Executive changes: SVC for Business on leave; SCI dean stepping down

By SUSAN JONES

Two high-level positions at the University will be undergoing some changes.

  • Greg Scott, senior vice chancellor for Business and Operations, is taking an indefinite leave of absence for personal reasons starting immediately. David DeJong, who became vice chancellor for Human Resources last year, will now oversee Business and Operations in addition to his HR role. Mark Burdsall, assistant vice chancellor of consulting services, will step up to the role of acting deputy vice chancellor for Human Resources.

  • Paul Cohen, founding dean of the School of Computing and Information, has decided to step down from that role and return to the faculty, effective July 1. Bruce Childers, senior associate dean in SCI and special assistant to the provost for Data Science, will serve as interim dean.

Cohen’s departure will leave three open dean positions. John T. S. Keeler announced in July 2019 that he will step down as dean of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs effective June 30. A search also is underway for a dean for the Graduate School of Public Health, after Donald Burke stepped down last year. Search committees have been formed to fill both of these positions and open forums have been held.

Audrey Murrell was named acting dean of the Honors College in June 2019 to replace Brian Primack, who left to become dean of the University of Arkansas College of Education and Health Professions.

At the time, Provost Ann Cudd said her naming Murrell as acting dean indicated a longer tenure, possibly a couple of years, “and then we’ll see where to go from there, whether to do a national search or what she wants to do.”

All dean-level positions and higher must be approved by the Board of Trustees.

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

 

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