The University of Pittsburgh will soon be looking for a new chancellor. Mark Nordenberg told the University’s Board of Trustees Friday that he will leave the post in the summer of 2014.
Nordenberg has served in the position for 19 years and said in a written statement, “Serving as Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh has been the greatest privilege of my professional life.” The statement goes on to read, “It has provided daily opportunities to make meaningful contributions to an institution to which I am fully committed and owe so much and to team with large numbers of amazingly talented people whose collective efforts have propelled Pitt forward.”
Nordenberg said he is willing to stay with the university in some role and suggested he might be best used in an external relations position.
Board of Trustees Chair Stephen Tritch did not comment directly on that idea but did say the board will begin a search for a new chancellor soon calling it the “single most important task that this Board has undertaken since Mark [Nordenberg] was elected Chancellor.
“Mark Nordenberg has been an absolutely outstanding Chancellor, Tritch said. “He assumed this important position at a time when institutional progress on many fronts seemed to be stalled, assembled an outstanding leadership team, and energized all of the University’s many constituent groups.”
Nordenberg said he is still full of excitement for the post and is looking forward to serving out the last year but went on to say, “I also recognize that my tenure has been a long one, know that even good things ultimately must come to an end, and believe that we should move forward with the process of identifying a successor whose leadership skills will help ensure that Pitt continues to add to its extraordinary record of achievement and impact in the years ahead.”
Board Vice Chair Eva Tansky Blum will head up the initial search effort.
The announcement comes as Carnegie Mellon University President Jared Cohen prepares to leave his post. Cohen’s last day will be Sunday. Dr. Subra Suresh will take the post of CMU President Monday.
