Upcoming Events
Office Hours
Alumni in Residence (AIRs) are professionals who want to give back by supporting Pitt students in their career growth. Come with questions to start an eye-opening conversation that will definitely help you with your planning and next steps. Make an appointment by scheduling in Handshake.
- Thomas Platt, Chair and Professor at CHSRS- September 29, 2025
- Nick Kirsch, Director of Software Engineering at Omnicell – October 1, 2025
- Brad Bell, Foreign Service Officer – October 2, 2025
- Lisa Biondi, CIO at System One – October 2, 2025
- David Popelka, President at GH Advertising – October 3, 2025
- Tim McLaughlin, COO at Blink Advertising – October 3, 2025
- Brad Bell – October 10, 2025
- Angela Foglia – CEO/Founder at Secure Transmit – October 13, 2025
- Dave Popelka – October 17, 2025
- Donna Sanft – Retired Associate Dean of Students at Pitt- October 17
Angela Foglia
CEO/Founder at Secure Transmit
Angela Foglia is the CEO and Founder of secure-transmit, a managed file transfer solution. She previously held senior technology leadership roles at Alcoa, Arconic, and Howmet Aerospace, where she drove major corporate transformations and served as Divisional CIO. Recognized as the 2020 CIO Rising Star of the Year by the Pittsburgh Technology Council, Angela is also a strong advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, and serves on the board of Helping Adults with Autism Perform and Excel (HAAPE). She holds both a BS and MS in Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh.
Make an appointment with Angela on Handshake.
Bradford Bell
Charge d’Affaires, a.i., U.S. Embassy Bern
Brad Bell has served as Chargé d’Affaires, a.i. at the U.S. Embassy in Bern since January 2025. A career member of the Senior Foreign Service with the rank of Counselor, he has held posts in Moscow, Warsaw, Belgrade, Brazil, and the Philippines, and contributed to UN negotiations on Kosovo’s final status. In Washington, he served on the Policy Planning Staff in the Office of the Secretary and as Deputy Director in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. Before joining the Foreign Service, he worked on energy projects at the World Bank and civil society programs at IFES. He holds degrees from the National Defense University, Johns Hopkins SAIS, and the University of Pittsburgh.
https://ch.usembassy.gov/charge-daffaires-bradford-bell
Make an appointment with Brad on Handshake.
Dave Popelka
President at GH Advertising
Dave Popelka Dave is president and board chair of GH Advertising, the fifth largest advertising agency in Pittsburgh. GH works with many marque brands in the region, including UPMC, F.N.B., PPG Industries, The Pittsburgh Foundation, and Giant Eagle. In the four years since he has been president, the agency has experienced record growth, navigated a rebranding effort, and created a three year strategic plan. Dave started his career at Ketchum Advertising, and in 2017 was elected to the Pittsburgh Ad Federation’s Hall of Achievement.
Make an appointment with Dave on Handshake.
Make an appointment with Donna on Handshake.
Donna Sanft
Retired Executive Associate Athletics Director and Associate Dean of Students at the University of Pittsburgh
Donna is a proud two-time graduate of Pitt’s School of Education and a member of the Pitt Athletics Hall of Fame. She served as Pitt’s Head Women’s Gymnastics Coach for 12 years before joining Athletics Department leadership for nearly three decades, ultimately becoming Executive Associate Athletics Director and serving as Interim Athletic Director in 2007. She built Pitt’s NCAA compliance and life skills programs, oversaw multiple units, and served on numerous NCAA, Big East, ACC, and University committees. Later, as an Associate Dean in Student Affairs, she supported student success initiatives and fundraising for study abroad and internships. Since retiring, she remains deeply engaged through the Career Services Alumni in Residence program, mentoring, and committee service.
Heather Dannhardt
Executive HR Business Advisor at MSA
Heather is an Executive HR Business Advisor at MSA, where she partners with senior leaders to align organizational and talent strategies with business needs. She began her MSA career in 2002 as a Mechanical Engineer, later moving into engineering management, where she led global product approval strategies and managed teams developing innovative safety equipment for first responders and industrial workers. Promoted to Global Director of Product Engineering in 2017, she oversaw the development of groundbreaking protective technologies before transitioning into HR leadership. Known for her adaptability and results-driven approach, she has played a key role in advancing both people and organizational performance at MSA.
Make an appointment with Heather on Handshake.
Lisa Biondi
Chief Information Officer at System One
Lisa is the Chief Information Officer at System One, overseeing corporate technology strategy, enterprise IT, cybersecurity, acquisition integration, and technology support. With over 30 years in technology, including 22 in the staffing industry, she has held multiple IT leadership roles before joining System One at its inception in 2008. Recognized as a 2024 finalist for the Pittsburgh Technology Council CIO of the Year and named to the Staffing Industry Analysts Global Power 150 – Women in Staffing in 2022, she also serves in leadership roles with the Greater Pittsburgh CIO group and Evanta Pittsburgh. She holds a BS and MS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.
Make an appointment with Lisa on Handshake.
Nicholas Kirsch
Director, Software Engineering at Omnicell
Nicholas Kirsch, Ph.D., is the Director of Software Engineering at Omnicell, where he leads initiatives in robotics and AI to advance autonomous pharmacy solutions. With nearly a decade of experience in robotics, he has developed autonomous systems for various applications. Nicholas earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and remains actively involved with the university as an Alumni-In-Residence, career mentor, and volunteer with the Office of Innovation and Entrepreneurship. He is also deeply engaged in the broader robotics community, serving on advisory boards, contributing to industry standards, and mentoring future engineers.
Make an appointment with Nick on Handshake.
Pamela Kirkland
Host of NPR’s Morning Edition at Georgia Public Broadcasting
Pamela Kirkland is an award-winning journalist based in Atlanta. Currently, she hosts NPR’s Morning Edition at Georgia Public Broadcasting. As a field producer for CNN, she has covered breaking news events around the country, ranging from hurricanes to elections. Before that, Pamela worked for The PBS NewsHour reporting on stories looking at the opioid crisis, immigration, education, and more. She joined the NewsHour in 2015 from the Washington Post where she was part of the video team that produced the Emmy-nominated “N-word Project.” She’s traveled the country covering four presidential campaigns, Congress, and the White House. She graduated with a degree in Political Science and Communication from the University of Pittsburgh.
Make an appointment with Pamela on Handshake.
Timothy James
VP of Engineering at Triple
Timothy James is an instructor at the University of Pittsburgh Computer Science department, as well as VP of Engineering & Data Science at Triple. Previously he was chief troublemaker at Google Pittsburgh and before Google spent time in a variety of industries including Internet consulting, finance, defense contracting, aviation maintenance, telecommunications, capital markets, and sandwich artistry. Tim hopes to continue actively engaging the community in technical training and CS education efforts.
Make an appointment with Timothy here.
Tim McLaughlin
Founder COO at Blink Advertising
As the Founder and COO of Blink Advertising with over 35 years of experience, I lead efforts to help businesses craft compelling narratives and connect with their audiences. Our team specializes in video production, social media marketing, and content creation, delivering innovative solutions that enhance brand visibility and engagement.
Passionate about storytelling and creative strategy, we work collaboratively to develop impactful campaigns that align with our clients’ objectives. By leveraging expertise in digital media and branding, our focus remains on empowering businesses to communicate their value effectively across multiple platforms. Tim is a 1989 Graduate of Pitt and resides in Aspinwall. He is a proud supporter and you will see him at most Pitt athletic events.
Make an appointment with Tim on Handshake.
Tom Lynskey
Sr. Account Executive at NRG Energy
Tom is a proud University of Pittsburgh graduate, earning a BS in Chemical Engineering and an MBA. During his time at Pitt, he was active in campus life, serving as Executive Vice President of the Interfraternity Council, participating in the Homecoming Planning Committee, and joining Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He has extensive experience in the energy and engineering sectors, currently working with NRG Business on renewable energy and utility supply for national accounts and K–12 school consortia. Previously, he held roles at Michael Baker Corporation in environmental engineering sales and at Duquesne Light Company as a Test Engineer. A lifelong Pitt athletics supporter, he is a devoted season ticket holder for both basketball and football.
Make an appointment with Tom on Handshake.
Thomas Platt
Chair and a professor in the Department of Community Health Services and Rehabilitation Science (CHSRS)
Thomas Platt is the chair and a professor in the Department of Community Health Services and Rehabilitation Science (CHSRS). Platt has more than 30 years of experience in EMS education and leadership. He has served on several national boards and EMS development projects. Platt has also served as project manager for international development projects. He’s authored numerous ancillary products and texts for EMS Education and has served as a paramedic for EMS agencies, a flight paramedic for STAT MedEvac and a volunteer firefighter. Platt is passionate about being an advocate for students to help them achieve their goals.
Make an appointment with Thomas on Handshake.
