve, and analyze it is bringing about an epistemological revolution.

New Latinx Initiative

June 24, 2019

Dear Colleagues,

When I first came to the University as Provost nearly a year ago, I set diversity and inclusion as key priorities for our work ahead. 

It’s clear that demographics in Pittsburgh and in the United States as a whole are shifting—and it’s equally clear that it is critically important that the University of Pittsburgh community and our educational offerings reflect those changes.

I am pleased to announce a significant new initiative that will assist us as we move that agenda forward. 

New Leadership Announced for Pitt–Greensburg

May 1, 2019

Dear Colleagues,

As you know, after more than a decade of influential leadership, Sharon Smith last year announced her intention to retire. In planning for the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg's new chapter, we conducted a national search to identify her successor.  

Today, I am delighted to announce that Dr. Robert G. Gregerson has been named President of Pitt-Greensburg, effective July 1, 2019.  He will also join the faculty as a full professor in the Division of Natural Sciences at Greensburg. 

Academic Year 2019–2020 Will Be the Year of Creativity

April 30, 2019

Dear Colleagues,

I am delighted to announce that 2019–20 will be the Year of Creativity at the University of Pittsburgh. Creativity unites all of the University’s intellectual and artistic endeavors, from neuroscience to sculpture, from legal scholarship to computer science, from music to pharmacogenomics. No single virtue better describes what humans do best than creativity. I look forward to a year devoted to encouraging the creative spark in all of us.

Pitt–Bradford and Titusville President Announced

April 1, 2019

Dear Colleagues,

As you know, we have been conducting a national search to identify an outstanding educational leader to serve as President of the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and the University of Pittsburgh at Titusville.  This has been a transitional time for both campuses and I am very grateful for the leadership that Larry Feick has provided during this academic year.  He has provided excellent continuity and a forward trajectory since Livingston Alexander retired.