Dear Colleagues,
One of my goals as Dean has been to create more leadership roles for faculty members at all ranks. Over the spring and summer, we posted, and interviewed candidates for, new Assistant Dean and Dean’s Fellow positions. The pool of candidates was outstanding and the choice was difficult, but we’re confident that these new colleagues will very quickly begin making a positive impact on the lives of our students and faculty.
These colleagues will support and expand upon the work our associate deans are doing, enabling us to address key areas of need more quickly and effectively.
Please join me in welcoming these news members to our leadership team.
Sincerely,
Dean Adam
Abdesalam Soudi, Dean's Fellow for Experiential Learning
Abdesalam Soudi is a dedicated sociolinguist with a keen interest in exploring the intricate relationship between language, society, and technology. He holds a full-time position of Teaching Associate Professor in the Department of Linguistics. Soudi is the visionary founder and director of the Linguistic Internship Program, a pioneer in the country in preparing students for challenging careers where linguistics is part of the solution, training them in a supportive environment, and strengthening Pitt Linguistics-industry partnerships to facilitate the exchange of knowledge through research and education. Soudi is the Primary Investigator for a Pitt seed-funded project focused on Humanities at Work in the Community, Health, and Tech Industries. He leads the Humanities in Health (HinH) Initiative at Pitt and led the publication of a Pitt special collection on Humanities in Health. Furthermore, he has chaired seven cross-disciplinary conferences. Soudi's comprehensive approach to education not only cultivates academic excellence but also ensures that trainees are equipped and empowered to succeed in a diverse array of careers.
Additionally, Over the past 17 years, and as part of HinH, he has co-directed a master’s level course on cultural competence in medical education through the Institute for Clinical Research Education (ICRE). His research portfolio spans conversation analysis, medical discourse, human-computer interface, sociolinguistics, electronic health records (EHRs), cross-cultural communication, statement analysis, linguistic diversity, and cultural competency. He also serves as Electus Faculty with the David C. Frederick Honors College. Soudi is the Faculty Lead for a Scholar Community focused on the intersection of health, language, religion, and spirituality (HeaLRS). In addition to his academic roles, he is Lead Developer of The Cultural Engagement Playbook®. His commitment to diversity and inclusion earned him the inaugural Diversity in the Curriculum Award in 2017. He was recognized as an "Honorary Employee" by M*Modal/3M in 2019. His research contributions are evident through publications in various academic journals and magazines. In 2020, he co-edited a volume titled "Diversity Across the Disciplines" and he produced a documentary on the meaning and value of diversity.
Soudi further contributes to fostering diversity, compassion, cultural humility and strengthening human connection as a member of the Dietrich School Faculty Diversity Committee.
Rosemary Capo, Assistant Dean for Recruiting and Belonging, Graduate Studies
Rosemary Capo is a professor in the Department of Geology and Environmental Science. She received her BS and MS in Geology from the University of Texas and PhD in Geochemistry from UCLA, with a focus on strontium isotope stratigraphy. She has over 25 years’ experience in the analysis of natural and produced waters, mineral, soil, and environmental samples, including four years as a postdoctoral researcher and research scientist at the California Institute of Technology and Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Capo’s research integrates field, micromorphological and petrographic analysis with geochemical and isotopic analysis to understand terrestrial processes.
Marc Coutanche, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs and Academic Integrity, Graduate Studies
Marc Coutanche is an associate professor in the Department of Psychology and Research Scientist in the Learning Research and Development Center, with secondary appointments in the Department of Neuroscience, Intelligent Systems Program, and Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition. Marc received his bachelor’s degree in Experimental Psychology from Oxford University, his PhD from the University of Pennsylvania, and completed postdoctoral training at Yale University.
Since joining Pitt in 2015, he has served as Advisor to numerous graduate students, Chair of the Cognitive Psychology Graduate Program, Instructor of graduate courses, and reviewer for internal graduate fellowships, as well as for the National Institutes of Health Predoctoral National Research Service Award. His research focuses on how humans learn and retrieve information from the brain’s memory systems. He has published work in many peer-reviewed journals and has grants from the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health. When not working, he enjoys kayaking, volunteering, and doting on his two very spoilt cats.
Andrew Lotz, Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies, Academic Program Development
Andrew Lotz PhD has a BA in Political Science and English Writing from Hope College (Holland, MI) and a master’s and PhD in Political Science from the University of Pittsburgh. He currently serves as an Assistant Dean in the Dietrich School, as well as a Lecturer and Advisor in the Department of Political Science. His work and teaching has focused on the intersection of pop culture and politics, with special attention to Manga comics and the Song of Ice and Fire series (Game of Thrones).
His current interest focuses on propaganda and myth and their role in regime support. When not flipping through a Judge Dredd comic book or stacks of propaganda, Andrew enjoys hobby painting and exploring Pittsburgh.
Erica McGreevy, Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies
Erica McGreevy is a Teaching Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, where she teaches Foundations of Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, and Communicating in the Biological Sciences. She earned a BS in Biology from James Madison University (2009) and a PhD in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology with a Minor in Teaching from the University of Pittsburgh (2014).
In addition to teaching, she is also engaged in education research as a founding member of the UBelong Collaborative—a multidisciplinary, cross-institutional initiative dedicated to developing, rigorously testing, and scaling affordable, classroom-based psychosocial-belonging interventions. Through this work, she aims to holistically understand and improve the student experience, with a particular focus on the impact of community and classroom climate on students' sense of belonging, motivation, engagement, learning, wellbeing, and persistence in college and their chosen major.
McGreevy is a recipient of the 2020 Tina and David Bellet Award for Teaching Excellence and the 2019 Provost’s Award for Diversity in the Curriculum.
Tim Tseng, Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Studies
Tim Tseng received his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 2008. In the fall of 2011, Tim began doctoral studies in organometallics and catalysis under the direction of Professor Nathaniel Szymczak at the University of Michigan. He was awarded a PhD in 2016, and then he pursed postdoctoral research at the National Energy Technology Laboratory in Pittsburgh.
In 2018, Tim joined the faculty at the University of Pittsburgh in a laboratory instructor role in the Department of Chemistry. In 2019, Tim started to teach Organic Chemistry I and II. Since then, Tim has also taught chemistry for our nursing students and the Honors Organic Lab Course – Research Exploration. His interests include science education as well as outreach in our community. In 2023, Tim became the faculty advisor to University of Pittsburgh’s national award-winning American Chemical Society-Student Affiliates group.
Eugene Wagner, Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs, Appointment Stream Faculty
Eugene Wagner comes to his role as Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs following many years as a successful scholar, mentor, and innovative instructor. His professional career is a testament to his broad experience and commitment to education. After earning a BS from Illinois State University, he worked in industry as a Plastics Engineer. His passion for education led him back to ISU for an MS in Chemistry, followed by a PhD in Physical Chemistry at the University of Florida. He further honed his skills through postdoctoral research and teaching at Wake Forest University. Since joining the Pitt faculty in 2000, he has been a key contributor and leader for the general and physical chemistry teaching programs, and he currently serves as the Director of the Physical Chemistry Teaching Laboratories.
Wagner's research interests and academic contributions are diverse, with a strong focus on chemical education and curriculum development. He has collaborated extensively with colleagues, graduate students, and undergraduates to develop evidence-based curricula and laboratory experiments that emphasize student-centered learning and the principles of constructivism. His primary objective is to create an inclusive, active learning environment where instructors act as facilitators, helping students construct their own knowledge. His published work, national presentations, and innovative classroom pedagogy underscore his commitment to fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation in higher education.
Wagner's leadership roles in both industry and academia have shaped his initiatives and focus. His experience includes management roles in industry, serving as an executive director, leadership on the Plant Utilization and Planning senate committee, and chairing departmental committees. Additionally, his extensive involvement in mentoring and developing appointment-stream faculty has further honed his efforts to enhance the faculty experience. He is passionate about creating an inclusive environment where all faculty can thrive and contribute to Pitt in a meaningful way while pursuing their creative and innovative interests. In his role as Assistant Dean, Wagner will focus on implementing strategic initiatives and mentoring programs designed to support and elevate the excellence and success of appointment-stream faculty.