Ora Pescovitz

Ora Pescovitz
7th President of Oakland University
Incumbent
Assumed office July 2017
Preceded by	George Hynd
Personal details
Born	Ora Hirsch
Spouse	Mark Pescovitz
Relations	Ammiel Hirsch (brother)
Children	3
Education	Hebrew University of Jerusalem Northwestern University

Ora Hirsch Pescovitz is an American pediatric endocrinologist and academic administrator serving as the seventh president of Oakland University since July 2017. She previously held leadership positions at the Eli Lilly and Company and the University of Michigan Medicine. Pescovitz worked at the Indiana University for 21 years.

Early life and education

Pescovitz was born to a Jewish family, with ties to the civil rights movement. Her father, rabbi Richard Hirsch, founded the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism and was involved in the civil rights struggle, marching in Selma with Martin Luther King Jr. Her brother, rabbi Ammiel Hirsch, serves as the senior rabbi at the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue. Pescovitz grew up with a strong commitment to social justice, having personally witnessed significant moments in American history, such as Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.

Pescovitz pursued her education at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, shaping her professional and personal identity. Her upbringing in a family dedicated to social justice and Jewish leadership later influenced her approach to her roles in higher education and healthcare. Pescovitz earned a M.D. from the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

Career

Her research has primarily focused on understanding the physiological and molecular mechanisms responsible for disorders of growth and puberty. She has also contributed to the development of innovative therapies for these conditions. During her 21-year tenure at Indiana University, she served in several roles, including executive associate dean for research affairs at the Indiana University School of Medicine and president and CEO of Riley Hospital for Children. She acted as interim vice president for research administration at Indiana University.

From 2009 to 2014, Pescovitz was the executive vice president for medical affairs and health system CEO at the University of Michigan. In this role, she oversaw a health system comprising three hospitals, over 120 health centers and clinics, and the University of Michigan Medicine. Her responsibilities included managing $3.3 billion in revenue and overseeing $490 million in research funding. From 2014 to 2017, Pescovitz held a leadership position at Eli Lilly and Company, where she served as senior vice president and U.S. medical leader for Lilly Biomedicines. Her responsibilities involved managing real-world evidence-based research and building partnerships with large health systems. She has served as president of both the Society for Pediatric Research and the North American Pediatric Endocrine Society. She held leadership positions in several national healthcare organizations, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Advisory Board for Clinical Research and the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI).

In July 2017, Pescovitz became the seventh president of Oakland University, a doctoral research institution with over 16,000 graduate and undergraduate students. She succeeded George Hynd. Since her appointment, she has focused on increasing student success, academic achievement, and community engagement. She was the second Jewish president in the school's history. Her leadership was marked by her efforts to foster inclusivity and diversity. One of her first initiatives as president was the creation of the position of chief diversity officer to oversee the university's Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). She later critiqued DEI frameworks for unintentionally excluding Jewish students, emphasizing the need for reform to prevent divisiveness. Under her leadership, Oakland University has seen growth in both campus infrastructure and reputation, garnering numerous regional and national awards. Pescovitz holds leadership roles on several boards, including the Horizon League and the NCAA Division I board of directors.

In September 2023, her contract was extended to June 2031. In 2024, she donated $1.33 million to the Pescovitz Presidential Scholarship. This funding aims to enhance opportunities for deserving students, making higher education more accessible and supporting their academic journeys. Pescovitz serves as the chair of the board of directors for the Horizon League.

In a new American Enterprise Institute report ranking 446 college presidents who served between 2000 and 2023, Oakland University’s president, Ora Hirsch Pescovitz, was ranked 37^th overall. Pescovitz’s ranking jumps to 11^th when taking into account that she is one of only 134 of the ranked presidents who are currently still in their presidential roles.

Personal life

Pescovitz was married Mark Pescovitz who was a transplant surgeon at Indiana University. She has three children. Pescovitz is currently partnered with Daniel Walsh, a cardiologist at the Corewell Health.