Kevin Washo won a Pittsburgh Business Times C-Suite Award

Kevin Washo (A&S ’04), Pitt’s senior vice chancellor for university relations and Chancellor Joan Gabel’s chief of staff, was recently named a winner of the Pittsburgh Business Times’ C-Suite Awards. The awards recognize “those in executive leadership positions who are going above and beyond to make a difference not only in their respective companies and organizations, but also across the region.” The news organization celebrated the recipients at a reception at Acrisure Stadium on Oct. 30.

“Kevin, with his extensive institutional knowledge and ability to forge key relationships, is a major reason why the University of Pittsburgh is a success and was key to my transition last year,” said Chancellor Gabel. “I’m thrilled to see him recognized with an award that he clearly deserves, and I look forward to continuing to partner with him to advance all that is possible at Pitt.”

“The University of Pittsburgh saw a significant change in leadership with Joan Gabel’s arrival as chancellor in July 2023, and Kevin Washo was a key figure behind the scenes in making that transition a success,” John Verbanac, chairperson of Pitt’s Board of Trustees, said in his nomination. “Washo leverages his strategic vision and strength in building networks to collaborate with colleagues across the University and with communities and constituencies in Pittsburgh and beyond to drive opportunity for the entire commonwealth.”

As senior vice chancellor for university relations, Washo leads three distinct units: the Office of Government Relations and Advocacy, the Office of Engagement and Community Affairs, and the Office of University Communications and Marketing.

Washo earned recognition earlier this year as a “Higher Education Trailblazer” by City & State PA.

Three other people with ties to Pitt joined Washo on the list of winners:

• John Graf (LAW ’90), president and CEO, Priory Hospitality Group
• Michael Keslar (BUS ’81G), interim CIO and global head of engineering, BNY; president, BNY Pennsylvania
• Pitt Trustee Kevin Walker, president and CEO, Duquesne Light Co.