By SHANNON O. WELLS
Beginning her report to Senate Council at its Dec. 11 meeting, Chancellor Joan Gabel took a moment to acknowledge the holiday season and the conclusion of the academic semester and calendar year.
“(There’s) lots going on since last month,” she said. “But first, a wish for everybody, as we are probably at the peak of the stress of the end of the semester, that you are heading towards a peaceful period to celebrate the end of the term and a wonderful new year.”
Launching into news updates, Gabel said the Plan for Pitt 2025 initiatives are “all going to conclude timely,” encouraging anyone seeking a “refresher on what we have done so far and what we committed to for this year” to contact her or Bill Haldeman, vice chancellor and chief strategy officer, offline for a detailed update.
Highlights include a “very collaborative process” regarding the Campus Master Plan, along with “some refreshing and recalibrating on student awards and a variety of other things,” she said.
Gabel mentioned the recent announcement of a $30 million gift from Pitt alum Michael Rees and his family, “who are wonderful,” to the David C. Frederick Honors College.
“We were delighted to receive generosity of that transformational nature,” she said. “Beyond the Honors College, it’s an endowed fund that will increase the number of honors college students receiving full financial support.”
Chancellor updates
Leadership changes: Gabel said that Kimberlee Eberle-Sudre, a Pitt alum who earned a doctoral degree in administrative and policy studies from the School of Education, has moved into the role of the chancellor’s chief of staff. Gabel said Kevin Washo moving to the senior vice chancellor for external relations role created the chief of staff opening that Eberle-Sudre “has moved into very smoothly,” Gabel said. “We’re a very cohesive team, I’m very lucky and pleased to report, so my thanks to both of them for all the work they do for me and for all of us to make sure our office serves you well,” she added.
APLU meeting: In November, the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities (APLU) — one of Pitt’s “primary national associations, which we refer to a lot … in terms of how we’re making some of our decisions and setting some of our strategies” — held its national meeting in Philadelphia.
“Several members of the administration are in leadership roles at APLU, and those turnover at the national meeting,” she said, noting that Rob Rutenbar, senior vice chancellor for research, moved up from vice chair of the Council on Research to chair. Lina Dostillo, vice chancellor for external relations, is in the second year of her term as vice chair of the Commission on Economic and Community Engagement.
Gabel said she was “very honored” to move from her own position as chair-elect to chair. “We have lots of representation there, which is helpful and interesting and keeps us very abreast of trends and movement and in a position to advocate. I’m glad and honored to be able to work in that capacity.”
Pitt accolades
Moving on to accolades, Gabel noted that the National Organization on Disability named Pitt a leading disability employer for the second year in a row. “We are one of only two higher ed institutions on that list,” she said.
Gabel provided further “shout outs,” including:
For the third consecutive year, Pitt was named one of Time magazine’s Best Colleges for Future Leaders. Pitt is now No. 32, up seven spots from last year, and moved up one spot to No. 13 among the AAU public universities.
Justin Kitzes, associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, is part of a team selected for one of 15 global awards in the Bezos Earth Fund: AI for Climate and Nature Grand Challenge in partnership with the National Audubon Society. “Justin’s team will use the $2 million award to extend their work, combining community-based conservation with AI tools that track and monitor bird populations by their songs,” Gabel said.
Jamie Ducar, associate vice chancellor in the Office of Engagement and Community Affairs, was named among Pittsburgh Magazine’s “40 under 40,” and Becca Segel, a recent Pitt alum, was named to Forbes’ “30 Under 30” in manufacturing.
Sasha Kotarski, communications and media manager in the School of Computing and Information, received the Helen Fallon Young Communicator Award recognition by the Women’s Press Club of Pittsburgh.
Monique Smith, project assistant director in the Office of the Provost, was recognized as one of the City and State 2025 Impact honorees.
The Black Equity Coalition named Vernard Alexander, director of Pitt’s Homewood Community Engagement Center, one of KDKA’s 2025 Larry’s Hometown Heroes and a “Community Champion.”
The School of Law announced that its graduates achieved the highest overall bar passage rate in Pennsylvania for the July 2025 bar exam.
The Pitt women’s volleyball team was named one of four No. 1 seeds for the NCAA tournament for the third consecutive year. “They’ve been seeded No. 1 four times in the past five years, and I know we’ll all be cheering for them,” Gabel said. The team made it to the final four, but was defeated by Texas A&M on Dec. 18.
Student athletes received a 94% graduation success rate this year, the highest on record for Pitt’s program and one of the highest nationally.
Pitt Athletics hosted the College Game Day nationally televised Saturday broadcast in November before the Panthers game against Notre Dame. “We had a sell-out crowd and very high viewership, which matters in a variety of the audiences and tables that a few of us sit at,” she said. “We also enjoyed the retirement of Pitt football great Aaron Donald’s No. 97 jersey … He was incredibly touched by that, and it was a lot of fun.”
The chancellor concluded by wishing everyone “safe and happy holidays. And I look forward to being together in the new year.”
President’s report
In her report, Senate Council President Kris Kanthak reiterated some items she shared at the Nov. 5 Faculty Assembly meeting, but updated Senate Council on other news. That includes a meeting with Mark Henderson, vice chancellor and chief information officer, to discuss the role of shared governance in his vision of artificial intelligence.
“Moving forward, I emphasized to him how strongly faculty felt that those who are expert in teaching and learning must be at the center of integrating AI in the classroom,” Kanthak said. “He assured me that he understood the important role for those who know pedagogy, and that he had no interest in issuing dictates to faculty about how they use or choose not to use AI is part of the teaching.”
In other topics, Kanthak said she’s “grateful” to Chancellor Gabel for naming immediate Senate Council past president Robin Kear as the Senate’s liaison to the Hub for AI and Data Science Leadership (HAIL) committee, directed by Mike Colaresi, associate vice provost for data science and newly named strategic advisor to the provost. (see related story)
“The academic Hub for AI and Data Science Leadership will start its work soon,” she said. “As you know, (Kear) has long been at the forefront of thinking about the role of shared governance in the AI space.”
Kanthak went on to thank David Salcido, assistant professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine and Campus Utilization Planning and Safety committee chair, for “working hard to help facilitate a meeting” with Anantha Shekar, senior vice chancellor for health sciences, and Faculty Assembly members from the Health Sciences department.
A meeting will address the role of shared governance in the health sciences master plan, as well as other relevant issues. “The meeting will take place soon, and I will report back with details when they’re available.”
Kanthak shared that the Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination Advocacy Committee (EIADAC) has been in touch with Pitt’s transgender working group to “help assure that our colleagues in the trans community feel supported in these difficult times.”
EIADAC also is planning to delve into the effects of changes to the federal student loan program. “I’m grateful to the committee for centering this important work,” she said.
Kanthak also congratulated EIADAC Co-Chair Susan Graff, who the Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants recently named Physician Assistant Educator of the Year.
In other news, Kanthak offered a reminder that University Senate election season is approaching.
“Senate elections will happen in April and May, but you’ll begin to hear more about them in January. Please consider running yourself or encouraging others to run,” she said. “Shared governance is not a magic wand, but it beats yelling at clouds.”
Sending friendly advice to Pitt students, Kanthak said as a mom herself, “please remember these tests and papers are very, very important, but they are not a measure of your worth as a human. Work hard and take care of yourself.”
“To everyone, I wish you a warm and happy holiday as we head into the darkest and coldest part of the year,” she said. “I’m grateful for the community we built here in the Senate, and especially for the many, many people who strive to make Pitt a more inclusive and welcoming place.
“Please be sure to check in on each other, and I look forward to continuing to build community with each of you in the new year.”
SGB immigration resolution
Student Government Board (SGB) President Marley Pinsky shared with Senate Council a student government resolution regarding international students and concerns about immigration “that we have seen brought to us for a broad variety of students and student advocates.”
“We have worked with a variety of campus groups to write this resolution, (which has been) approved by essentially every entity of our student government, including our full executive board and our cabinet of seven chairs,” Pinsky said. “It has been passed unanimously by our assembly … our representative body of the campus’s largest organizations.”
Pinsky read the resolution, which was shared in November with the chancellor’s and provost’s offices, to Senate Council. The resolution’s summary reads as follows:
“The student body of the University of Pittsburgh affirms that all students, staff, and faculty are entitled to an academic and campus life experience free from discrimination regardless of race, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status and other protected classes.
“In light of nationwide patterns of xenophobic rhetoric, intimidation and arrests and deportations conducted without due process, the University must do everything in its power to resist federal attempts to seize protected information and disrupt campus life. We call on the University to provide transparent, accessible, and timely updates regarding policy changes and protocols in order to ensure the safety and civil liberties of all members of our campus community.”
The resolution goes on to cite the Plan for Pitt 2028’s commitment that Pitt will “cultivate belonging and a welcoming culture,” along with the following assertions:
“Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s pattern of arrest based on skin color, appearance, speech, or perceived immigration status has spurred justified fear of surveillance, detainment, and deportation across the university community;”
Pitt’s “campus constituents — including students, staff, and faculty — have not been sufficiently informed of their rights and protections under federal and state law, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), and about the appropriate procedures to follow when federal authorities or law enforcement are present on campus.
The University’s “limited communication regarding this information has fostered concern over its preparedness and willingness to reassure or protect its campus constituents.”
Furthermore, the resolution urged University leadership to “prohibit employees from voluntarily providing information or assistance to external entities that could harm members of the campus community, including in civil, criminal, immigration, or investigatory contexts.”
After reading the resolution, Pinksy said SGB is “very open to discussing further around these ideas and the action items that can be implemented to address our concerns.”
“We’re very eager to do our part as well in making these action items possible. Please, if anyone would like to follow up with us, feel free. We are very open to discussing our ideas and how we can work together to address these concerns,” she added. “On behalf of the broader campus community, thank you very much for listening, and please contact me if you have any questions or ideas.”
Shannon O. Wells is a writer for the University Times. Reach him at shannonw@pitt.edu.
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