Every weekday morning around 7 a.m., as I waited for my bus to get to school, I would see a man on a walk down Fifth Avenue heading toward the Cathedral of Learning in Oakland. We shared our daily hellos (and maybe a joke or two about the weather). I noticed him attempted to keep a low profile (head hung low, a briefcase in hand, in a hurry), but he always nodded and smiled to those who said hi. I didn’t understand why people stopped and tried to talk to this man about budgets and infrastructure. It wasn’t until one day someone said, in passing, that’s the chancellor of Pitt!
When contemplating my decision to attend the University of Pittsburgh back in August 2018, I remembered Chancellor Patrick Gallagher’s daily walks and his empathy toward others. Kind, engaging and always ready to lead, his leadership had an impact on me long before I became a Pitt student. I wanted to go to a university where the administration cared about the student body and where the leadership saw students as equals.
On my journey to choosing Pitt, I also remembered a few words the chancellor said to the class of 2022 during orientation week: We all have a responsibility to society to do the hard work, ensure a better future for all and lead with empathy. Those words resonated with me so much that I emailed the chancellor to ask if we could connect in person about his journey and advice he had to share.
The fact that the chancellor, along with his chief of staff Kevin Washo, responded to my email inquiry and met with me not even a few weeks into school to chat about careers and the Pitt experience is pretty incredible. Out of over 34,000 students, Gallagher cared about me and my Pitt journey. He wanted me to know that Pitt is a welcoming community — a place where everyone belongs.
This meeting has stayed with me throughout my time at Pitt, and as I prepare to graduate in May, I’ll never forget his encouraging words and kindness. He told me that my time at Pitt will go by fast, and that I must challenge myself and take on new opportunities with pride, not fear.
I’m thankful I had the chance to be a student during Gallagher’s administration. All I can say is thank you, Chancellor Gallagher. The new chancellor named after your retirement in summer 2023 will have big shoes to fill, but I hope they choose empathy and kindness like you always have.
Ashley Lynn Priore is a University of Pittsburgh senior.
