Commencement is a celebration of all the hard work and accomplishments of new Pitt graduates. This spring there was another celebration behind the scenes— it was the first time Jackie Gillespie oversaw the festivities as assistant vice chancellor of Hospitality. She wasn’t given an easy task either— Pitt hosted two commencement ceremonies to celebrate 2022 and 2020 graduates (who missed out on an in-person graduation due to the pandemic). The honors ceremonies were also split into three separate events for a more personalized experience—another first for the Special Events team. “I was so happy and proud at how the University pulled off commencement events this year! Jason Morrill and his team in the Office of Special Events knocked it out of the park. It was great to see the incredible commitment, collaboration and memorable outcomes which occurred across all ceremonies!” exclaimed Gillespie.
Regardless of your experience in the hospitality field, it is easy to get excited listening to Gillespie talk about it! Her vision, enthusiasm and passion are spreading quickly to take hospitality at Pitt to new heights. Gillespie brings a fresh, inspiring perspective to hospitality at Pitt. Previously the director of sales at The Oaklander— she joined the University as assistant vice chancellor for the newly formed department of Hospitality in the Office of Business, Hospitality and Auxiliary Services in October 2021. Her 20 years of hospitality experience and Pittsburgh area connections are welcome additions to higher education. “Each day, the hospitality team works to make it easier to plan and execute superior, high quality campus events for community members,” says Gillespie. “There are so many great things happening here at Pitt, and I look forward to using my prior hospitality background to benefit our students, faculty, staff and community at large.”
The Hospitality unit unifies the University’s event teams and services under one umbrella— encompassing Conference Services, Special Events, Heinz Memorial Chapel, and University Club— with a united mission to provide superior customer service.
- Conference Services is the one-stop-shop for campus event planning, vendor management and execution support— available to all Pitt community members. Gillespie envisions advancing this team even further as a renowned consultative department to provide additional resources and expertise. As one example,she noted that the current space rental system varies across the University. She wants to create solutions to unify the system, make communication more open and centralized, and deepen collaboration to enhance effective and efficiency while reducing costs.
- Special Events are the experts for any event that requires extra attention and elevation. Their knowledge and expertise in academic and ceremonial protocols ensure every event has the perfect amount of pomp and circumstance—from large scale ceremonies to intimate gatherings. Special Events handles much of the official University-wide events—including Commencement and the Chancellor’s Staff and Faculty Appreciation Picnic— they also can provide event production, execution, and protocol consultations for internal and external partners.
- Heinz Memorial Chapel is the quintessential wedding venue in Pittsburgh, with a spectacular setting and dedicated team personalizing each event for the client — from the all-inclusive Simply Styled wedding package to custom celebrations. Gillespie recounted a recent wedding held on a Tuesday afternoon at 2:22pm on 2/22/2022— a unique request the staff enjoyed accommodating! Events in the nondenominational chapel are not limited to just weddings, as the phenomenal acoustics and classic pipe organ make the chapel a memorable venue to host musical, spoken word, or other special events and is available to all. You don’t need to wait for a special event to appreciate the space—take a tour and or follow the Chapel on Instagram and Facebook to learn about the building’s history, architecture, and art.
- University Club boasts more than just scenic spaces for events. A new contract with Chartwells—the University’s foodservice vendor partner—brought along an award-winning chef, and experienced customer service team that manage the multiple restaurants and café. Gillespie plans to advance the University Club as a comfortable, unifying destination where employees can network, socialize, and relax while enjoying delicious food, various trainings, classes and events, and a modern fitness center. The building is also recognized as one of the best outdoor dining spaces in Pittsburgh. The Terrace— a rooftop space with a stunning city view — is now open for event rentals and Club members. “The University Club’s Terrace has a great atmosphere and stunning views. When you add delicious food, drinks, the wonderful people at Pitt, and occasional live entertainment, it is a top choice for socializing after work.“
“Oakland continues to grow as a vibrant community. The Hospitality team is proud to be a part of and support the community’s needs, joining together in making Oakland a welcoming, must-see area of Pittsburgh,” explains Gillespie. “Prospective students, their families, researchers, faculty, staff — they should feel comfortable from the minute they arrive on our campus.” Gillespie is honored to be a part of the staff and looks forward to the future, knowing her team’s collective efforts will continue to have a significant impact given the size of the University and breadth of services available under the Hospitality umbrella. “It’s truly fulfilling to work with such wonderful, talented people and make a difference here at Pitt!”
You can learn more about the department of Hospitality on the Business, Hospitality and Auxiliary Services web site. Jackie Gillespie can be reached by email at jackie.gillespie@pitt.edu.