By SUSAN JONES
They come from all parts of the University. Some have moved around to several different offices, while others have spent their whole career in one area. What they do have in common is they have worked at Pitt for 40 years.
This year, the University is honoring an unusually large number of staff who are hitting their 40th anniversary. The 15 long-time employees lead the list of of people hitting milestone anniversaries in 2024 (see the rest of the list here).
WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO PITT?
“I was just out of college and not sure what I wanted to do,” said Beth Ann Pischke, of the Center for Bioethics and Health Law in the School of Law. “My mom was working at Pitt (School of Education) at the time and suggested I apply for a job at Pitt, just to get my foot in the door somewhere. Well, 40 years later, I’m still here!”
For Joe Moxim, who works at Pitt–Johnstown, the decision was much more practical: “In the early to mid-1980s, the unemployment rate in Johnstown was approaching 25 percent due to closures of steel mills and coal mines. I took the offer at UPJ, based on job stability.”
His words were echoed by Laurie Mejia in the School of Social Work: “In 1983, Pittsburgh’s unemployment rate was sky high; most of the steel mills were already closed or set to close, which had a cascading negative effect on the Pittsburgh economy as a whole. Pitt was one of the few places where I thought there would be job security and opportunity for future career growth … and I was right.”
Peggy Krall from the Career Center said she was drawn to Pitt in high school by the football team’s successes, “so when those of us who took accounting/secretarial classes started thinking about where we wanted to go, I set my sights on Pitt.”
After graduating from Pitt, Theresa Nuzzo, head coach of Pitt cheerleaders and dance team, was offered a position by her former cheer coach Karen Agostinella to work as her assistant. “It was the perfect fit for me and has been a most rewarding experience over the past decades.”
For Mary Tranchine and Charmaine Evans, getting a job at Pitt out of high school was the path to getting a college degree.
After getting hired at Pitt’s still-unnamed business school, Evans, who now works at the Katz Graduate School of Business, said, “I just couldn’t get enough of school and so I decided to pursue a bachelor’s degree. At a mere pittance of $5/credit, it was practically free tuition! I was able to work full-time and take classes on a part-time basis and obtain the undergraduate degree majoring in communications, with a minor in psychology and sign language.”
After high school, Tranchine worked for a few years as a secretary and word processor, before deciding to go back to school part-time at Pitt–Greensburg. When a position opened up in Pitt’s Department of Epidemiology, “I knew this was a dream come true — an opportunity to go back to school at minimal cost and earn a bachelor’s degree.” She said her husband, Jim, and supervisor, Linda DeLuco, “gave me the courage to press on while holding down a full-time job and a credit load of six to eight credits per term (including summers).” Eventually, she earned her bachelor’s degree in business and accounting with honors.
“After graduation, I enjoyed the University environment so much, I decided to stay. As the years went by, accomplishing the 40-year mark became my next goal,” she said. “Now, I’m looking forward to the end of the year when it will be time to say so long. It’s been a great ride, and I cherish the years I’ve worked for the Department of Epidemiology.”
HOW HAVE THINGS CHANGED AT PITT SINCE YOU STARTED?
Many of the answers to this question revolved around technology.
“When I started working in the 1980s, desktop computers (microcomputers) were new technology, and they had two floppy drives and no hard disk drives,” said Kim Beringer, who works in the School of Public Health. “We used dummy terminals to access the Pitt mainframe computer, and walked to the Old Engineering Hall to pick up our printouts.
“When I began working at Pitt we used old fashion typewriters, then moved to memory typewriters, and now, computers,” Pischke said. “I believe things are still changing and improving with technology each day here at Pitt.”
Mary Gail Merlina, who works in Falk Library, said when she first started, “books were checked out manually, overdue notices were handwritten and placed in the mail, the library was filled with print books and journals, and there was no use of any technology to perform my job.”
Mejia sees both the upside and downside to technology advances. “When I started at Pitt, I had a typewriter, a phone with three lines and a hold button, and file cabinets full of paper. The pace of work was much slower and communication was either in person or on the phone which provided the opportunity to develop many friendships and a sense of community. The advent of email and communication done mostly online has greatly diminished this aspect of organizational culture, which I know is not unique to Pitt. Nevertheless, I think today’s younger workforce is really missing out on this important aspect of working at Pitt.”
She also has seen many buildings and businesses come and go. New construction included the three BST Towers, Forbes Tower, Sennott Square, Sutherland Hall, and the Peterson Event Center, while those leaving Oakland include Pitt Stadium, Children’s Hospital and the Syria Mosque. “Most of my favorite places along Forbes and right off of Forbes (Gus Miller’s News Stand, Uncle Sam’s Subs, Peter’s Pub, The O, Dave and Andy’s) are now gone.”
Tranchine still has a piece of one of those places that are no longer there. “How can we forget about our beloved Pitt Stadium. We used to enjoy having a meal at the Pitt Club and join the Pitt band as they marched up O’Hara Street. When the stadium was razed, I was working in Scaife Hall. One day, some of the debris fell into the street, and I ran outside to collect some pieces of concrete that landed in the flower bed. Gone but not forgotten.”
Nuzzo also has a special place in her heart for the former Pitt Stadium. “For me (it) represents forever friendships, bonds and experiences as being a member of the University Cheer team, as well as transitioning into the coaching role.”
But the biggest change Nuzzo has seen is the support given to her program. “The inclusion and support shown by our present athletic director, Heather Lyke, and sports administrator, Katie Stumpp, is allowing our program to flourish both academically and as ambassadors,” she said. “Being included in the future Victory Heights complex is immeasurable and will continue to enhance our growth.”
Evans pointed out two areas in Oakland that have seen major upgrades from the parking lots they were in the 1980s — Schenley Plaza and Bouquet Gardens (where she says she once parked for $35 per month).
Krall also gave a long list of changes she’s seen over her 40-year career: “The renovations on the (William Pitt Union), scrubbing the Cathedral, the giant pit that is now Soldiers and Sailors parking, the opening of the Forbes Quad (Posvar Hall). How students arrive in the fall. … The loss of Pitt Stadium and the gain of Heinz Field (I said what I said). Our national recognition as a top school. The new buildings, residence halls and facilities for students. Student involvement. COVID and working remote and never missing a beat. But the one thing that hasn’t changed is Pitt Pride! H2P!”
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE AT PITT?
Beringer has a special reason for choosing Heinz Chapel: “My now-husband started working in my office shortly after I started working at Pitt, and we were later married at Heinz Chapel.”
Krall enjoys sitting outside between the Cathedral and Heinz Chapel or on the first floor of the Cathedral. “They are both peaceful places where you can hear yourself think or just close your eyes and turn inward.” But, she said, the Career Center is where she’s really found her home at Pitt. “It is the first time in my Pitt career that I felt truly connected to the school. Like a part of something bigger.”
Others, like Kathleen Patterson of Pitt–Johnston, just enjoy walking around the green spaces on campus. “I walk on campus in the mornings, and I love walking on a path through the trees,” Patterson said. “It is very peaceful, the birds are singing, and it puts me in a good mood prior to starting my day at work.”
Moxim said the same about the Johnstown campus. “Picking one favorite spot on the Johnstown campus is difficult. I would have to say the campus environment in general. Yes, even in winter (although the commute can be an adventure).”
The Nationality Rooms in the Cathedral hold a special place for Evans. “I have toured all 31 of them several times throughout the years. I have taken my mom on these tours and she absolutely enjoyed hearing about the history of each room. My favorite tour is during Halloween when the Early American Room is opened (it’s locked during the day). This room is the only room having a second level! Each room tells an intriguing tale of legends, myths and the supernatural!”
40-year Pitt employees
Kim Beringer has worked in the Epidemiology Data Center in the School of Public Health all of her career at Pitt. She started doing computer programming for research studies, and later became manager of the United Network for Organ Sharing Liver Transplant Registry at Pitt for more than a decade. As the director of computing for the Epidemiology Data Center for the last 30 years, she has had a hand in countless research studies produced by investigators in our highly regarded Department of Epidemiology. Beringer met her husband, Dave, when he started working in the office a few months after she did. They’ve been married 37 years.
Charmaine Evans started at Pitt in 1984, performing secretarial duties for numerous faculty in the Katz Graduate School of Business. That included extensive mathematical typing, preparation of exams, manuscripts and research proposals. She later became a recruiting manager for the MBA Career Services Center, and application manager in the Masters Admissions Office, and an admissions rep for the doctoral program. Evans also has served as a United Way rep since 2013, and is known for producing decadent gift baskets for the annual raffle.
Bryan Fulmer started his career at Pitt in the Custodial Services group in 1984 and was later promoted into the ground crew classification in 2000 servicing the general campus landscaping and providing a beautiful array of flowers and landscape management. After many exhaustive years on the grounds team, Fulmer decided to return to Custodial Services in 2021 and is now beautifying the interior spaces at the University.
William Kline has two degrees from Pitt–Bradford (an associates in computer programming in 1982 and bachelor’s in computer science in 1986) and one from the Oakland campus (masters in information science in 2000). He was hired full-time as a computer lab operator at Pitt–Bradford in 1984 and currently directs the daily operations of Computing, Telecommunication and Media Services.
Peggy Krall was hired in 1983 in Epidemiology as a secretary for a breast cancer study. Her responsibilities included inputing data from three area hospitals on women diagnosed with breast cancer, and also preparing research recruitment letters to the patients and their relatives. She later worked in the Falk School, the Provost's Office, Cardiology, the University Store, and finally in the Career Center, where she has been for some 30 years.
Richard Lavery: Facilities Management
Wendy Mayle received both her Ph.D. in physical anthropology (2004) and her masters in higher education management (2014) from the University of Pittsburgh. She joined the School of Dental Medicine’s Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics in 2022.
Laurie Mejia began at Pitt in 1983 as senior secretary at Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, working closely with Jeff Romoff and Thomas Detre. Armed with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, she soon transitioned into an accounting position at Western Psych. She later moved to Physics and Astronomy grants administration, which she described as an exciting opportunity to be involved in early quantum computing and physics research. Her skills next took her to the Office of Research as a grants and contracts officer. In 2017, she became research administration manager within the School of Social Work.
Mary Gail Merlina started at Pitt’s Health Sciences Library System in 1983 as a library specialist working at the circulation desk at Falk Library, answering questions, checking materials in and out, and shelving books and journals. She was later promoted to circulation supervisor and put in charge of managing a team of staff and student workers, including hiring and training. She is now the main desk manager, serving as a point person for accommodating construction in the library and organizing student engagement activities, like the ever-popular therapy dog visits and snacks for finals weeks.
Tracey Miller: School of Medicine, Division of Laboratory Animal Resources-Animal Husbandry
Joseph Moxim was hired at Pitt–Johnstown in 1984, in purchasing, as a book buyer in the campus bookstore. He was promoted multiple times, eventually working in Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable, and spending the past 10 years in the Johnstown Purchasing Department.
Theresa Nuzzo is a 1981 graduate of the University, with a bachelor’s degree in communications and a minor in child psychology. Since her hiring in 1984, Nuzzo has been head coach of Pitt cheerleading and dance teams, as well as the mascot program coordinator. Since the 1990s, the cheerleaders have won several national championships including three consecutive titles from 1992-94. Between annual competitions and year-round performances at Pitt Athletics events, Nuzzo is in attendance at more than 140 events a year.
Kathleen Patterson started at Pitt–Johnstown as a senior clerk in Financial Aid, then became an administrative aide, then a student aid specialist — all in Financial Aid. She transferred to Human Resources in June 1998 as a human resources specialist and is now a human resources generalist.
Beth Ann Pischke started working for Pitt’s School of Law in 1984 as a faculty secretary. Three years later, she took an opportunity to become an administrator in a brand new Center for Bioethics & Health Law to support the training of Pitt medical students in matters related to medical ethics education, research, and policy. As her responsibilities grew, she played a role in the creation of the first online law certificate program in health care compliance. She also served on Staff Council for a number of years.
Mary Tranchine started working in the Department of Epidemiology in the School of Public Health in 1984. She learned numerous aspects of departmental administration on the job, and also earned her bachelor’s degree in management/accounting from Pitt-Greensburg in 1994. Since 2002, she has worked in the Epidemiology Data Center, managing finances for many large national research trials. She tracks millions of dollars across 10, 50 or even 100 sites. Tranchine also has sewn several gorgeous aprons over the years to help raise scholarship funds for public health students.
Susan Jones is editor of the University Times. Reach her at suejones@pitt.edu or 724-244-4042.
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