Dear Pitt Community Members:
As I shared in March, Provost Ann E. Cudd will be departing from her role as provost and senior vice chancellor at the University of Pittsburgh on June 30 to assume the presidency at Portland State University. My own departure will occur just a few weeks later, which leaves me with the unusual task of appointing an interim provost to serve under our new chancellor, Joan T.A. Gabel. This appointment will be effective from Joan’s first days at Pitt and until she permanently fills the position following a national search. As a result, I have consulted extensively with the chancellor-elect throughout this process, and my decision today has her full support.
With this context in place: I am pleased to share that I have selected Dr. Joseph J. McCarthy to serve as Pitt’s interim provost, effective July 1, 2023.
Joe, fortunately for us, is no stranger to the Office of the Provost. He has served as our vice provost for undergraduate studies since 2017 and temporarily added the responsibilities of interim dean of our David C. Frederick Honors College in early 2021. Beyond these duties, Joe also led the University’s decennial evaluation with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. This rigorous, campuswide evaluation began in 2020 and ended successfully with a reaffirmation of accreditation in 2022.
Outside the Office of the Provost, Joe serves as the William Kepler Whiteford Professor in our Swanson School of Engineering’s Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering. As a Pitt faculty member—a position he has held since 1998—he has earned a number of accolades, including the Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award, James Pommersheim Award for Excellence in Teaching in Chemical Engineering and Carnegie Science Award for Higher Education.
I am extremely grateful that Joe is willing to take on the role of interim provost—and the considerable responsibilities this appointment involves—at such a vital point in time for our university. With Joan’s fast-approaching arrival, this is a period of incredible opportunity and excitement for Pitt, and I am confident that Joe and Joan will make a great team.
Please join me in congratulating Joe and—more important—make every effort to give him your full support and cooperation as he assumes these new responsibilities in the weeks to come.
Sincerely,
Chancellor Patrick Gallagher