Housing and Residence Life Staff

Troy RossTroy Ross
Director of Housing, Residence Life and Student Conduct
Office: 219 Chambers Hall
Phone: 724.836.9953
E-mail: Troy.Ross@pitt.edu 

Troy is the director of the department and oversees the daily happenings of the Office of Housing & Residence Life. He supervises the other members of the Residence Life professional staff.

Troy was raised in Whitsett, PA, a small village with a population of about 200. With nine older siblings (8 brothers and 1 sister), he was never without somebody to cause mayhem with. At the age of 17, Troy headed off to college at Pitt-Greensburg, where he studied political science and anthropology. While at Pitt-Greensburg, he spent four years as a Resident Assistant, which eventually led him to choose a career path in Higher Education. Soon after graduating in 1999, he began working in Pitt-Greensburg’s Admissions Office as an Admissions Counselor.

In January of 2001, he was hired as the Night Residence Hall Coordinator in Robertshaw Hall. He was later hired as Resident Director, which was subsequently changed to the Coordinator of Housing and Residence Life position. Troy assumed the directorship in August of 2010.  Troy holds a master's degree in Higher Education Management from the University of Pittsburgh. In his spare time, he enjoys golfing, reading, discussing politics, and watching movies. Troy is married to his wife Jessie and has a daughter Charlie.

Brian RootBrian Root
Assistant Director of Housing and Residence Life
Office: 213 Chambers Hall
Phone: 724.836.7470
E-mail: b.k.root@pitt.edu

Brian is the Assistant Director of the department and helps manage the day-to-day procedures in the office. Brian coordinates the housing application and assignment process, in addition to supervising the student staff in the Academic Village. He is also the director of the Outdoor Adventure & Community Service (OACS) living community.

Brian was born and raised in Mercer County in northwestern Pennsylvania. He initially aspired to be a newspaper journalist but changed career paths when he discovered the impact he could have on students' lives in the student affairs profession.  In his spare time, Brian enjoys geocaching, bowling, board and card games, and volunteering in the community. 

Brian received his bachelor's degree from Pitt-Greensburg and earned his master's degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.  Brian joined the Pitt-Greensburg staff in 2006 and assumed his current position in August 2010.

Kyle HarperKyle Harper
Resident Director
Office: 102 McKenna Hall
Phone: 724.836.7606
E-mail: krh121@pitt.edu

Kyle graduated from Pitt-Greensburg with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Creative & Professional Writing. Previously, Kyle served as a Community Assistant for three years and founded the Pitt Fight professional wrestling club on campus. Kyle enjoys cooking, watching professional wrestling, and collecting board games. Kyle looks forward to expanding his role on campus and helping students in their day-to-day life.

Josa Beatty photoJosa Beatty
Graduate Resident Director
Office: 105 McKenna Hall
Phone: 724.836.9937
E-mail: josab@pitt.edu

Josa is from Wauseon, Ohio where she attended Evergreen High School. There she decided that she wanted to pursue a career in psychology so after graduation she started her college career at Robert Morris University in Moon Township, PA. Through her many years in band, she discovered how much she enjoyed helping new students discover the joys of college. After graduating from RMU a year early, she pursued her master’s degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. During her free time she enjoys reading, playing video games, and playing with her two kittens, Petunia and Bailey.