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in good taste
David L. Finegold, DPhil
President of Chatham University SBy Reese Randall | Special Projects Editor
ettling in as the new president of Chatham University,
Dr. Finegold—a 30-year long leader in higher education, including, but not limited to researcher, professor, academic officer and author—shares the whirlwind it’s been since he and his wife Susan arrived to campus this past summer. “This is the first time we’ve been to Pittsburgh and the peo- ple here are so welcoming. The city has so much to offer and it’s so accessible,” shares Dr. Finegold. “I am really enjoying
it and I’ve only just scratched the surface.”
What was the appeal to become president of one of the most prestigious univer- sities in western Pennsylvania?
The appeal of Chatham University is how close-fit the mission and values it has with what I’ve worked on throughout my entire career. The university is an early pioneer in global education and that was a great match to my work in research throughout my career in government and different countries around the world.
Describe the impact of Chatham’s Eden Hall Campus and the commitment the university has made to embody sustainability and education combined.
With the Eden Hall Campus, Chatham is now one of the top-rated private universi- ties in the world, ranking #4 globally. We really see sustainability as the core aspect of what we do—including having LEED platinum buildings and no water bottles permitted on campus, to the great work our students are doing in the community. Staff and students can immerse themselves in the green living of our campus.
Dr. David Finegold, the 19th President of Chatham University.
What advocacy and educational initiatives are planned to further connect Chatham with the local community and our region?
What’s been great so far is how many exciting programs are in place. For example, to combat hunger we’re going to extend that further, as well as with health fields— including, but not limited to—nursing and counseling. We’ll be setting up a health clinic developing part of East Liberty to offer those services to people who need it. We’re just in the process of doing physicals in the local high schools and educating students about substance abuse. From kids in school to our over 50 demographic any student who wants to continue their education—they can do so here
at Chatham.
What changes have occurred now that Chatham is fully coed?
Chatham has been coed now for 20 years at the graduate level. We are welcoming our second class of coed undergraduate students and what is so exciting about this, is it has dramatically increased our female enrollment significantly. The indicator is not just in numbers, but the quality of the diversity. It’s also increased the offerings of our athletics department, as we’re launching lacrosse and ice hockey teams, too.
Share with prospective students what they may not already know about Chatham.
The most important thing to remember is you don’t have to make trade-offs when it comes to choosing a college. You don’t have to give up attending a liberal arts school because you may believe you can only find one in a small town. At Chatham students can experience the wealth of a liberal arts college while living in a vibrant, metropolitan city. However, if a student prefers a rural landscape we have that, too with all of our campuses. We are a short walk to the campuses of Pitt and CMU and our prime location is so close to many museums, the Strip District and professional sports teams. Our students are building connections and engaging with the local community. For instance, we’re all about food at Chatham and our grads are work- ing within our regional food system and are contributing to the cutting edge of the local food movement. We have all the benefits of a big city, with small classes with full-time professors. You’re not just a number at Chatham.
Will the role of president change you—or do you believe it will reveal who were meant to become?
So far, it really does feel like everything I’ve done has built up to this moment. Being Chatham’s president is one of the greatest positions in the world.
For more information about Chatham University, go to chatham.edu.
Mellon Hall located on the Shadyside campus of Chatham University.
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