Brett Say

As the Director of Research and Creative Programs for the Honors College, Brett oversees the many research, teaching, and creative programs offered through Pitt Honors. He also manages the portfolio of undergraduate research fellowships offered through the Honors College, such as the Brackenridge Summer Research Fellowship, Creative Arts Fellowship, and Honors Research Fellowship. Brett meets regularly with students across all disciplines to help them develop their research ideas, identify faculty mentors, and pursue research and creative projects that align with their personal and professional goals.

Prior to joining the Honors College, Brett worked for organizations within and outside of higher education, collaborating with professionals across disciplines. As a proposal manager for an electrical engineering firm in Washington, D.C., and then a program coordinator within a College of Health and Human Services, Brett has been fortunate to work alongside engineers, marketing professionals, graphic designers, and health researchers on various projects, developing a deep appreciation for interdisciplinary work. He enjoys learning about the broad research conducted throughout the University of Pittsburgh and helping identify opportunities for research collaboration among Pitt students and faculty.

Brett’s motivation for working in higher education comes from a passion for research and a desire to contribute to his community. He has published research on topics ranging from interdisciplinary mentoring practices to the contributions of office and administrative support staff in higher education. His research broadly focuses on topics of organizational development and change within higher education, with a particular interest in the structures and practices higher education institutions can utilize to help individuals succeed. While at Michigan State University, Brett also worked with the Associate Dean of Research in the College of Education to expand research opportunities and funding for students and faculty. He has training and experience in the grant writing process and has developed multiple workshops on writing research grants and conveying research to external audiences.

Brett has lived in Baltimore, MD, Washington, D.C., and Lansing, MI, but was raised in Western Pennsylvania, which he has always called home. He enjoys fishing (catch and release), painting, and exploring Pittsburgh restaurants with his wife, Monica.