Hearing from University Leadership

Ann E. Cudd, Provost

I think the title of this forum: Progress through Partnerships: Advancing Community Resilience really sums up not only the great work we are going to hear about today but also points to challenges we have overcome. Despite the adversity presented by the pandemic, we persevere—with determination and humility—and gain new knowledge in the process. And we celebrate the deep and outstanding community-engaged scholarship taking place across all University of Pittsburgh campuses.

No doubt, the power generated through the partnerships we form, the research and discovery that are emerging because of them, and the people at the heart of these exceptional efforts, are even more vital than ever before. Today’s impressive forum programming reflects just that. The vibrant work happening here not only drives vital University-community partnerships—but changes lives in the process.

Kathy Humphrey, Senior Vice Chancellor for Engagement

The University of Pittsburgh has a long and rich history of service to the city of Pittsburgh and surrounding region. Our goal has always been to leverage our teaching and research to support the priorities and needs of the communities in which we reside, as we believe this creates strong communities and in turn, a stronger university. And over the years, our commitment of service to the community has only grown deeper and our investment within the community only extends wider.

And while we have had great success over the years, we recognize that we have not done this work by ourselves. We understand that what has made our efforts possible are the relationships we have built with organizations that share our values and our commitment to improving and uplifting our communities through engagement, scholarship, and service.

We honor those relationships and celebrate the tremendously important work being done across our campuses, throughout our city, and around the world. Because of our community partners we are able to align our engagement mission with organizations who best serve the communities in which we co-exist.

Through their innovative work, we have created unique opportunities to educate, to include, and to connect as we sheltered in place and practiced social distancing. And while it has been challenging, in true Pitt spirit we have risen to the challenge and remained committed to service.