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has been appointed as the inaugural director of the new , the Office of the Provost has announced.

The center is dedicated to creating equitable pathways for students to gain the potential to enroll at the Â鶹´«Ã½ or other select colleges and universities.ÌýEllerbee’sd teamÌýwill manage and evaluate University-wide academic outreach programs, including the STEM-focused flagship program . It will also support discipline-focused programs and collaborate with University stakeholders on the development of future programs.

Ellerbee most recently served as the director of Pitt’s first , where she used her extensive community-building and leadership experience to bridge valuable connections between the community and the University. She began her new role Jan. 18.

Ellerbee holds a bachelor’s degree in communication and rhetoric and Africana studies from the Â鶹´«Ã½ and a master’s degree in communications and information systems from Robert Morris University. Currently, she is pursuing a doctorate in urban education in Pitt’s Â鶹´«Ã½ of Education.