Dear Colleagues,
I am pleased to share several changes that will strengthen the University Center for Teaching and Learning (UCTL) and further align its work with the University’s priorities.
Over the past academic year, Mike Arenth and Bridget Ridge have served as the UCTL’s interim Co-Executive Directors. Both have been part of the UCTL for many years and bring deep knowledge of the center, its work, and the faculty, instructors and students it serves. Their co-leadership model has proven successful, providing strong and complementary leadership and continuing the UCTL’s momentum in advancing teaching and learning across Pitt.
Based on the success of this model, I have asked Mike and Bridget to continue in these roles as the UCTL’s permanent Co-Executive Directors, effective October 1, 2026. I am confident that their continued partnership will position the UCTL well for the future and build on the progress made over the past year. The UCTL will continue to serve faculty and instructors across the University, providing the resources, expertise, and programming that support excellence in teaching and learning.
I have also decided that the UCTL will report to Adam Lee, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies. The UCTL is central in supporting the University's educational mission, and its work aligns closely with Adam's expertise in the structures and policies that support our students' academic experiences. In addition, this provides an opportunity to build upon existing collaborations between Adam’s team and the UCTL, and to better incorporate the UCTL into ongoing collaborations between the OTP Academic Team and the LRDC in support of student learning. Alongside the recent appointment of April Belback as Vice Provost for Student Success, this increases our institutional capacity to build both the structural and relational sides of student success.
In addition, the Center for Mentoring within the UCTL will now report to Amanda Godley, Vice Provost for Graduate Studies. Amanda’s work with CIMER (Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research) and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation has helped build institutional capacity for mentoring, particularly at the doctoral level, providing a strong foundation that the Center for Mentoring can complement and extend. This change will create opportunities to more closely integrate the center’s work with the University’s broader priorities for graduate student success, professional development, and faculty mentoring.
These changes reflect my commitment to ensuring that Pitt has the leadership structures and resources needed to support outstanding teaching and learning at every level of the University.
I am grateful to Mike, Bridget, Adam, and Amanda for their leadership and partnership, and I look forward to the work and collaboration ahead.
Regards,
Joseph J. McCarthy
Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor