Joan Gabel became the 19th chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh on July 17, 2023. In this role, she oversees a community of nearly 34,000 students and more than 15,000 faculty and staff members across five distinct campuses, all working to advance Pitt’s legacy of academic excellence, community service and research innovation.
Under her leadership, Pitt is prioritizing its values and impact through the development of the University’s first metrics-driven strategic plan. To ensure a Pitt education remains accessible and affordable, Gabel launched the Pitt Finish Line Grant, which will provide just-in-time financial support for students nearing graduation. During her time at Pitt, she became a founding member of the Campus Call for Free Expression and chair of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities’ Council of Presidents. She also serves as vice chair of the Council on Competitiveness and on the boards of the American Council on Education and Fulbright Council for International Exchange of Scholars.
Gabel previously served as the president of the University of Minnesota (U of M) System and Twin Cities campus. Under her leadership, U of M developed its first comprehensive systemwide strategic plan, which resulted in record-setting graduation rates and annual research expenditures, as well as unmatched startups, patents and private giving, including the completion of a $4 billion capital campaign that exceeded its goal by 10%. Transformational partnerships, such as the NXT GEN MED program between the university, Mayo Clinic and Google, have led to reimagined research and student opportunities.
Prior to joining U of M, she served as executive vice president for academic affairs and provost at the University of South Carolina and as dean of the Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business at the University of Missouri. Gabel began her teaching career at Georgia State University, then joined Florida State University where she was the DeSantis Professor of Legal Studies; chair of the Department of Risk Management and Insurance, Real Estate and Legal Studies; and director of international relations within the College of Business. She is the recipient of numerous research, service and teaching awards, including recognition as a Fulbright scholar, and holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Haverford College and a Juris Doctor from the University of Georgia School of Law.