Some Summer
Changes, 1999
Deputy Provost and Graduate Education
Dr. Robert Barchi's July appointment of Dr. Peter Conn as Deputy Provost
(see his message),
was followed in August by the announcement that responsibility for graduate
education will also be part of the new Deputy Provost's portfolio.
After eight years as Vice Provost for Graduate Education, Dr. Janice
Madden stepped down on June 30 to resume full time teaching and research
as professor of regional science and sociology. "Janice brought exceptionally
high standards to the central oversight of graduate education," the
Provost said. "Under her stewardship, Penn reached new levels of excellence.
I especially value the work she did in helping Penn attract and retain superb
students to our graduate programs."
Among other accomplishments, he noted, Dr. Madden "vigorously
worked to ensure that all University fellowship monies were applied toward
the 'full funding' of doctoral students (full tuition and a guaranteed minimum
stipend)" and at the same time made improvments in the recruitment,
retention and graduation rates for Ph.D. students of color. Under her leadership,
a review process for graduate programs was instituted, involving the Graduate
Council of the Faculties as well as the school deans. Her office also pio-neered
in developing PennExpressApp, with ISC, making Penn the first of the Ivies
to have an electronic application.
The move is part of a strategic plan to strengthen the Pro-vost's office,
Dr. Barchi's said. Dr. Conn, who chaired graduate groups both in English
and in American Civilization, will work closely with the graduate deans
and graduate faculties. "Combining the oversight of graduate and undergraduate
education in a single office makes great sense," the Provost said.
"There are numerous opportunities to create greater synergies between
undergraduate and graduate education. Having one person coordinate these
efforts will help us think more creatively and strategically about how to
meet Agenda
for Excellence goals."
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Ombudsman: Dr. Wales
Dr. Walter Wales, a physics professor who has held numerous academic
administrative posts in SAS and the Provost's Office, took office September
1 as Ombudsman of the University, succeeding Dr. Vicki Mahaffey of English.
"We are all in Vicki's debt for a job well done," said President
Judith Rodin in announcing the appointment, "and I wish her all the
best as she resumes full-time duties this fall as a professor in our English
department.
"Looking ahead, I cannot think of anyone I would rather have as
our new Ombudsman than Walter Wales. His wisdom, judgment, compassion and
broad knowledge of the University are unsurpassed and will greatly benefit
his new office. As I have said in print before, Walter is the definition
of a University citizen, and he has proved it again with his willingness
to take on this important new assignment."
Dr. Wales joined the University in 1959 as an instructor in physics and
has been a full professor since 1972, winning SAS's prestigious Ira Abrams
Memorial Award for Distinguished Teaching in 1990. A Fellow of the American
Physical Society and member of the American Association for the Advancement
of Science, he has chaired the Physics Department; served as associate dean
of SAS twice and as acting dean three times; and held the post of Deputy
Provost (1992-94). He was chair of the Faculty Senate in 1979-80, and headed
the 1977-80 Task Force on University Governance. |
Interim Deans for Law and Wharton Schools
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In August Dr. Judith Rodin announced the appointment of Professor
Charles Mooney as Interim Dean of the Law School and of Dr. Patrick Harker
as Interim Dean of the Wharton Schools-each to searve while the searches
continue for successors to Law's Colin Diver and Wharton's Thomas Gerrity,
both of whom continue on the faculty.
Dr. Harker is the UPS Transportation Professor for the Private Sector
and professor of operations and information management and systems engineering
who is also the newly appointed Deputy Dean (see Almanac
July 13, or, www.upenn.edu/almanac/between/I-deans.html,
for more on him) |
Professor Mooney, an expert in commercial law and related areas,
is a University of Oklahoma alumnus who took his J.D. at Harvard cum
laude in 1972. After legal practice in Oklahoma, New York and with the
Philadelphia firm of Morgan, Lewis & Bochius, he joined the University
in 1990 as a full professor. (More on Professor Mooney next week.) |
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Trustees Chair
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At July's full board meeting, an alumnus and investment firm
executive, James Riepe, was elected to succeed Dr. Roy Vagelos as chair
of the University's Board of Trustees.
Please see the July
13 issue of Almanac. |
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