Pitt’s Board of Trustees elected Louis Cestello as its chair

The University of Pittsburgh’s Board of Trustees elected Louis Cestello as its new chair at the Sept. 29 meeting. Cestello, who first joined the board in 2017, formerly served as vice chair and became interim chair in August 2023 following the resignation of Doug Browning.

Cestello earned a Bachelor of Arts in economics from Washington and Jefferson College and a Master of Business Administration from Duquesne University. He is PNC Bank’s head of regional markets and regional president of Pittsburgh and Southwestern Pennsylvania.

Paul Supowitz, special assistant for strategic initiatives in the Office of the Chancellor, was also elected as interim board secretary.

The meeting was Chancellor Joan Gabel’s first presentation to the board, where she gave updates on the search for Pitt’s next provost, as well as other University accomplishments over the past year. Watch as she discussed her vision for the next chapter of the Plan for Pitt and delivered her annual report.

The board also approved renovations to Crawford Hall, Chevron Science Center and two floors of Alumni Hall, as well as the disposition of the University of Pittsburgh Applied Research Center.

See the full meeting.