University of Pittsburgh trustees hear more about 5-year plan ahead of expected April vote; name new chairperson

University of Pittsburgh trustees Thursday heard an update on the university’s five-year strategic initiative dubbed “Plan for Pitt” and elected a new board chairman.

Their meeting was punctuated by a noisy but peaceful pro-Palestinan protest outside the Assembly Room in the William Pitt Union. The demonstrators numbering a few dozen —identifying themselves as students and employees from area universities — demanded a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.

Pitt trustees Thursday heard an update from Chancellor Joan Gabel on development of the Plan for Pitt, a guide for future universitywide efforts in areas such as student experience, academic progress, research, financial transparency and engagement with communities Pitt serves.

Gabel has devoted substantial time since her arrival in July to shepherding the plan by engaging with students, employees and others. The plan would be felt across Western Pennsylvania’s largest university and some 34,000 students on the main Oakland campus and branches at Bradford, Greensburg, Johnstown and Titusville.

The plan is seen as furthering efforts to raise Pitt’s national profile in varied areas including life-sciences and ventures that it spawns.

Gabel hopes to gain board approval in April.

“We are being very intentional about doing a lot of listening. I’m new. I want to make sure we hear all the different voices,” Gabel told Trib Live after Thursday’s meeting. “It’s hard to get excited about a strategic plan until you see how you’re going to show that it’s working.”

The trustees board continued what appears to be a move in recent months toward shifting some decision-making from individual committees to the full board and to re-examine member tenures.

Thursday’s meeting took place two days after Gov. Josh Shapiro proposed his state budget for 2024-25. It included a proposed 5% increase in funding for Pitt and the other state-related campuses of Penn State, Temple and Lincoln universities. He also proposed that state funding be tied to student outcomes.

“We’re grateful for Governor Josh Shapiro’s continued support of the University of Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania’s students and families,” Gabel said. “Pitt looks forward to working with the Shapiro Administration and the legislature to enact a higher education plan that delivers for students and puts Pennsylvania on a path to a more competitive workforce and a more robust economy.’’

Verbanac to become chairperson

John J. Verbanac Sr., a Pitt alumnus who has worked in real estate, private equity and in public relations and political strategy, was named trustees chair-elect. He will begin his one-year term on June 30.

Verbanac succeeds Louis Cestello, who stepped in after the abrupt resignation last summer of Douglas Browning for personal reasons.

Since 2003, Verbanac has served as president and CEO of Summa Development, a commercial real estate and private equity venture. During his tenure, he has been responsible for over a quarter of a billion dollars of projects, including those that have twice been named the recipient of the NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association Building of the Year award, Pitt officials said.

Verbanac began his career in government and politics as a deputy to U.S. Sen. H. John Heinz III and then as a senior advisor to then U.S. Representative Rick Santorum.

Verbanic has been a Pitt board member since 2007. He and his wife, the former Berdina “Bertie” Lanzo, live in the Laurel Highlands and have two children.