   |
About The Chancellor’s Office
As the 17th chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh, the tenure of Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg has been marked by impressive academic and research growth at the University, as well as improved and expanded facilities and Western Pennsylvania’s most successful fundraising campaign ever. Such vision and leadership are expected of Pitt chancellors. Nordenberg’s predecessors include many distinguished chief executives, including the first chancellor, Robert Bruce, who helped turn what had been a private secondary school into a college; William J. Holland, who added the new schools and graduate programs that created a true university; John G. Bowman, who envisioned the Cathedral of Learning and the growth of the Oakland campus; Edward Litchfield, who spearheaded the University’s rise to national prominence; and Wesley W. Posvar, who began Pitt’s transformation into a university of international stature. The chief executive of the University of Pittsburgh and its predecessor, the Western University of Pennsylvania, has been called “chancellor” since 1871. Before that, the head of the University was known as the “principal,” but the trustees believed that title was more appropriate for a schoolmaster than the leader of an institute of higher learning. In 1984, during the realignment of several key University functions, the chief executive’s office was renamed “president,” which some people thought sounded more modern. However, in a nod to Pitt’s heritage, the title reverted to the historic name “chancellor” upon Wesley Posvar’s retirement. The word “chancellor” comes directly from ancient French and Latin words meaning roughly “royal secretary” or “keeper of the royal seal,” and the title is typically given to persons holding high government offices, such as cabinet ministers and heads of state. In North America, the title “chancellor” is more commonly bestowed on chief executive officers of colleges and universities, although in a few states, certain judges are called chancellors. While directly responsible to the University’s board of trustees, the chancellor also serves as the representative of the students, staff, faculty, and administration to the board. Under a job description drafted by the trustees before Nordenberg’s appointment, the chancellor acts as a public advocate for the institution’s interests and as a leader who sets its goals and governs its progress. The chancellor is expected to foster supportive working relationships with faculty, staff, and students; build close ties to the community and the University’s external constituents; and raise funds to further the University’s missions of education, research, and economic development. Those who closely advise and assist the chancellor include the provost, the executive vice chancellor, the senior vice chancellor for health sciences, the vice chancellors, the presidents of the regional campuses, the deans of the University’s schools, the department chairs, and the directors of Pitt’s centers and institutes. Sources: Robert C. Alberts, Pitt: The Story of the University of Pittsburgh, 1787 to 1987; Faculty Handbook; University Fact Book, 2005; University Times, 1994 to 2005; Pitt Chronicle and Pitt Campaign Chronicle, 2001 to 2005; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, various issues; BBC’s A-Z of Parliament; U.K. Department of Constitutional Affairs Chancellors of the University of Pittsburgh
|
Pitt HistoryTradition. Innovation. Excellence. The University that began in a humble log cabin has evolved into an internationally recognized center of learning and research. Explore Pitt history to take a look at the triumphs that continue to shape and inspire the University of Pittsburgh. |
