Belkys Torres: Associate Vice Provost for Inclusive Excellence in Education

December 20, 2022

Dear Colleagues,

I am very pleased to announce that effective January 1, Dr. Belkys Torres will be joining the Office of the Provost (OTP) as Associate Vice Provost for Inclusive Excellence in Education. In this role, Belkys will focus on increasing educational equity by identifying and working toward the removal of academic and structural barriers to student persistence and completion, with an emphasis on those issues that disproportionately impact select student groups. Belkys, who recently also accepted an offer to join the English department as an assistant teaching professor, will report to Joe McCarthy, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies.

Belkys has been at Pitt for seven years, most recently serving as the executive director of global engagement at the University Center for International Studies. Among her many significant contributions, she served to advance and assess global learning; improve processes and procedures related to international partnership agreements; and led the implementation of key initiatives in Pitt’s strategic and global plans. Additionally, Belkys co-chaired the University’s Year of Pitt Global committee (AY 2018-2019), as well as the Embracing the World Working Group during Pitt's decennial reaffirmation of accreditation through Middle States.

In her capacity as Associate Vice Provost for Inclusive Excellence in Education, Belkys will leverage her considerable strengths in communication, collaboration, and coordination in partnering with the OTP's Director of Student Success and the Director of the Educational Outreach Center, as well as the Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and others across the University to foster academic success for all Pitt undergraduates.

Please join me in congratulating Belkys.

Best,
Ann

Ann E. Cudd
Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor

Professor of Philosophy
University of Pittsburgh