Robert F. Pack, Pitt Vice Provost for Academic Planning and Resources Management, to Retire

Robert F. Pack

Robert F. Pack, vice provost for academic planning and resources management at the University of Pittsburgh since 1993, will retire from the University, announced Pitt Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor James V. Maher.

Pack received both his MA and PhD degrees in English from Pitt, earning the latter in 1970; while a doctoral student at the University, he was awarded an Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship. He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa at West Virginia University, where he received his BA in 1965. He served as a member of the faculty and administration at Rutgers University before returning to Pitt in 1993 to assume the newly created position of vice provost for academic planning and resources management. Pack’s responsibilities at Pitt have included University-wide budgeting and capital planning for both academic and student life facilities and acting as liaison between Pitt’s four regional campuses and the provost.

“It might accurately be said that Bob Pack and I were brought together by accident,” said Pitt Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg. “He was recruited to Pitt from Rutgers by then-Provost Donald Henderson. However, by the time Bob arrived, Dr. Henderson had retired, and I had taken his place.  A lesser person might have quickly retreated back to New Jersey, but Bob decided to give me a chance, and both a productive professional partnership and a special friendship were born. The University of Pittsburgh has grown significantly in quality and impact during Bob’s service as vice provost, and that is no coincidence.  Bob’s contributions to our progress have taken many forms and have been very substantial.  Everyone who cares about Pitt is in his debt.”

“I accepted Bob’s wish to retire with both regret and deep appreciation for his loyalty and passionate commitment to the University,” Maher stated in making the announcement. “Bob was instrumental in the development of the University’s highly successful facilities plans; among his achievements are the programming and renovation of Alumni Hall and the development of enhanced student and residence hall facilities on all five campuses of the University. He has also taken a leading role in the successful integration of the regional campuses into the University.

“In addition, Bob was responsible for implementing Pitt’s new enterprise Student Information System, which won national recognition through a Computerworld award, and I know he is particularly proud of his efforts resulting in the recent establishment of the Office of Veterans Services. Building on his experience at Rutgers, he also led the integration of the arts into student life here at Pitt through the establishment of the Pitt Arts program,” Maher added.

In December, Pitt launched a national search for a new provost to succeed Maher, who will be returning to the Pitt faculty at the conclusion of the 2009-10 academic year or as soon after that as his successor can be in place. To facilitate the new provost’s smooth transition, Pack has agreed to continue in his current position during the fall term, but with a reduced workload; the search for a replacement for this senior staff position will take place under the leadership of the new provost.