University Leadership Building A Vibrant University in Downtown Pittsburgh

Point Park is pursuing a visionary plan to become one of the most dynamic, private urban universities in the country. Follow the links below for biographical information about each member of the University's leadership team:

Chris W. Brussalis

President

Chris W. Brussalis is the ninth president of Point Park University. He has served in this role since February 2023. Brussalis also serves as adjunct professor of management and policy at the Heinz College of Carnegie Mellon University and is chairman of The Hill Group Inc., a national management consulting firm.

As an engaged scholar-practitioner for over 32 years, Dr. Brussalis has taught at the graduate level, provided advice and counsel to numerous Fortune 500 corporations, governments, large institutions, including many colleges and universities, and served in higher education executive leadership roles. He is a graduate and former board chair of Leadership Pittsburgh, a network of regional leaders and decision makers, and holds a bachelor’s degree from Allegheny College, master’s degree in public and business administration from the University of Illinois, and doctorate in higher education administration from Northeastern University.

Dr. Brussalis has a longstanding commitment to public service, having served on and led many regional and national boards, including the American Society for Competitiveness, Live Like Lou Foundation, Point Park University, ALS Association, Leadership Pittsburgh, Regional Learning Alliance, Phi Delta Theta International Fraternity, Phi Delta Theta Foundation, Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall, and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Small Business Council. Dr. Brussalis also managed the New Idea Factory in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, the largest economic development transition effort of a metropolitan region in the history of the United States at the time.

Dr. Brussalis was selected as one of the Pittsburgh region’s top 20 “Changemakers” and “Fast Trackers” by the Pittsburgh Business Times, Pittsburgh Magazine’s top “40 Under 40,” and one of “Pittsburgh’s 50 Finest.” He received a Blue Citation from Allegheny College for a lifetime of outstanding service to his alma mater. Dr. Brussalis was also selected by the Secretary of the Air Force as one of 100 distinguished American leaders to attend the forty-seventh annual National Security Forum at the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base.

Dr. Brussalis and his wife, Christina have four children and reside north of Pittsburgh.

Michael Soto

Provost, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Michael Soto serves as Point Park University's provost and senior vice president of
academic affairs. As the chief academic officer of the University, he oversees all academic programs, faculty, academic support staff, departments of student affairs, registrar, institutional research and planning and the library.

A native of South Texas, Soto holds a Ph.D. in English and American Literature and Language from Harvard University and a B.A. in Modern Thought and Literature from Stanford University.

Prior to his current role, Soto was associate vice president for academic affairs and professor of English at Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. He is the author of six books and many articles on 20th century U.S. literature and cultural history.

Ted Black

Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Strategy

Ted Black joined Point Park in April 2023 and serves as Senior Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Strategy. He oversees alumni affairs and development, external relations, and strategic initiatives. A Pittsburgh native, Black earned a B.A. from Allegheny College and a J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

Black most recently spent six years as president and CEO of the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts in Harrisburg, completing some of the most transformative projects in the Center’s history such as the PNC Innovation Zone, a nationally recognized learning lab that uses video games as a platform for educational and vocational development. Black previously spent many years as part of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ core management team hired by Mario Lemieux. He also was vice president and general manager for Regional Sports Network FSN Pittsburgh before leaving the area to become president of the NHL’s Buffalo Sabres.

Andrew Hughey

Senior Vice President and General Counsel

Andrew Hughey has served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel since August 2022. He earned his B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh and Juris Doctor from the Duquesne University School of Law. He came to Point Park from Ohio Northern University, where he was serving as the school’s inaugural vice president and general counsel.

Prior to his time at Ohio Northern, Hughey served as special assistant to the president for diversity and inclusion at the Community College of Allegheny County. While there, he managed an office that included the Title IX and civil rights investigations functions. He also developed and executed programs promoting diversity and inclusion.

Prior to CCAC, Andrew served other institutions as general counsel, including Central State University (Ohio) and Texas Southern University. Prior to those positions, he served as associate general counsel at the University of Pittsburgh.

Bridget Mancosh

Senior Vice President of Finance and Operations

Bridget Mancosh was appointed to the position of senior vice president of finance and operations/chief financial officer for Point Park University in September 2006.  She has served in the Finance area of the University since 1998.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration from Clarion University and an executive MBA from the University of Pittsburgh.

As the senior vice president and chief financial officer of the University, she is responsible for the development of the University’s operating and capital budgets, financial reporting, financing decisions, enrollment management, human resources, information technology, student financial services, and all facility capital projects and operations of the University.  Ms. Mancosh is a certified public accountant, previously working for Deloitte & Touche. There, she worked in various industries including manufacturing, not for profits, health care and communications. She has also worked in banking in the corporate lending area.

Ms. Mancosh and her husband have four children and reside in Wexford, Pa.

Keith A. Paylo

Dean of Students and Vice President of Student Affairs

Keith Paylo oversees the student experience outside of the classroom at Point Park University, which includes 19 different areas of the university such as residential life, student activities, co-curricular and cooperative education, study abroad and athletics.

Paylo's first brush with higher education came when he started as an undergraduate at Robert Morris University. He dreamed of becoming a professional soccer player, but soon learned that his passion was in higher education. Following graduation, he worked for his alma mater in enrollment management for thirteen years, influencing each new class of students on an administrative level. Wanting a more personal connection students, Paylo accepted the position of Senior Director of Student Services and eventually Dean of Students at Point Park in 2003.

During his time at Point Park, Paylo has witnessed the University transform. As the University has grown, so has Paylo's impact on the student experience, implementing an orientation program, growing residential life and new student activities like the Campus Activities Board. Even with all that he's done for campus, he cites the University's energy and dynamic student body as the motivation to continue to strive for success every day.

Paylo holds a bachelor of science in business administration and an MBA, both from Robert Morris University.

He resides in South Park, PA with his wife and their two children. 

Marlin Collingwood

Vice President of Enrollment

With more than thirty years of experience in marketing, enrollment and public relations, Marlin Collingwood serves as Vice President of Enrollment. Collingwood joined Point Park in April 2023 and oversees all enrollment management, enrollment marketing and recruitment of new, first-year students as well as all transfer and international students. A western Pennsylvania native, he earned a B.A. in Communication & Political Science from Anderson University in Indiana. Prior to coming to Point Park, he served as Vice President of Communications, Enrollment & Student Life at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire.

Collingwood previously served as Managing Director of the U.S. operations for Bell Pottinger, a London-based global public relations firm, as well as Senior Vice President/Director of Public Relations for Mullen Advertising & Public Relations in Pittsburgh.

Natalie Rice

Vice President of Human Resources

Natalie Rice has served as Vice President of Human Resources since October 2022. In this role she oversees comprehensive Human Resource services in the areas of selection and employment, compensation and benefits administration, employee and labor relations, performance management, employee development, and student employment opportunities. Over the past decade Rice has held various roles in the Human Resources Department at Point Park, including Director and Assistant Vice President/University Insurance.

Rice brings more than 25 years of Human Resources experience from roles at several other for-profit and non-profit companies. Rice holds a B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh and a Master’s in Business Administration from Robert Morris University.

Ms. Rice and her husband have two sons and reside in Leechburg, PA.

View the Point Park University Board of Trustees.