Sciannameo New Head of Executive Communications

September 30, 2002

Louise Sciannameo, corporate and foundation relations director at The Pittsburgh Mercy Foundation and a former communications manager at the University of Pittsburgh, has been named Pitt's executive director of Executive Communications, effective Nov. 1. Robert Hill, Pitt vice chancellor for Public Affairs, announced her appointment today.

Sciannameo will succeed Mary Ann Aug, who is retiring from the University after 30 years of service.

In her new capacity, Sciannameo will serve as a member of the Public Affairs senior leadership team. Her day-to-day duties will be to support the written and oral presentations of Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg.

"I admired Louise Sciannameo as a first-rate writer and editor during her previous tour of duty in Public Affairs," says Hill. "Chancellor Nordenberg and I are thrilled now that she will return to Pitt to lead the effort to support his communications—the University's most important."

Sciannameo hopes to build awareness of the University's mission in general and the Chancellor's role in particular.

"I am looking forward to the ongoing challenge of creating and writing cutting-edge communications tools, in as many relevant media formats as possible, for the Chancellor, and contributing to the efforts of senior leadership within Public Affairs to help make that important resource the best it can be," Sciannameo says.

Sciannameo worked at the University from 1998 through 2001, when she left to join Mercy. At the Mercy Foundation, she has managed corporate and foundation relations, raising local and national support for its community-based programs and initiatives.

She has received the International Association of Business Communicators Golden Triangle Award and the Public Relations Society of America-Pittsburgh Chapter Renaissance Award. A frequent guest lecturer, Sciannameo's first book, about Italian actress Eleonora Duse, is scheduled to be published in 2003 by Adda Editore (Italy).

Sciannameo earned the Bachelor of Arts degree in English at John Carroll University in 1982 and the Master of Arts degree in liberal arts and communications at Chatham College in 2001.

She lives in the Shadyside area of Pittsburgh.

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9/30/02tmw