Pitt’s Board of Trustees released the roster of the newly-assembled, 26 member Chancellor Search Committee Wednesday, coinciding with the completion of the University Senate election.

Tasked with finding the University’s replacement for current Chancellor Mark Nordenberg, who announced last june that he will retire in August 2014, the group is comprised of faculty members, alumni, Board of Trustees members and Pitt administrators. Student Government Board President pro tempore Amelia Brause and Graduate Student and Professional Student Government President Dave Gau are also members of the committee.

Eva Tansky Blum, a member of the Board of Trustees, and James V. Maher, provost emeritus, will serve as chair and vice chair, respectively.

In a press release from Pitt’s Board of Trustees, Chairman Stephen Tritch said the diversity in professional experience among the members of the Chancellor Search Committee “will be a valuable asset in the ongoing search.”

“This is a very strong committee comprising, as it does, individuals who share a demonstrable commitment to the success of the University and who bring a wide variety of knowledge and skills to the task at hand,” Tritch said.

Tritch also announced the scheduling of 14 search forums, which will be held at Pitt, the University’s four branch campuses and in cities across the country “from New York to San Francisco.” The first forum will be held on Sept. 18 at 3 p.m. in the William Pitt Union Assembly Room.

A period of confidential deliberation will begin between members of the search committees, once the search forums have concluded after the first week in October, according to Tritch. He added that the confidentiality is crucial in order to ensure that the University is able to attract the best candidates.

“Throughout the months ahead, the Board’s commitment to bringing the search for the next chancellor to a deliberate, swift and successful conclusion will continue unabated,” Tritch said.