Longtime Pitt education dean will step down
The University of Pittsburgh will see a transition in its school of education when longtime dean Alan Lesgold steps down in August 2016 after 16 years in the job.
Mr. Lesgold, 69, has a career at Pitt spanning nearly 45 years.
In an interview this week, he said that after relinquishing the deanship, he will continue part time at Pitt in a still-being-developed role that will involve strengthening the university’s use of technology in teaching.
On one hand, Mr. Lesgold said, there are colleagues he would love to work with forever.
“On the other hand, I think the school is strong. I hope I strengthened it a little bit, and if the school is stronger, then it should be able to get a stronger dean.”
He expressed gratitude to the university, noting that his role has changed several times during his campus career and that each time Pitt provided him with support. “I've had an incredible run,” he said.
A statement summarizing his contributions since becoming dean in 2000 noted that he has recruited more than half of its tenured and tenure-stream faculty. It said he has been involved in raising approximately $57 million toward the school’s capital campaign goal and boosting grant funding.
“For 15 years, Dean Lesgold has served to further strengthen the University’s School of Education,” chancellor Patrick Gallagher said in a statement announcing the move. “His dedication to helping produce educators prepared to impact the lives of children at all educational levels in all types of neighborhoods, as well as supporting incisive research within the school, has made a positive impact both in our area and nationwide.”
After earning a doctoral degree in psychology from Stanford University, Mr. Lesgold arrived at Pitt in 1971 as an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology.
In 1985, he was elevated to full professor. Mr. Lesgold was the associate director of the Learning Research and Development Center for over a decade beginning in 1986 and was executive associate director from 1997 to 2000.
Pitt's announcement said Mr. Lesgold worked to increase collaborations between the school and Pitt’s Learning Research and Development Center, creating the Center for Urban Education, and centers on healthy lifestyle and motivation, engagement and persistence.
A search committee will look for a successor.