Pitt trustees reelect chair John Verbanac, add five new trustees and several honorary appointments

The University of Pittsburgh Board of Trustees voted to reelect John Verbanac as chair and Lisa A. Golden as vice chair for one‑year terms beginning July 1, 2026, and approved the election of five new trustees and several honorary appointments.

Pete Var Sketty, chair of the Governance, Nominating and Trusteeship Committee, told the board the committee met publicly on April 20 and recommended reelecting Verbanac and Golden, reelecting Salisa Barren and Ed Greffenstedt, and transitioning David Frederick from a special trustee to a term trustee. The committee also recommended five new trustees: Thomas Brooks, Jay Cleveland, Tony Fratto, Bill Pierce and Mary Beth Richards. On a voice vote the board approved the slate after motions were seconded; several trustees recorded abstentions as noted in the meeting record.

The committee also moved to confer meritous (honorary/emeritus) trustee status on Gary Brownlee, Jim Covert, Don Hickton and Val Engai in recognition of their service. The board approved those appointments following a second and a recorded vote that included abstentions by several trustees.

Separately, the committee recommended university directors to serve on the UPMC Board of Directors. The board approved the re‑election of Jim Covert and the election of Robbie Luxbacher to those positions.

The actions were presented as committee recommendations following public committee meetings; trustees asked no substantive policy questions before the votes were taken. Chair Verbanac congratulated the newly elected trustees and thanked continuing and outgoing members for their service.

The board also approved routine minutes and adjourned after recognizing outgoing trustees with presentations of board service medallions.