College House Named For President Emerita Judith Rodin

At Friday’s reception, Faculty Master Dr. Jay Reise, President Amy Gutmann, House Dean Ken Grcich and RA Kennedy Gachiri joined Dr. Judith Rodin at the Hamilton College House which is being renamed in her honor.

Hamilton College House is being renamed Rodin College House in honor of President Emerita Judith Rodin, who stepped down in 2004 after a 10-year tenure. The announcement was made last week by Penn’s Trustees and President Amy Gutmann.

The naming is in honor of Dr. Rodin’s many achievements during her presidency that lifted the University to new heights. “We are absolutely delighted to attach the Rodin name to this college house,” said President Amy Gutmann. “The College House system as it exists today was implemented during Judy Rodin’s tenure. We can think of no better way to honor her many contributions to Penn and to acknowledge her commitment to undergraduate education.”

“As a Philadelphia native, Penn alum and former college house resident, Judy Rodin brought her deep love of the campus community and boundless energy to everything she did,” said James Riepe, chairman of Penn’s Board of Trustees. “We think it fitting to associate her name with a facility that is part of the College House system she nurtured and loved.”

During Dr. Rodin’s decade of service, Penn’s undergraduate housing system developed into an integrated residential program, comprised of 11 College Houses with live-in faculty and professional and student staff who provide cultural, academic, philanthropic and recreational programming.

Dr. Rodin oversaw a period of growth at Penn that improved the University’s academic core, and dramatically enhanced the quality of life on campus and in the surrounding community. Under her leadership, Penn invigorated its resources,  doubling its research funding and tripling both its annual fundraising and the size of its endowment; launched a comprehensive and widely acclaimed neighborhood revitalization program; attracted record numbers of undergraduate applicants, creating Penn’s most selective classes ever; and expanded its international programs and collaborations.