Alumni Service Award: Roseanne Silva
By Jessica Shirley
As Roseanne Silva (MS02, ‘91) moved up the ranks over the past two decades at PNC Financial Services Group, she has always remembered her Tartan roots.
The senior vice president and business chief technology officer is committed to discovering new ways to give back to the university and enhance the student experience for future generations. For her vibrant passion, inspiring leadership and boundless generosity, Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) proudly honored Silva with an Alumni Service Award on May 17, 2019. Later that same weekend, she shared her story with the Class of 2019 as keynote speaker at the INI graduation.
Lifting As She Rises
Over the past 25 years living and working in Pittsburgh, Silva has immersed herself in service to her alma mater as a mentor, donor, volunteer and leader. Recognizing the financial burden of earning a graduate degree, Rose created an Andrew Carnegie Society (ACS) Legacy Scholarship in 2012 to enable talented students to realize their potential at the INI. Beyond her financial contribution, Rose invests further in each scholar through mentorship. She guides each student’s journey at the INI, serving as their resource, coach and greatest advocate.
“As a successful female leader in the highly competitive financial services industry, Rose’s mentorship of her ALC Legacy Scholars and countless other INI students, particularly women and underrepresented minorities, has led them to realize their dreams."
"Today, her mentees are thriving in their careers and paying it forward by following her example of service,” said Dr. Dena Haritos Tsamitis.
Despite her busy schedule, Silva is a constant presence at INI events, volunteering to speak at Women@INI roundtables, inspiring prospective students at Admitted Student Day and cheering for graduates at the commencement ceremony. As past chair of the INI Alumni Leadership Council (ALC), Rose led strategic engagement initiatives to strengthen the connection between students and alumni, including the launch of an online mentoring platform. She expanded her influence beyond the INI by participating on CMU’s Alumni Relations Committee, volunteering for “Take a Tartan to Work” and speaking at CMU Alumni Association events on diversity in tech and other topics.
“Receiving the CMU Alumni Service Award is confirmation that my partnership with CMU to build a diverse and inclusive tech talent pipeline has made a positive impact on the communities that we serve,” Silva said. “Throughout my career I have leveraged my years of experience to focus on increasing the meaningful participation of women in technology, specifically because the numbers are low.”
To INI’s graduating class, her advice: “Nurture a network of mentors, always be coachable, and include intentionally.”
Connect with Rose on LinkedIn >
Carnegie Mellon University honored Roseanne Silva with a 2019 Alumni Service Award. Rose is Senior Vice-President and Business Chief Technology Officer (MyCTO) at PNC Financial Services Group.
Education
- M.S. in Information Networking at Carnegie Mellon University
- B.S. in Electrical Engineering at the University of Minnesota
- Certified PMP of the Project Management Institute
Awards & Recognition
- 1994: Open Computing “Top 100 Women in Information Services"
- 2005: Top 10 “PNC Performance Award” Winner
- 2013: Diversity Council Honors Award (PNC Technology Diversity & Inclusion Council)
- 2019: Carnegie Mellon University Alumni Service Awardee
Biography
Roseanne Silva is a Senior Vice-President and Business Chief Technology Officer (MyCTO) at PNC Financial Services Group. She is responsible for technology infrastructure strategy, execution, and governance for Corporate & Institutional Banking, Wealth Management, Enterprise Data Management, and Enterprise Innovation. In addition, Rose is president of the PNC women in tech resource group (Tech Connect) and the business sponsor for the PNC partnership with the National Center for Women & IT (NCWIT) through which she takes an active role in building a diverse workforce and embracing a culture of inclusion.
Rose has over 25 years of experience in technology infrastructure operations, employee technology, application development, and program management, including mergers and acquisitions. In addition to her work at PNC, she has held positions at Financial Data Services (Fiserv), Bell Communications Research (Bellcore), and Control Data Corporation.
She is active in her community as a mentor for the Greater Pittsburgh Big Brothers Big Sisters Mentor 2.0 STEAM program, a committee member of the Pittsburgh Foundation scholarship advisory board, a volunteer trip leader for Venture Outdoors, and a member of Ellevate, a global professional network of women.
In addition, Rose has remained active in the Carnegie Mellon University alumni community as a Legacy Scholarship Donor, (former) president of the Information Networking Institute Alumni Leadership Council, a corporate host for the Take a Tartan to Work program, and a mentor to the WINI (Women@INI) cohort.