Kris Davitt is stepping down as Pitt’s senior vice chancellor for philanthropic and alumni engagement

Senior Vice Chancellor for Philanthropic and Alumni Engagement Kris Davitt will step down from her position at the University of Pittsburgh to become senior vice president for development at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Davitt, who has more than 30 years' experience in fundraising, came to Pitt from the University of Pennsylvania in 2017 to serve as the inaugural vice chancellor for development and alumni relations for Pitt, as well as chief development officer for UPMC and president of the Medical and Health Sciences Foundation.

“Since 2017, Kris has had an outsized impact on fundraising not only at Pitt but also at UPMC,” said Chancellor Joan Gabel in her message to faculty and staff. “I’ve appreciated [her] professionalism and partnership, and I, like many across our Pitt community, will miss her dedication, boundless energy, and wonderful sense of humor.”

During her tenure leading fundraising for Pitt and its clinical partner UPMC, Davitt’s Division of Philanthropic and Alumni Engagement (PAE) secured transformational gifts that led to the naming of the David C. Frederick Honors College, the Chris Bickell ’97 Head Football Coach and the Orland Bethel Musculoskeletal Research Center. Additionally, a $100 million gift from the Richard King Mellon Foundation in support of the Pitt BioForge biomanufacturing facility was announced in 2021.

Davitt’s last day at Pitt will be April 18. The University will share more details about transition plans for PAE in the near future.