Michele Cruse (CGS ’00) has joined the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford as associate dean of student affairs and experiential education in the Office of Student Affairs. In the newly configured position, Cruse will oversee career services, judicial affairs, first-year experience and orientation, leadership development, and community and student engagement.

In addition to her work as director of TRIO Student Support Services at PCC, Cruse has worked in financial aid and student accounts, and as an adjunct instructor. Cruse also owned her own business and served as co-founder of an organization focused on workshops and education for community members, women, disenfranchised youth and those in alternative education.

A native of Pittsburgh, Cruse comes to Pitt–Bradford from Portland (Oregon) Community College where she served as dean of student development. Cruse earned her bachelor’s degree from the College of General Studies. She received a master’s degree at Portland State University and a doctorate in education at Oregon State University.

Pitt Information Technology is pleased to announce that Shahfar Shaari will join the department as director of organizational transformation. Shaari previously led change readiness efforts related to the implementation of Pitt Worx Talent Center in 2018 and 2019. 

In his new role, Shaari will guide organizational change—partnering with key stakeholders and collaborating with end-user groups—on the deployment and adoption of complex IT projects throughout the University. Shaari’s first order of business will be the Pitt Worx Human Capital Management implementation, which includes core HR, benefits, payroll and time and labor modules, and is scheduled to launch in January 2021.

Shaari has more than 20 years of experience leading organizational transformation. Previous positions include management at global firms such as AmerisourceBergen, KPMG and Willis Towers Watson; enterprise technology management; and working with systems by Oracle, SAP, Workday and others.

Jim Earle, associate vice chancellor for business and auxiliary services in Business and Operations, has been appointed to the position of associate dean for strategic development and operations in the School of Dental Medicine beginning April 1.

He has held key roles at the University for the past 26 years, including leadership positions in both business and auxiliary services and athletics. 

"A trusted, knowledgeable and insightful leader, Pitt Dental Medicine will benefit from Jim's incredible leadership," said Senior Vice Chancellor for Business and Operations Greg Scott.

During his 15 years in business and auxiliary services, Earle’s teams have worked hard to advance the University’s mission and count accomplishments that include:

• Initiated and funded more than $200 million in housing construction and renovation projects
• Increased the number of on-campus beds for undergraduate students by 2,000 since 2004 adding Panther, K. Leroy Irvis and Mark A. Nordenberg halls, as well as an expansion to Bouquet Gardens and conversion of Ruskin Hall to undergraduate housing 
• Renovated the Schenley Quad to make it a student-friendly space
• Developed and launched the Forbes Street Market grocery store
• Introduced the Choose to Reuse program to promote the use of reusable containers
• Secured four electric box trucks to campus, initiating the use and expansion of electric vehicles in addition to expanding EV charging stations on campus to support our commitment to sustainability
• Renovated the University Store on Fifth and Maggie & Stella’s, driving retail sales through enhanced guest experiences

Earle holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business from Miami University of Ohio and a Master of Business Administration and Doctorate of Education degrees from the University of Pittsburgh.

He looks forward to continuing his dedicated service to the University and working with faculty members, staff and students to take the School of Dental Medicine to new heights.

The School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences has named Leah Stephens-Howling clinical education administrator in the Department of Occupational Therapy. In this role, Stephens-Howling will support the communication and management of the occupational therapy clinical education program in the UPMC Health System. She received her BS in accounting from Pitt in 2011. 

Previously, Stephens-Howling worked in China teaching children English as a second language. She was also a grants administrator for Pitt's Department of Neurological Surgery.

Judith Chan has been named department financial assistant in the Department of Rehabilitation Science and Technology in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences.
 
Chan joins the University from JLL, a real estate services company, where she specialized in public institution accounts—specifically the U.S. Postal Service. Prior to that role, Chan worked for American Dental Partners and Brookdale Senior Living. Chan is a graduate of Ohio University.

The Office of Human Resources (OHR) is pleased to announce that Mark Burdsall will hold the new position of assistant vice chancellor of consulting services. According to Vice Chancellor Dave DeJong, a new consulting services unit will be composed of the compensation, employee and labor relations and organization development departments.

Burdsall has served OHR and Pitt for 22 years, leading countless organizational transformations in schools and departments across the University to better utilize existing resources and measure the true needs of each unit to achieve their goals. Burdsall has previously held the roles of director of compensation and most recently director of organizational development. 

Samantha Ford joins the Office of Sustainability as sustainability projects coordinator. This new position expands the University-wide Pitt Sustainability team, providing greater support for the Pitt Sustainability Plan’s goals and strategy. Ford will help coordinate sustainability projects campus-wide, including leading the Pitt Green Office and Green Lab programs; supporting zero waste events and initiatives; and communicating Pitt’s leadership and innovation across the equity, environmental and economic spectrum of sustainability. 

Ford’s professional and educational experience includes environmental analytics, embodied energy of technologies, wildlife conservation and biophilic resiliency initiatives that benefit both people and the planet.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and psychology and is pursuing a master’s in sustainability at Chatham University. Before entering graduate school, Ford was a research associate in the Department of Family Medicine. 

Ford is excited to be part of the university-wide Pitt Sustainability team supporting the mission of balancing equity, environment and economics to ensure current and future generations can thrive. If you are interested in getting involved to further the culture of sustainability at Pitt or becoming a Pitt Green Office or Green Lab, please contact Ford at Samantha.E.Ford@pitt.edu.

Jodi Cardone has joined the Office of Planning, Design and Real Estate in Business and Operations as director of real estate administration. In her role, Cardone oversees the University’s real estate and leasing portfolio, including contract management and assessment of new development opportunities.

She joins Pitt from the UPMC Corporate Real Estate team and brings demonstrated experience in commercial leasing, property management and market analysis.

Brian Bayer has been named communications specialist in the internal and external relations (I&ER) area of the dean's office in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS). His responsibilities include video production, updating and maintaining the school's social media accounts and website, designing print and electronic messaging and managing SHRS' digital signage and digital asset management system. 

Bayer first joined SHRS in April 2017 as the I&ER administrative assistant. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication and theatre arts from John Carroll University and is pursuing his Master of International Development from the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs.