Douglas Browning, the chairman of the University of Pittsburgh’s board of trustees, has resigned from the chair position and board due to an “unanticipated personal matter,” according to Pitt officials.
Vice chairman and PNC Bank regional president Louis Cestello will step into the chairman role, according to emeritus trustee James Roddey.
Available trustees discussed the matter during a conference call that was closed to the public Tuesday afternoon. No action was to be taken during the call, Pitt spokesman Jared Stonesifer said.
Mr. Browning, who was two months into his second term as chairman, was instrumental in selecting the university’s next chancellor after former Chancellor Patrick Gallagher announced his plans to retire. The board ultimately selected Joan Gabel, a seasoned higher education administrator who began her Pitt chancellorship in July.
When Ms. Gabel was hired, the former chairman said she “led the field of candidates.” Mr. Browning also addressed Ms. Gabel’s $950,000 base salary, which is over $250,000 more than what her predecessor earned, and her resignation from the board of a financial services company that spurred controversy at the university she previously led.
In a statement, Ms. Gabel thanked Mr. Browning for his leadership and service to the Pitt community.
“As a Pitt family, we stand in appreciation for his unyielding commitment to serving others and his undeniable passion for this institution as an alumnus and Pitt parent, which has made the university stronger and better in every way,” Ms. Gabel said in the statement.
Mr. Browning joined the board 10 years ago. When the board first elected him chair in 2022, he became the first Black person to serve in the position.
A Pitt graduate, Mr. Browning is currently the principal of an independent consulting firm. He previously worked as deputy commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“The university made tremendous strides during his 10 years on the board, and the Pitt community is abundantly grateful for his service,” Mr. Stonesifer said in an email.
Mr. Cestello was serving his third term as vice chairman before the leadership switch. A graduate from Washington & Jefferson College and Duquesne University, Mr. Cestello joined the board in 2017.
Per board bylaws, Mr. Cestello will act as board chair until a new leader is elected. The chair, who is elected annually, precedes over all board and executive committee meetings.
The board’s next meeting is scheduled Sept. 29.
First Published: August 15, 2023, 5:28 p.m.
Updated: August 16, 2023, 1:27 p.m.
