Tuesday,
September 7, 1999
Volume 46
Number 2
www.upenn.edu/almanac/


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."

 

 Inn Time for Fall: In the centerfold September at Penn is an update on new campus amenities completed by summer's end, including the Inn at Penn (with the new Faculty Club on the second floor), Irvine Auditorium, more sections of Perelman Quad, and a new kosher deli called Irv's Place where Urban Outfitters used to be.

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

 

 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.)  

 

Trustees Chair

 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.

The July issue of Almanac is available online: www.upenn.edu/almanac/v46/n01/071399.html


Almanac, Vol. 46, No. 2, September 7, 1999

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