July 9, 2026
Dear Colleagues,
As we continue advancing the Plan for Pitt, we are focused on creating the conditions that allow our students, faculty, and staff to thrive and on ensuring the University is positioned to support their excellence for years to come.
The excellence of our University is made possible by the people who learn, teach, discover, heal, and serve here every day. Our responsibility is to ensure they are supported by systems, services, and resources that enable them to do their best work and continue advancing Pitt’s mission.
To support this work, Don Elliott will assume an additional role as Special Assistant to the Executive Senior Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance and Chief Financial Officer, while continuing to serve as Vice Provost for Budget and Institutional Effectiveness.
This expanded role reflects the importance of the close partnership between our academic and administrative leadership teams as we continue building the systems, services, and support structures that enable our community to thrive. In this capacity, Don will help lead efforts to strengthen service, support continuous improvement across the University, enhance the experience of our community, and better leverage data, technology, and AI-enabled tools in support of Pitt’s mission.
We are grateful to Don for his leadership and willingness to take on this additional responsibility. Please join us in congratulating him on this expanded role and thanking him for his continued service to the University.
Sincerely,
Joseph J. McCarthy
Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor
Dwayne Pinkney
Executive Senior Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance
Chief Financial Officer