November 4, 2025
Dear Colleagues,
In 2018, during the School of Social Work’s 100th anniversary, Betsy Farmer took on the role of dean, bringing vision and a deep commitment to advancing the school’s strong mission.
Today, I share the news that Betsy has decided to step down from her role and return to faculty, effective July 2026.
Under Betsy’s leadership, the School of Social Work has advanced in truly significant ways. During her time as Dean, the school has strengthened student success and sense of belonging through streamlined onboarding and advising for new students, expanded and refined orientation initiatives, focused curricular review and revisions, and expanded efforts to provide a supportive and responsive culture and climate.
Importantly, her leadership has helped drive an increase in access and future growth for Pitt’s MSW program with the launch of the MSW online option. This fall marks not only a transformative chapter in the school’s reach and impact but reflects the tireless work on the part of Betsy and her team.
Betsy has championed access and affordability by expanding partnerships with community colleges and reviewing financial aid awarding to remove barriers for students. She has also deepened the school’s community engagement through strong collaborations in Pittsburgh and beyond, expanded its research portfolio by building infrastructure and supporting faculty success in funded research, and recruited senior faculty whose expertise will shape the school’s future scholarship and impact.
In the time ahead, I will appoint a search committee and launch a national search to find the next leader who will build on her remarkable accomplishments.
Please join me in thanking Betsy for her exceptional leadership, deep dedication, and lasting contributions to the School of Social Work and the University of Pittsburgh.
Regards,
Joe
Joseph J. McCarthy
Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor
William Kepler Whiteford Professor of Chemical Engineering