Joan Gabel

Gabel was born in New York City and grew up in Atlanta.[3] At age 16, Gabel entered Haverford College,[4] where she earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy[5] in 1988,[6] then worked in employee benefits for two years.[7] She earned a J.D. degree from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1993.[8]

Gabel was briefly an associate attorney in Atlanta and served as editor-in-chief of the American Business Law Journal.[9] She was a professor of legal studies at Georgia State University from 1996 to 2007, then was a professor of business law and department chair at Florida State University from 2007 to 2010. From 2010 to 2015, Gabel was the dean of the college of business at the University of Missouri and became the provost of the University of South Carolina in 2015.[10] She was also selected for faculty/staff membership in Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society, while at the University of South Carolina. In 2019, University of Minnesota regents offered Gabel the presidency of the state's university system.[11]

Gabel was the first woman to hold the position of president of the University of Minnesota.[12][8] During her time as president, the University of Minnesota experienced the COVID-19 pandemic and the George Floyd protests. During the COVID-19 crisis, the University of Minnesota shifted to online courses and instruction[11] Following the protests, Gabel announced that the university would reduce collaboration with the Minneapolis Police Department.[13] Gabel joined a lawsuit against the federal government aimed at overturning a ruling that could have deported some international students.[14]

On April 3, 2023, it was announced that Gabel would become the 19th chancellor and chief executive officer of the University of Pittsburgh and the first female chancellor in Pitt history.