By SUSAN JONES
The University Senate has elected a new president, who is a familiar face in Pitt’s shared governance, and a new vice president who is new to the process.
Kristen Kanthak, a political science professor in the Dietrich School of Arts & Sciences, will move into the president role in July, after four years as Senate vice president.
Julia Meade, an assistant professor of pediatrics, was elected vice president. This is her first foray into shared governance at Pitt.
Both women will serve two year terms. Kanthak beat Adolph Yates, a professor of orthopaedic surgery in the School of Medicine, and will succeed Robin Kear, a research librarian, who has been president for four years. Meade defeat Dave DeJong, an economics professor and former senior vice chancellor for business and operations.
They will join Penelope Morel, a professor of immunology who has been Senate secretary since 2022. That position will be up for election next year.
Kanthak said having the University Senate — where faculty, staff, postdocs, students, all Pitt affiliates come together in shared governance — “is vital, especially in these divisive times.”
“I’m humbled to be selected to lead this important institution and, frankly, a bit daunted by the challenges we face,” she said. “The pressure has never been greater to divide into our own smaller silos and worry only about our small slice of the world. But we need to face these challenges united if we are to have any hope of success. The institution isn’t perfect, and I’ve spent a lot of time already being frustrated that change isn’t easier. But this place has never failed to impress me with its ability to overcome obstacles and to see those obstacles as opportunities to do better.
“If I could have one wish for my tenure as Senate president, it would be to get to play a part in helping to facilitate that improvement.”
Meade said she accepted the nomination for vice president, “because I want to grow as a servant leader and do something that scared me just a little. It is humbling to know that I have been selected to articulate the needs, challenges and perspectives of the faculty in the School of Medicine and Health Sciences, while learning from the many talented and engaged faculty and leaders across our University.”
She also said that after six years at Pitt, “I have felt either curious or confused by the enormous changes I have seen across the institution. By participating in the University Senate I not only wanted to understand how and why we respond to events the way we do, but also help those making these decisions see the impact they have on those doing the best they can to implement and respond to them.”
Susan Jones is editor of the University Times. Reach her at suejones@pitt.edu or 724-244-4042.
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