Michael Arenth and Bridget Ridge have been named Interim co-executive directors of the University Center for Teaching and Learning, following the retirement of Michael Bridges as executive director on June 30.

Arenth served as director of educational technologies at the Teaching Center, where he has played a critical role in advancing the University’s strategic goals around instructional innovation.

Ridge has been the center’s director of administration and brings more than 18 years of experience at Pitt. Her career spans leadership and financial roles in the School of Social Work, the Division of Student Affairs, and the University Center for International Studies.

Bridges joined Pitt in 2020 and has been the center’s executive director since 2023. Before coming to Pitt, he spent three decades in higher education where he held faculty, staff, and research positions around the world and locally at Carnegie Mellon and Duquesne Universities.

His book, “How Learning Works: 8 Research-Based Principle for Smart Teaching” (co-authored with past colleagues), is often referenced and used as a resource by the Teaching Center’s teaching and pedagogy consultants. 

In an article on the Teaching Center website, Bridges reminisced about what he will remember most about his time at Pitt:

“There’s an infinite amount of memories created in such a short time, but I will try to narrow it down:

• The changing landscape of higher education. Over the past several years, higher education has faced a series of significant challenges, including increased scrutiny, growing public skepticism, and the recent politicization of the value of a college degree. These pressures significantly reinforce the importance of the Teaching Center’s role in advancing Pitt’s educational mission. Now more than ever, our work is essential as we support instructors in creating exceptional learning experiences that prepare our students for meaningful lives and careers.

• The lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic tested us in profound ways, but it also pushed us to develop new processes and sharpen our skills in instructional practices, assessment, educational technology, and organizational workflows. As a result, we’ve become more adaptive, inclusive, and flexible in how we support teaching and learning.

• Emerging technology. Emerging technologies, particularly Generative AI, are expected to significantly transform educational practices in higher education. The critical challenge will be to harness these innovations in positive ways so that they advance teaching outcomes and uphold academic integrity. In the context of teaching and learning, this requires a thoughtful understanding of the ways in which these tools can support and enhance student learning, rather than supplant or diminish it.

• Collaboration. I feel incredibly fortunate to have worked with and built lasting friendships with such an incredible group of colleagues at Pitt.