Garland promoted to new position of Senior Director of Talent Management
Vice Chancellor for Human Resources James Gallaher Jr. has announced a restructuring in leadership and reporting in the Office of Human Resources (OHR), combining the functions of Talent Acquisition and Organizational Development & Learning under a new Talent Management leadership structure that will support the entire Pitt employee lifecycle, from sourcing and hiring, through onboarding, development, career growth and succession.
Heading up the new venture, Talent Acquisition Director Lisa Garland has been promoted into the new position of senior director of talent management, starting July 1. The current Talent Acquisition and Organization Development teams will report directly to Garland in her new position. Garland is a proud Pitt alumna, with a Master of Studies in Law with a specialization in Human Resources from Pitt Law and an MBA from Point Park University. She recently celebrated her tenth year working at Pitt, where she has served as director of Talent Acquisition since 2019. In that role, she has built a data-driven, high-performing team culture, and repositioned Talent Acquisition as a strategic institutional partner. She was instrumental in the creation, launch, development, and implementation of the Hire LOCAL anchor workforce initiative, connecting underserved Pittsburgh residents, veterans, and individuals with disabilities to university opportunities. This past May, she was recognized by the Pittsburgh Human Resources Association as Leader of the Year and her team received the Best in Talent Recruitment & Acquisition award, a testament to the culture of excellence she has cultivated.
"It is our goal to create a more integrated connection between hiring and talent development to improve retention and create an employee experience reflecting Pitt’s commitment to being an employer of choice. This is tied to our Plan for Pitt 2028 pillar of being Welcoming and Engaging and ensuring every member of the Pitt community has a meaningful opportunity to grow and thrive," Gallaher said.
Also included in the restructuring, following the July retirement of Assistant Vice Chancellor for Consulting Services Mark Burdsall, the Compensation and Compliance teams which previously reported up through him will now report directly to VC Gallaher. Director of Strategic Initiatives Shanel Divito and Assistant Director of Compliance Aynsley Jimenez will take over as co-leaders of the HR Partner program.
"I am deeply honored and grateful for this opportunity. None of this would be possible without the incredible team I have the privilege of leading every day. Talent Acquisition and Organizational Development are two sides of the same coin, connecting how we find exceptional people with how we develop and invest in them. I'm excited to serve our Pitt community in this expanded capacity," Garland said.