Pitt’s Office of the Provost has appointed 2 new faculty fellows

The Office of the Provost at the University of Pittsburgh recently announced the appointment of two new faculty fellows: Shelome Gooden and David Sanchez.

Sanchez, associate director of Pitt’s Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation, began the fellowship effective Feb. 1.

In the role, the associate professor of civil and environmental engineering will lead efforts to strengthen faculty mentorship and enhance academic advising, ensuring all students receive the support they need to navigate the vast array of opportunities available at Pitt.

As part of the University’s Academic Advising Coordination initiative, he will work with Pitt’s Undergraduate Studies team to engage faculty and staff advisors across campus to identify best practices, foster a strong mentoring community and ensure students benefit from comprehensive guidance throughout their academic journey. Additionally, he will lead the faculty mentoring subcommittee of the University Undergraduate Advising Committee, providing a structured forum to enhance faculty engagement.

Gooden, Pitt’s first assistant vice chancellor for research in the humanities, arts, social sciences and related fields, began her fellowship effective Feb. 24.

Over the next two years, she will contribute to strategic planning and initiatives aligned with the Plan for Pitt 2028, with a focus on amplifying research in the humanities, arts and social sciences (HASS) and advancing faculty and leadership development.

As assistant vice chancellor, Gooden plays a critical role in fostering interdisciplinary collaborations and research synergies beyond laboratory and clinical settings. She also serves as ex-officio on the University Research Council, working to develop institutional-level funding to support research in these disciplines.

Along with serving as chair of the Department of Linguistics in the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences for six years, Gooden is a 2022 research leader fellow of the APLU Council on Research. In 2023, she co-created the national Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Research Leaders Network (HASS-RLN).