The history of the Provost’s Inaugural Lecture Series goes back to 1988, when Provost Rudolph H. Weingartner established the program to celebrate the new appointments of faculty members to special chairs at the University. The intent of the program was to introduce the newly appointed faculty members, as well as their expertise, to the University community and the city.
Pitt's Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Fine Arts Elizabeth Johns delivered the first lecture in the series on January 28, 1988. Her talk, titled "From ‘Horse Trading’ to Broncobusting: Easterner and Westerner in 19th Century American Art," gave insights into American cultural history.
On April 5, 1988, Dr. James H. Herndon—then chief of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation at Presbyterian-University Hospital and new Dr. David Silver Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and chairman, Department of Orthopedics in School of Medicine—presented his lecture "From Health Spas to Biology and Bioengineering,” discussing historical treatments and updates on the care of people afflicted with arthritis.
More than 30 years later, the tradition of the Inaugural Lecture Series continues.
Today, just as in 1988, the event celebrates University faculty members’ appointments to endowed chairs and distinguished status with the presentation of a medallion, the faculty lecture marking the recent appointment, and a special reception with colleagues, family, and friends.
View the list of distinguished faculty at the University of Pittsburgh.
Note: The series was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic. When the series resumes, the current academic year’s Inaugural Lecture Series schedule will appear below.
- Provost's Inaugural Lecture Series, Fall 2019–Spring 2020
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Dr. Elizabeth Miller
Edmund R. McCluskey Endowed Chair in Pediatric Medical Education (Medicine)
October 1, 2019Dr. Howard Aizenstein
Charles F. Reynolds III and Ellen G. Detlefsen Endowed Chair in Geriatric Psychiatry (Medicine)
October 3, 2019Dr. John Wallace
David E. Epperson Endowed Chair (Social Work)
October 31, 2019Dr. David Lewis
Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry (Medicine)
November 5, 2019Dr. Volker Musahl
Blue Cross Western Pennsylvania Endowed Chair (Medicine)
November 8, 2019Dr. Toren Finkel
G. Nicholas III & Dorothy B. Beckwith Chair in Translational Medicine (Medicine)
November 18, 2019Dr. Paul Patterson
James O. Page Professor of Emergency Healthcare Worker Safety (Medicine)
December 5, 2019Dr. John A. Kellum
Endowed Chair in Critical Care Medicine Research (Medicine)
December 9, 2019Dr. Shaun M. Eack
James J. and Noel W. Browne Endowed Chair (Social Work)
December 19, 2019Prof. Anthony Infanti
Christopher C. Walthour, Sr. Professorship of Law (Law)
January 23, 2020Dr. Carla Nappi
Andrew W. Mellon Professor of History (Arts & Sciences)
February 6, 2020Dr. Aman Mahajan
Dr. Peter and Eva Safar Professor of Anesthesiology and Critical Care
March 26, 2020POSTPONED, Check back for rescheduled dateDr. Giovanni (Paolo) Galdi
Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science (Engineering)
April 9, 2020POSTPONED, Check back for rescheduled dateDr. Jeanne Marie Laskas
Distinguished Professor of English (Arts & Sciences)
April 30, 2020POSTPONED, Check back for rescheduled dateDr. Christian Wildberg
Andrew W. Mellon Professor of Classics
May 7, 2020POSTPONED, Check back for rescheduled dateUpdated March 12, 2020
View a PDF of the 2019–2020 Inaugural Lectures Schedule Announcement »
- Provost's Inaugural Lecture Series, Fall 2018–Spring 2019
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Dr. Robert Sweet
UPMC Professor of Psychiatric Neuroscience (Medicine)
September 6Dr. Anna Balazs
John A. Swanson Chair in Engineering (Engineering)
September 13Dr. Mark Shlomchik
UPMC Endowed Chair in Immunology (Medicine)
October 2Dr. Catherine Lamberton
Ben L. Fryrear Chair in Marketing (Business)
October 9Dr. Chitrabhanu Bhattacharya
H.J. Zoffer Chair in Sustainability and Ethics (Business)
October 23Mr. David Andrew Harris
Sally Ann Semenko Endowed Chair (Law)
October 25Dr. Dario Vignali
Frank Dixon Chair in Cancer Immunology (Medicine)
December 18Dr. Hulya Bayir
Chair in Critical Care Pediatric Research in the Department of Critical Care Medicine (Medicine)
January 15Dr. Colin Allen
Distinguished Professor of History and Philosophy of Science (Arts & Sciences)
March 21Dr. Terence S. Dermody
Vira I. Heinz Professorship in Pediatrics (Medicine)
April 2Dr. Sandra Mitchell
Distinguished Professor of History and Philosophy of Science (Arts & Sciences)
April 4Dr. Sundaram Hariharan
Robert J. Corry Chair in Transplantation Surgery (Medicine)
April 4, 2019Dr. Michael Colaresi
William S. Dietrich II Endowed Chair (Arts & Sciences)
April 11Dr. James Gordon Herman
UPMC Endowed Chair in Lung Cancer (Medicine)
May 8, 2019Dr. Catherine M. Bender
Nancy Glunt Hoffman Professor of Oncology Nursing (Medicine)
May 13Dr. Alison Morris
UPMC Chair in Translational Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (Medicine)
May 16Dr. Gwendolyn Sowa
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Chair (Medicine)
June 17, 2019Dr. Shari S. Rogal
John J. Fung/Astellas Pharma US, Inc., Assistant Professor in Transplant Surgery (Medicine)
June 24 - Provost's Inaugural Lecture Series, Fall 2017–Spring 2018
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Dr. Bruce Rollman
UPMC Endowed Chair in General Internal Medicine (Medicine)
September 7Dr. Steven Reis
Distinguished Service Professor of Medicine (Medicine)
October 5Dr. Edouard Machery
Distinguished Professor of History and Philosophy of Science (Arts & Sciences)
November 2Dr. John Jakicic
Distinguished Professor of Health and Physical Activity (Education)
November 9Dr. Oscar Lopez
Levidow-Pittsburgh Foundation Chair in Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Disorders (Medicine)
February 13Dr. Mary Phillips
Pittsburgh Foundation-Emmerling Endowed Chair in Psychotic Disorders (Medicine)
February 22Dr. Anuradha Ray
Chair in Lung Immunology (Medicine)
March 1Dr. Kirk Savage
William S. Dietrich II Chair (Arts & Sciences)
March 15Dr. Sharon Alvarez
Thomas W. Olofson Chair in Entrepreneurial Studies (Business)
April 3Dr. Robert Clark
CHP-Endowed Chair in Pediatric Critical Care Medicine (Medicine)
April 3Dr. Alan George
Ruth E. and Howard T. Mickle Chair in Electrical Engineering (Engineering)
April 5Dr. Vanitha Swaminathan
Thomas Marshall Chair in Marketing (Business)
April 17Dr. Jane Cauley
Distinguished Professor of Epidemiology (Public Health)
April 19Dr. Edward Burton
UPMC Endowed Chair in Movement Disorders (Medicine)
May 15Dr. Lev Khazanovich
Anthony E. Gill Chair in Civil and Environmental Engineering (Engineering)
May 15Dr. Victor Morell
Eugene S. Wiener Chair in Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery (Medicine)
May 17Dr. Thomas Gleason
UPMC Pellegrini Chair in Cardiothoracic Surgery (Medicine)
May 22Dr. Thanos Tzounopoulos
Endowed Chair in Auditory Physiology (Medicine)
May 31Dr. Prabir Ray
Chair in Lung Immunology (Medicine)
June 6Dr. Arjun Pennathur
Sampson Family Endowed Chair in Thoracic Surgery (Medicine)
June 20Dr. William Klunk Levidow
Pittsburgh Foundation Chair in Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Disorders (Medicine)
June 27 - Past Inaugural Lectures Schedule Announcements
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- Provost's Inaugural Lectures: Spring 2017
- Provost's Inaugural Lectures: November 2012–June 2013
- Provost's Inaugural Lectures: May–June 2012
- Provost's Inaugural Lectures: Spring 2012
- Provost's Inaugural Lectures: Fall 2011
- Provost's Inaugural Lectures: May-June 2011
- Provost's Inaugural Lectures: AY 2010–2011
- Provost's Inaugural Lectures: AY 2009–2010
- Provost's Inaugural Lectures: AY 2008-2009
- Provost's Inaugural Lectures: AY 2007–2008
- Provost's Inaugural Lectures: AY 2006–2007
- Provost's Inaugural Lectures: AY 2005–2006
- Provost's Inaugural Lectures: AY 2004–2005
- Provost's Inaugural Lectures: AY 2003–2004
- Provost's Inaugural Lectures: AY 2002–2003