Departing vice provost’s position will be split in half

By SUSAN JONES

The job now held by Vice Provost Laurie Kirsch is being split into two positions after she leaves at the end of June.

Provost Ann Cudd is conducting an internal search for a vice provost for Faculty Affairs and a vice provost for Faculty Development and Diversity, both of whom will spend 50 percent of their time on provost-related work and the rest in their own academic area. Applications for both positions were due May 6.

“By creating two half-time positions — one focused on faculty affairs and one on faculty development and diversity — our thinking is that it will be possible for whoever serves in these roles to also continue their significant contributions to the Pitt community as teachers and scholars,” Cudd said. “The new vice provosts will join the Provost’s senior team as integral members and will have the opportunity to shape the experience of the faculty of the University.”

The vice provost of Faculty Affairs will lead the implementation of a new University-level promotion and tenure committee and advise on interpretation and application of University policies related to faculty. Candidates should be tenured full professors on the Pitt faculty.

The vice provost for Faculty Development and Diversity will lead efforts to promote a diverse and inclusive faculty; advance educational excellence by working closely with the University Center for Teaching and Learning; and promote mentoring opportunities for faculty. Candidates should be on the Pitt faculty and hold at least the rank of associate professor or its equivalent within either the tenure or appointment streams.

The provost’s office said the searches are on track to hopefully have people in place in June to overlap with Kirsch before she leaves.

A third vice provost position for Graduate Studies also will be open at the end of June when Nathan Urban leaves to become provost at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa. A job description was posted last week for the position, which also is part-time, 50 percent. The job is open to graduate faculty.

The deadline to send a letter of interest and a CV to viceprovostsearch@pitt.edu is May 18. Ideally, the new vice provost would start the position in July 2020.

The same search committee is looking to fill all three positions. The committee is chaired by Joseph J. McCarthy, vice provost for Undergraduate Studies. Other members include Arjang Assad, dean of the Katz Graduate School of Business and College of Business Administration; Chris Bonneau, professor of Political Science and president of the University Senate; Cynthia Golden, executive director of the Center for Teaching and Learning; Patricia D. Kroboth, dean of the School of Pharmacy; Laurel Roberts, Provost Fellow and senior lecturer, Biological Sciences; and Geovette Washington, senior vice chancellor and chief legal officer.

Susan Jones is editor of the University Times. Reach her at suejones@pitt.edu or 412-648-4294.

 

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