Nena Ansari joined the Office of Community and Governmental Relations as the assistant director of operations for the Community Engagement Centers (CEC).

In this new position, Ansari will provide operational and administrative support to the Community Engagement Center initiative in both Homewood and the Hill District. The CEC is part of Pitt’s Neighborhood Commitments, an effort to build stronger communities and a stronger University based on long-term, place-based partnerships.

Ansari previously served as a research review analyst on the Institutional Review Board in the Human Research Protection Office at Pitt. She brings personal and professional connections to the Homewood and Hill District communities as a lifelong resident of Pittsburgh.

Tara Wilson Byrne joins the Department of Physical Therapy in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences as administrative assistant to research faculty. 

She will support research faculty with coordinating pre-award grant applications and submissions, managing initial activities of post-awards, assisting in manuscript preparation and other scheduling and logistics in regards to research. 

Byrne hails from the Department of Neurological Surgery, where she served as the administrative coordinator since 2016. She has worked with UPMC and Pitt since 1995. 

The School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences’ Office of Online Learning is expanding with the addition of Katy Holt as instructional technologist. 

At SHRS, whether observing classes or discussing teaching practices, she’ll act as a resource for adapting learning from face-to-face settings to asynchronous or online environments.

Holt is a Virginia native who recently relocated to Pennsylvania, having come to Pitt from the University of Arizona.

Kirk An joined the Office of University Communications in October as an editorial production specialist. 

In this new role, An supports the digital production for University communications channels including @Pitt, My Pitt, Pittwire and Pittwire Health.

An is a 2017 graduate of Wheaton College in Illinois, where he was assistant editor, editor in chief and spotlight editor of the college newspaper. He completed fellowships and internships and freelanced for media outlets including USA Today, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune and Religion News Service. Most recently, he was the assistant editor at Providence Magazine in Washington, D.C.

Sauntee’ Turner joined the Office of University Communications team in August as an executive speechwriting specialist. In this position, she supports members of Chancellor Patrick Gallagher’s leadership team in their speeches and presentations.

Turner has a wealth of experience in public relations, special events and executive communications. During a decade of service with the City of Pittsburgh, she worked in parks and recreation, public safety, and the Office of the Mayor.

She is a Pitt alumna, having earned her Bachelor of Arts in communications and rhetoric. Turner also holds a Master of Arts in professional writing from Chatham University.