University of Minnesota president Joan Gabel is leaving for a new job after she was voted in as the new chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh.
Gabel was introduced on Monday as the first-ever woman to hold the post of chancellor at Pitt, with her starting date coming on July 1, 2023.
Meanwhile, Gabel is responding to former Minnesota Governor Arne Carlson's criticism of her on WCCO Radio Monday while speaking with Chad Hartman. Carlson says Gabel hasn't prioritized students' success and well-being, but instead has had an obsessive focus on herself and taking care of her friends.
"What we saw from Joan Gabel was an obsessive focus on her own well-being,” Carlson says. “There was no focus whatsoever on the well-being of the students."
Gabel says she disagrees.
“We have students absolutely top of the list. They’re the first priority on the strategic plan,” Gabel told WCCO. “We have focused on their access financially with very low or zero tuition increases the entire time. We’ve greatly increased philanthropic and scholarship support. We’ve launched mental health initiatives at their request.”
There’s no word yet on the search for a replacement. She says she's prepared to fulfill her whole term through June.