Ann E. Cudd Named University of Pittsburgh Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor

Ann E. Cudd, dean of the College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences at Boston University, has been named provost and senior vice chancellor at the University of Pittsburgh. She was elected by the University’s Board of Trustees at its June 29 meeting.

She succeeds Patricia E. Beeson, who announced her return to Pitt’s economics faculty in November 2017. Cudd will begin her tenure at Pitt in fall 2018.

“Ann has a rare capacity to move among the roles of scholar, leader, collaborator and teacher with exceptional ease and remarkable impact,” said Chancellor Patrick Gallagher. “But, what has impressed me most about Ann, so far, is her vision for Pitt. It is bold, bright and certain to enhance the University of Pittsburgh’s mission to leverage knowledge for society’s gain. I am thrilled that she is returning to Pitt and excited to watch our University community’s commitment to academic excellence advance in her hands.”

As the University’s chief academic officer, Cudd (A&S ’84G, ’86G, ’88G) will lead the development and implementation of Pitt’s academic vision, overseeing the four regional campuses; several centers and other academic areas; and all of the Pittsburgh campus’s schools.

“I have known Ann since she was a graduate student at Pitt and have followed her remarkable career,” said Beeson. “I have been deeply impressed by her many significant accomplishments as both a scholar and academic leader. I am confident that with her leadership the University will continue on its path to even greater success.”

Cudd has served as an administrator and as a professor of philosophy at Boston University since August 2015. As dean, she supervises the academic and research operations of more than 700 full-time faculty members and more than 7,000 students.

“I am thrilled to return to the University of Pittsburgh as provost,” said Cudd. “Pitt holds a special place in my heart. It’s a great university that is energizing economic development and social mobility in Western Pennsylvania. I am excited to find ways that we can do even more to promote our world-class liberal education and innovative research to the broader national and global community.”

She added, “I look forward to working with deans, faculty, staff and students to increase the diversity and inclusiveness of the University community and to fully engage my fellow alumni for a lifelong connection to the University we love.”

She previously worked at the University of Kansas for 25 years in a variety of faculty and administrative roles, most recently as a University Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and as vice provost and dean of undergraduate studies. She also held a two-year faculty appointment at Occidental College in Los Angeles.

Rob A. Rutenbar, senior vice chancellor for research and chair of the provost search committee, said, “I’m grateful for the extraordinary diligence and hard work of our search committee, who dedicated a huge amount of time to this critical undertaking. I’m truly delighted with the selection of Ann Cudd as our next provost; Ann brings a record of distinguished scholarship and exceptionally deep leadership experience to this role, and I’m especially happy to welcome a prominent Pitt alum back home.”

As a philosopher, Cudd has explored a number of topics — including capitalism, feminism, inequality and oppression — in more than 50 books, articles and chapters. One of those books, “Analyzing Oppression,” was recognized as an Outstanding Academic Title in 2007 by the Association of College and Research Libraries’ publishing unit Choice.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Ann Cudd back to the University and the department,” said Robert Batterman, professor and chair of the Department of Philosophy within the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences. “Her scholarly work — ranging from social and political philosophy and feminist theory to the philosophy of economics — has informed her approaches to current issues impacting higher education. Cudd’s research, along with her service to higher education, will considerably strengthen not only our department but also the University of Pittsburgh as a whole.”

Her research interests are also reflected in her leadership as vice president and president-elect of the American section of the International Association for the Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy.

Cudd received her PhD in philosophy and master’s degrees in economics and philosophy from the University of Pittsburgh and earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and philosophy at Swarthmore College.