Join us for a Pitt Academy

Public Impact in Hazelwood 

Thursday, April 30

6 p.m. Reception

7 p.m. Program

Dessert reception to follow

Roundhouse at Hazelwood Green
4165 Blair St.
Pittsburgh, PA 15207

The University of Pittsburgh changes lives. But what does that look like in one neighborhood, in real time?

Discover how Pitt’s life sciences research, industry innovation and neighborhood partnerships are working together to shape the city’s next chapter in Hazelwood and open doors for the local community—and all of Pennsylvania—along the way.

During this event, you’ll learn about Pitt’s public impact work from:

• Heidi Ward, Director, Greater Hazelwood Neighborhood Commitment
• Rosta Farzan, Professor of Informatics, Pitt’s School of Computing and Information
• Ian Johnson, Director of Life Sciences, Pitt BioForge

About the Speakers

Heidi Ward, Director, Greater Hazelwood Neighborhood Commitment

Heidi will ground the conversation in Pitt’s long-term commitment to greater Hazelwood. As a responsive and committed neighbor, Pitt has worked alongside residents to understand local priorities and build programming that reflects them.  From middle school biotechnology experiences to the Life Sciences Bridge Program for young adults, Heidi will also highlight how Pitt serves as an engine of lifelong learning and workforce development, creating accessible pathways into emerging careers.  Throughout the session, she will connect research, workforce preparation and industry innovation to demonstrate how Pitt’s four Public Impact roles reinforce one another in practice. 

Rosta Farzan, Professor of Informatics, School of Computing and Information

Rosta will bring to life Pitt’s role as an engaged partner in public problem solving.  Her research on air quality, shaped in collaboration with community members, addresses concerns rooted in Hazelwood’s industrial legacy. By partnering directly with residents and local organizations, her work ensures that scientific discovery responds to real neighborhood needs. Her story illustrates how research can strengthen both knowledge and trust.

Ian Johnson, Director of Life Sciences, Pitt BioForge

Ian will share how the BioForge is advancing innovation in the manufacturing of precision medicine. By translating cutting-edge research into scalable production, BioForge is helping move breakthrough therapies from the lab toward real-world application. Ian will describe how this work strengthens the bridge between discovery and delivery in the life sciences.