Nicola Foote ‘excited’ to take over as new Honors College dean

Millicent Watt Senior Staff Writer

Nicola Foote, the incoming dean of Pitt’s University Honors College, said being a first-generation college student at the University College London helped her experience and understand “the transformative power of a rigorous undergraduate education.”

With her own chance to succeed academically, Foote said it’s a “privilege” to help students explore their passions and succeed academically.

“I had the incredible privilege of providing thousands of Honors students with opportunities to explore and excel,” Foote said. “There is simply nothing that brings me greater professional joy than helping students find their intellectual passion and accomplish their academic goals.”

After a committee began a search for a new dean last fall, Provost Ann Cudd appointed Foote to the position on April 8. Foote — who will officially begin her role on July 1 — said she “could not be more excited or honored” to become the UHC dean.

“It provides a rare space for students to pursue their own intellectual interests, to explore the connections between ideas from across disciplinary boundaries and to engage with other intellectually curious and highly motivated students both inside and outside of the classroom,” Foote said.

The Honors College Dean position has faced significant turnover — Foote is the third dean within the last four years. Prior to Foote, Audrey Murrell served as acting dean for about a year and a half from 2019-21, but stepped down in February due to “personal reasons.” Joseph McCarthy, the vice provost for undergraduate studies, is serving as the interim dean until Foote begins her term.

Students planning to join the Honors College must apply for admission and if accepted, receive benefits such as early class enrollment, an honors degree or distinction, and a network of successful and supportive Pitt alumni. Other initiatives within the Honors College include scholar communities, an Honors joint degree and the option to live in Honors housing.

Foote said she wants to continue to strengthen the Honors Living Learning Communities as well as Pitt Honors’ global learning and community engagement programming. Foote also said students pursuing an Honors degree, Honors distinction or Bachelor of Philosophy will be encouraged to “cross boundaries” — an idea implemented by Murrell — through support from the Pitt faculty, staff and alumni. Murrell said “crossing boundaries” is a way of moving “beyond the things that limit our thinking, restrict our experiences and block our ability to understand others and the world around us.”

Foote also said she wants to expand Honors course offerings, maximize opportunities for mentorship and research and refine the Honors Outside the Classroom Curriculum, including partnering with local underserved high schools and community colleges, and the Justice and Equity Honors Network.

Before coming to Pitt, Foote worked in University Wide Programs and Faculty Engagement at Florida Gulf Coast University and Arizona State University’s honors college. She holds doctorate and bachelor’s degrees from the Univer-

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