\n\tAs always, there are a variety of people who retired from the University in the first half of 2026, including some faculty who have had long, impactful careers at Pitt.<\/p>\n
\n\tMichael Klausner, associate professor of sociology, retired in May after 50 years at Pitt-Bradford. He came to the campus in the summer of 1976, the same year as K. James Evans, retired vice president of student affairs.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cFrom the beginning of that first year, Michael made his presence known in a positive way with students, faculty and staff alike,\u201d Evans said in an announcement by the campus<\/a>. \u201cHe took a keen interest in the welfare of his students, and early on, he became a dedicated supporter of the athletics program. To get the attention of the students in his class, he was known to sometimes stand on his desk and lecture from there!\u201d<\/p>\n \n\tIn 2005, Klausner was inducted into the Pitt-Bradford Athletic Hall of Fame for his support of student athletes. The Pitt-Bradford Alumni Association presented him with its Teaching Excellence Award in 2023. A native of the Bronx, he returned to New York City each summer, where he tutored homeless children.\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tKathleen George, now professor emeritus of theatre arts, retired in April after 49 years in the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences.<\/p>\n \n\tShe has directed several plays at Pitt and other locations \u2014 including \u201cMuch Ado About Nothing,\u201d \u201cHamlet,\u201d \u201cKing Lear,\u201d \u201cShe Stoops to Conquer\u201d and \u201cThe Rehearsal\u201d \u2014 during her career at Pitt.<\/p>\n \n\tGeorge, who has four degrees from Pitt, also is the author of a series of mystery books set in Pittsburgh \u2014 including \u201cTaken\u201d and \u201cThe Odds.\u201d Her stand-along novels are \u201cThe Johnstown Girls,\u201d about a survivor of the Johnstown Flood; \u201cThe Blues Walked In,\u201d about Pittsburgh native Lena Horne and jazz, and \u201cMirth,\u201d about the struggles of a writer.<\/p>\n \tOther retirees<\/p>\n \tBusiness, Hospitality and Auxiliary Services<\/p>\n \n\tHeidi Fonzi (43 years): Senior manager of Fleet Services<\/p>\n \n\tCallista \u201cCallie\u201d Phillip-Krysinski (25 years): Billing coordinator for Mail Services<\/p>\n \tCenter for Teaching and Learning<\/p>\n \n\tJoe Nolfi (13 years): Media producer<\/p>\n \tDietrich School of Arts & Sciences<\/p>\n \n\tKatherine Bruce (38 years): Academic advisor, Undergraduate Studies<\/p>\n \n\tNancy Hood (34 years): Research specialist, Psychology<\/p>\n \n\tEric H. Moe (36 years): A.W. Mellon professor emeritus, Music<\/p>\n \n\tKirk Savage (35 years): Professor emeritus, History of Art & Architecture<\/p>\n \n\tBarbara Ann Weissberger (21 years): Teaching professor emeritus, Studio Arts<\/p>\n \n\tXiao-Lun Wu (35 years): Professor emeritus, Physics & Astronomy<\/p>\n \tFacilities Management<\/p>\n \n\tDavid Pallof (41 years): Operating engineer foreman<\/p>\n \n\tTimothy McShane (25 years): Electrician<\/p>\n \tPitt\u2013Bradford<\/p>\n \n\tGary Tessmer, 37 years, assistant professor of composition<\/p>\n \n\tStephen Robar, 27 years, associate professor of political science<\/p>\n \n\tAlexander Nazemetz, 26 years, associate vice president of enrollment management and director of admissions<\/p>\n \n\tDenise Perkins, 21 years, office manager for the Office of Residential Life and Housing<\/p>\n \tPitt Digital<\/p>\n \n\tNanju Besagarahalli (20 years): Business systems<\/p>\n \n\tFrank Puchalski (27 years): IT endpoint consultant<\/p>\n \tPitt\u2013Johnstown<\/p>\n \n\tMichael Kemock (38 years): Technical services coordinator in Information Technology<\/p>\n \n\tRobert Rukavina (37 years): Head men\u2019s basketball coach\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tLoretta Zerby (20 years): Accounts payable coordinator in General Administration\u2013Business Office<\/p>\n \tPitt Research<\/p>\n \n\tChristina Hay (40 years): Financial analyst, Office of Research Protections, Administration\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tTerri Kennelly-Cook (19 years): Small Business Development Center coordinator and administrative supervisor, Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence<\/p>\n \n\tKelly Dornin Koss (34 years): Director of education and compliance support for human subject research, Office of Research Protections, Education and Compliance Support<\/p>\n \tPlanning, Design and Construction<\/p>\n \n\tDaniel Marcinko (39 years): Assistant vice chancellor\u2013administration<\/p>\n \tSchool of Computing and Information<\/p>\n \n\tCharles Michael Lewis (39 years): Professor, Department of Informatics & Networked Systems<\/p>\n \tSchool of Medicine<\/p>\n \n\tLynne Bauer (26 years): Laboratory Manager II, Department of Surgery, Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute<\/p>\n \n\tCharlotte Brown (31 years): Emeritus associate professor of psychiatry<\/p>\n \n\tDana Bovbjerg (18 years): Emeritus professor of psychiatry, Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, Clinical and Translational Science, Health and Community Systems (Nursing), and Psychology<\/p>\n \tSchool of Nursing<\/p>\n \n\tBecky Faett (20 years): Assistant Professor<\/p>\n \tSchool of Public and International Affairs<\/p>\n \n\tSabina Deitrick (35 years): Associate professor emeritus of urban affairs and planning. Read more on the SPIA website<\/a>.<\/p>\n \tSchool of Social Work<\/p>\n \n\tKatie Greeno (27 years): Professor<\/p>\n \n\tHelen Petracchi (26 years): Associate Professor<\/p>\n \tSwanson School of Engineering<\/p>\n \n\tKaren Bursic (30+ years): Professor emeritus and the former undergraduate program director in Industrial Engineering.<\/p>\n \n\tBadie Morsi (44 years): Professor, chemical and petroleum engineering<\/p>\n \n\tSteven Jacobs (30 years): Professor, electrical engineering\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\t\u2014 Susan Jones<\/p>\n \n\t\u00a0<\/p>\n \n\tHave a story idea or news to share? Share<\/a> it with the University Times.<\/p>\n