New Leadership Announced for Pitt–Greensburg

May 1, 2019

Dear Colleagues,

As you know, after more than a decade of influential leadership, Sharon Smith last year announced her intention to retire. In planning for the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg's new chapter, we conducted a national search to identify her successor.  

Today, I am delighted to announce that Dr. Robert G. Gregerson has been named President of Pitt-Greensburg, effective July 1, 2019.  He will also join the faculty as a full professor in the Division of Natural Sciences at Greensburg. 

Bob’s exceptional depth and breadth of experience uniquely positions him to lead Pitt-Greenburg forward. Over the past three decades, Bob has served in academic leadership positions and professional appointments at large and medium-sized public universities, as well as at an independent liberal arts college.

In his most recent role, as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Florida Gulf Coast University, he focused his efforts on a successful advancement plan designed to generate long-lasting, positive changes benefitting programs, faculty, and students. Simultaneously, Bob served as acting provost and vice president for academic affairs and then as senior advisor to the provost. In that time, he developed a career and peer mentoring initiative for humanities majors, increased online and hybrid course offerings, strengthened relationships with the Seminole tribe for the school’s archeological and environmental programming, and spearheaded efforts to boost student engagement with college leadership.

Formerly, Bob was a professor of biology and department head at Armstrong State University, before becoming dean of its College of Science and Technology. While there, he helped launch the health informatics program; added an NSA-approved cybersecurity program; initiated the College Advising and Student Success Center; and fostered a curricular redesign to increase online offerings and options for adult learners. Bob earlier served as assistant professor of biology, the Willie Dillard Bryan Associate Professor of Biology, and chair of the Science Division at Lyon College. He began his career in higher education as a research geneticist with the University of Minnesota/U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Bob’s area of research is the biology, physiology, molecular biology, and genetics of plants—topics on which he is widely published and for which his research is frequently cited.

He credits his experience as a faculty member and administrator with instilling an appreciation for how a diverse mix of liberal arts and professional programs provide a breadth of opportunities for students, as well as the important role regional universities play in meeting the needs of the communities they serve.

His dedication to students, faculty, and academic programs shines through in the collaborative, strategic planning, and development efforts demonstrated in his past appointments. It is wonderful to see his demonstrated appreciation for the power of personalizing the education experience, and his commitment to diversity and inclusion, which are so much a part of the Plan for Pitt.

Bob earned his PhD in Molecular Genetics from the University of Georgia, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology and a minor in German from Wabash College.

I sincerely appreciate the meticulous work of the search committee—chaired by our Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies Joseph McCarthy—and am grateful for every community member who participated in this important process.  

Best,

Ann E. Cudd
Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor