President of University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg to Retire

PITTSBURGH-Frank A. Cassell, president of the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg, has announced that he will retire from that position, effective June 30, 2007.

In commenting on Cassell's decision, Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg stated, "During Dr. Cassell's tenure as its president, the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg has advanced on every front. Its academic programs are stronger, its student life is richer, and its campus is more attractive. He also has been an exceptional civic leader who has built bridges to the community that should last for many years to come. By the time he steps down, Frank will have been a part of the University's leadership team for a decade. We are grateful for all of his many contributions and certainly will wish him well in his retirement. First, though, we want to help him make sure that his last year as president is his best year at Pitt."

"I have very much enjoyed working with President Cassell," added Pitt Provost James V. Maher. "The La Cultura program he developed has been successful in promoting global awareness and study abroad opportunities for students at the Greensburg campus. He has been a successful fundraiser and a strong advocate for regional partnerships."

The innovative Academic Villages offer Greensburg students a chance to live in residence halls with other students who share the same academic interests. Nonresident students also are encouraged to participate in village activities that match their own interests, for example, the Rossetti International House, an Academic Village that sponsors international cultural events.

Cassell became president of Pitt-Greensburg in 1997. Under his leadership, enrollment grew from 1,150 to 1,700, 13 buildings were renovated or newly built, classrooms and laboratories were modernized, and a new campus entrance was built. He also established an office to support student study abroad opportunities, raised funds for scholarships, and secured agreements with the University of Havana and the University of Guanajuato, Mexico, that allowed UPG students to work and study at these institutions.

Cassell received the B.A. degree in history from Wabash College and the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in history from Northwestern University. He began his faculty career at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he held positions as professor of history, chair of the history department, assistant chancellor for university relations, and dean of the School of Social Welfare. He served as vice provost and dean of the Albert A. Robin Campus of Roosevelt University from 1991 to 1997.

He is the author of Merchant Congressman in the Young Republic: Samuel Smith of Maryland, 1752-1839 (University of Wisconsin Press, 1971). He coauthored The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee: A Historical Profile, 1885-1992 (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Foundation, 1992) and coedited Seeds of Crisis: Public Schooling in Milwaukee Since 1920 (University of Wisconsin Press, 1993). Cassell also has written extensively about the legacy of General Edward Braddock and published numerous articles and book reviews in scholarly journals. He has received many awards from various historical societies.

A search committee will be formed to identify a successor to Cassell by next spring.

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7/10/07/tmw