Joan Gabel

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]

In December 2018, the University of Minnesota regents unanimously Gabel the presidency of the state's university system; she was the sole finalist selected out of 67 applicants. Gabel was the first woman to hold the office.[11][8]

During her first year as president, the University of Minnesota experienced the COVID-19 pandemic and the George Floyd protests.[12] During the COVID-19 crisis, the University of Minnesota shifted to online courses and instruction[12] 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]

As president of UMN, Gabel oversaw increases in the university's research, fundraising, and graduation rates, but was also dogged by criticism over compensation and business arrangements, especially in the later part of her tenure.[15] The University of Minnesota regents gave Gabel a second contract in December 2021, with a boosted compensation package; her base salary was $705,953, with significant other incentives.[15] Gabel defended her compensation as appropriate for the market and said it was lower than that of other Big Ten university presidents.[15]

In July 2022, the Board of Regents hired David McMillan, a retired utility executive, to serve as interim chancellor of UMN Duluth.[16] The selection of McMillan prompted criticism, because he was chair of the board of regents who had decided (on a 9-2 vote) to grant Gabel a second contract for five additional years as president, with the possibility of receiving up to $1.1 million in total compensation in 2023.[16][15] The process was criticized, including by former Minnesota governor Arne Carlson, who said he was "stunned" by the arrangement and suggested there was some form of quid pro quo at work.[16] Both McMillan and Gabel denied this, and Gabel said she was not involved in the decision to hire McMillan.[16][15]

In December 2022, Gabel joined the board of Securian Financial, a St. Paul-based financial services company; the University of Minnesota regents gave permission for Gabel to join Securian's board, approving a "conflict management plan" by a 9–3 vote.[17][18] Gabel's membership of the board came under scrutiny because Securian had contracts with the university,[18] including management of $1.3 billion in retirement plan assets for employees of the university.[18] After Governor Tim Walz, as well as state legislators and others, criticized the arrangement as a possible conflict of interest,[15] Gabel resigned from the Securian board in January 2023.[17][18]

In April 2023, it was announced that Gabel would leave the University of Minnesota to become the 19th chancellor and chief executive officer of the University of Pittsburgh.[15] She began her tenure as the Chancellor of the University of Pittsburgh on July 17, 2023.[19][20]