As managing director for executive operations and strategy, Lori Spisak oversees the Office of the Chief Advancement Officer at the University of Pittsburgh and assists in developing and executing its division-wide priorities, including the $3 billion “Proving Possible” comprehensive campaign.
She joined Pitt in January 2008 as a member of the Medical and Health Sciences Foundation (MHSF) of the University and UPMC. Spisak went on to serve as MHSF’s director of development communications until 2018, when she was promoted to the inaugural director of volunteer management and special projects for the Division of Philanthropic and Alumni Engagement. In that role, she led a complete overhaul of the Boards of Visitors, increasing engagement and streamlining processes, and partnered with leadership across Pitt to identify and increase volunteer engagement at the highest levels. At the same time, Spisak began managing executive communications for the senior vice chancellor for philanthropic and alumni engagement, preparing remarks, presentations and other communications. In 2025, she was promoted to managing director, volunteer leadership engagement and executive communication.
Prior to her roles at the University, Spisak handled marketing and public relations at Associates in Ophthalmology, was the program and communications manager for the Coalition for Human Dignity, and was an independent communications consultant for grassroots nonprofit groups. She earned a dual degree in communications and psychology at Duquesne University and interned in the public and media relations departments for the Pittsburgh Penguins, where she still works with top-level clients as a premium services concierge.
