From the President and Provost |
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April 9, 2013,
Volume 59, No. 28 |
Dean Porter’s Retirement
We are writing to let you know that Andy Porter has told us and the Graduate School of Education community of his intention to retire as Dean at the end of his current term on June 30, 2014. Later in the spring, we will name and charge a consultative committee to advise us on the selection of his successor.
One of the world’s foremost education researchers, Andy joined Penn in 2007 with the singular goal of making Penn GSE the most intellectually exciting education school in the nation. Over the past six years, he has advanced the School’s eminence along every measure. This year GSE admitted the largest, most academically gifted and most diverse class in its history; welcomed five new and dynamic scholars to its faculty; and climbed from 9th to 7th among the top 10 education schools in the national rankings. Andy worked with the GSE faculty to conduct and implement a rigorous curricular review, ultimately increasing the number of programs, enhancing the advanced degrees and improving student services and support. GSE’s heightened national prominence testifies to its growing leadership and reputation–as does its striking rise in applications.
Through his indefatigable fundraising efforts during the recently concluded Making History Campaign, the School reached its ambitious $52 million goal ahead of schedule and advanced core priorities: financial aid, faculty support, and key programs, including the innovative and entrepreneurial Milken-Penn GSE Education Business Plan Competition and the new Med Ed executive master’s program, jointly launched with the Perelman School of Medicine and designed to train physicians and other health care professionals in educational practice and pedagogy.
With Andy’s strong support, GSE is an active contributor to Penn’s local engagement efforts, working closely with the School District of Philadelphia and our local West Philadelphia schools on initiatives that are changing the lives of students and families throughout our community.
Andy has recruited and mentored an exceptional faculty, whose research, diversity, and grant support have all thrived during his tenure. GSE is now one of only two education schools with the “trifecta” of a national research center, pre-doctoral program, and post-doctoral program funded by the Institute of Education Sciences. His own scholarship continues to make him a model of intellectual impact and distinction. The author of more than 100 articles and book chapters, he is past president of the American Educational Research Association, a Lifetime National Associate of the National Academies, and an elected member of the National Academy of Education.
With his unwavering commitment to excellence in education, Andy will continue to lead GSE for the next 15 months while helping us to plan for a smooth transition in the School’s leadership. During this period–culminating in GSE’s 100th Anniversary in 2014–we will have ample opportunities to thank him for his outstanding contributions to GSE, to Penn–and to education around the world.
—Amy Gutmann, President
—Vincent Price, Provost
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