Get to Know President Chris Brussalis, The Man Propelling Point Park University Forward

By Olivia Miller

Point Park University is a staple in Downtown Pittsburgh. With the masterfully produced programs they put on at the Pittsburgh Playhouse and the community improvement studies they have published, it is clear that they have made a name for themselves in a city known for having some of the best universities in the world. Under new leadership with President Chris W. Brussalis, he hopes to use his illustrious business background and involvement in the Pittsburgh community to propel Point Park forward. 

Originally from Forward Township, he grew up on a farm before attending Allegheny College to obtain his undergraduate degree. President Brussalis was a self proclaimed “very engaged student athlete” and actively participated in student affairs as a resident advisor and resident director while competing at the varsity level in three sports. 

It was during this time that his passion for higher education began to form. After completing his undergraduate degree, he attended the University of Illinois to obtain a master’s degree in public and business administration and later attended Northeastern University for a doctorate in higher education administration. For over 30 years, he has also served as an adjunct professor of management and policy at Carnegie Mellon University. He says “Those experiences gave me an understanding and appreciation for higher education.” 

While teaching at CMU, President Brussalis also served as CEO of Carnegie-based management consultancy firm The Hill Group, which he has run for over three decades. He soon found that the skills he learned from his involvement in student affairs easily transferred over to a corporate business environment. For instance, resolving disputes between college roommates prepared him to “provide counsel to leaders in organizations of all types.” 

Over the years, he grew The Hill Group and worked with legendary local organizations like the Pittsburgh Penguins, Alcoa, and Point Park University. Five years ago, President Brussalis was asked to join Point Park University’s board and was a part of the school’s leadership until he was named interim president in February. On July 25th, his interim title was stripped and he officially became the ninth president of Point Park University. 

However, President Brussalis’s involvement in the Pittsburgh ecosystem is hardly contained to the Point Park’s campus. He calls his work with Leadership Pittsburgh “one of the most impactful things I have done in my career.” He was a part of the organization’s thirteenth class, which was composed of local senior level executives who attended transformative leadership seminars. 

Over the nine months of the program, he was “introduced to the assets of the region.” It “opened [his] mind to everything” and showed him the great diversity of Pittsburgh. Afterwards, he joined Leadership Pittsburgh’s board, later becoming board chair. He is proud to have been on the board during the organization’s momentous 25th anniversary and says “I like to think I was pivotal in taking Leadership Pittsburgh to a whole new level of performance and impact.”  

Along with Leadership Pittsburgh, President Brussalis has served on the board and volunteered with other local organizations like the American Society for Competitiveness, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Small Business Council, and Live Like Lou Foundation. He also served as International President of his fraternity Phi Delta Theta. Serving the community is imperative in his life and he says “I believe that when you are blessed with things, you have a responsibility to give back.” He believes his purpose is “to have impact” and jokes that “[you get] more philosophical as you get older.” All in all, he says “I want to leave a legacy. I want to impact lives.”

President Brussalis is excited to continue his legacy at Point Park, especially having grown up in the Pittsburgh region. He is confident that his knowledge of the customs, leaders, and resources of the region will allow for a seamless transition into his new position. 

This, combined with his fondness for the university, is sure to create impactful change and establish what President Brussalis calls “Renaissance 3” in Pittsburgh. He proudly calls Point Park “The Downtown University” and “[loves] the diversity of the student body” which includes many first-generation students. He also says “I am continually impressed with the quality and dedication of our faculty and staff.” 

When it comes to his vision for the university’s future, he says “Point Park University has been an engine of revitalization in Downtown -- we now have an opportunity to continue to do that.” 

Next week in The Downtowner, we will share President Brussalis’s six point plan for the university that will impact not only those in the Point Park ecosystem but also those who live, work, and play Downtown.