Honors & Other Things |
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May 6, 2014, Volume 60, No. 33 |
2014 Women of Color at Penn Day Awards
For the 27th consecutive year, Penn and UPHS presented Women of Color Day at Penn, an effort to increase awareness of the concerns, talents and achievements of women of color. The accomplishments of these women were recognized at the Annual Women of Color at Penn (WOCAP) Awards Luncheon on May 1. Below are recipients as described by their nominators.
Faculty/Staff Honoree
Valerie De Cruz graced Penn with her talent, passion and excellence when she became the director of the Greenfield Intercultural Center (GIC) in March 1997. She has worked tirelessly in a role that allows her to reach marginalized and disenfranchised students who are the first in their families to attend college. She believes in the importance of increasing access to quality education for all students and has worked to actualize this belief. Her goal as an administrator at the GIC has been to develop and co-sponsor programs that actively seek to support minority communities, while providing opportunities for all students to grapple with the complex issues surrounding race and class in America. She has used experience gained from 25-plus years working with marginalized students to create advocacy platforms that aid and assist families and students faced with complex problems that can come with navigating higher education. Ms. De Cruz has formed and sustained excellent relationships with colleagues and when applicable called upon these colleagues to assist students whose needs extended beyond her reach or expertise. The GIC has become a home away from home for many students who have felt disconnected from the greater Penn community.
A champion advocate for all students in need, Ms. De Cruz has worked endless hours with students of color brokering for services on behalf of minority communities. She has been instrumental in creating intercultural programs to help students enhance their cultural competency skills. One of the ways she has done this is through her work with the Alliance and Understanding program which brings together Black, Jewish and other interested students in an attempt to explore the Civil Rights Movement and the intercultural partnerships between Black and Jewish communities.
Ms. De Cruz is a true champion of human and student rights.
Graduate Student Honoree
Leah Seifu is in her second year at the Perelman School of Medicine. At a young age, Ms. Seifu’s Ethiopian heritage and Catholic school upbringing instilled in her a sense of duty to serve others. These values of service, cultural awareness and social activism have stayed with her through.
Ms. Seifu attended Harvard University, where she majored in human evolutionary biology with a minor in global health & health policy and received a citation in Spanish language. Her major culminated in a senior thesis analyzing the connection between early childhood nutrition, obesity and brain development. During her time at Harvard, Ms. Seifu volunteered with CityStep, a student group that teaches a dance and education curriculum to middle school students in Cambridge, and Project Health, a nation-wide organization dedicated to bridging the gap between health and healthcare by providing low-income patients with access to social services such as housing and food assistance. She spent a summer in Santiago, Chile taking part in clinical and public health projects, especially one that supported low-income children with cancer. She also spent a summer in Washington, DC working for the Children’s Defense Fund on their projects related to child health and nutrition.
After college, Ms. Seifu spent a year working for the World Trade Center Health Program at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York participating in their clinical research projects and health policy interventions. She then began medical school at Penn in the summer of 2012, and has since enjoyed becoming an active member of the Penn community. She served as Community Service co-chair of SNMA, the Student National Medical Association, co-leading a hypertension clinic at a barbershop in West Philadelphia and promoting other opportunities serving communities of color in Philadelphia. She also served as funding director for the Penn Human Rights Clinic, a student-led group aiming to aid asylum-seekers in Philadelphia obtain medical evaluations, and as a representative for her class in the Penn Medical Student Government. She hopes to pursue a career combining her interests in pediatrics, public health and social advocacy.
Undergraduate Student Honoree
Melanie Young is a junior in the College majoring in urban studies and minoring in urban education. She entered Penn as a Mayor’s Scholar and a Benjamin Franklin Scholar, honors reserved for the best and brightest undergraduates. A native Philadelphian, Ms. Young is said to, “love her city and thinks everyone else should too!” The breadth of her experiences and commitments clearly indicates that she also loves more than her city.
Her commitment to the youth of Philadelphia includes internships at Music and Social Change, a program that facilitates interactions between Parkway West High School, West Philadelphia High School and the University of Pennsylvania. She also worked with Leaders of Change at University City High School and Operation Public Education Research.
Ms. Young is the vice president of the Penn Education Society, and a peer advisor for the College of Arts & Sciences. As a freshman, she was selected as a participant in the Office of Student Affairs Leadership retreat, was a leader in the Interfaith Youth Core Leadership Institute and currently serves as a mentor in the Dana How Scholars Program for the Upward Bound Program. Further, her multiple international experiences as a student leader in the cities of Adnomas, Kpando and Kumasi in Ghana and the Agahozo-Shalom Youth Village in Rwanda explored interfaith dialogue and strategies for the elimination of cultural and interethnic violence.
Ms. Young’s commitment and devotion to her numerous academic, personal and community service activities is unwavering and has sustained the well-being of many people here and abroad. She has committed many selfless acts and has exemplified the meaning of compassion as a scholar, leader and role model. She has engaged in activities to uplift others; as one of her recommenders for the award noted, “She is a tour de force and her spirit and determination are contagious.”
Community Honoree
Theresa “Terri” Shockley has devoted her life to promoting and advancing the arts. She received her BFA in dance from Ohio State University and continued to hone her craft by studying various forms of dance, acting and voice. She has written, choreographed and performed numerous works at venues in Philadelphia and New York, and has extensive international touring experience including England, Germany, France, Italy, Canada, Holland, Brazil and Jamaica. A reoccurring theme in Ms. Shockley’s work has been the empowerment of women, children and marginalized groups and highlighting the beauty and richness of African-American culture. Perhaps more remarkable than her contributions on the stage, Ms. Shockley has used her considerable skill and experience as a medium to enhance and enrich the lives of others by teaching dance, movement, voice and drama in private dance studios and training programs, public schools, community centers, senior centers, prisons and various urban centers.
Over the last 15 years, Ms. Shockley has been the driving force behind the Community Education Center (CEC), which is couched between the campuses of the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University. She completed an internship under the performing arts coordinator, served as the operations manager and program director and then moved into the role of executive director. There is no function that she has not performed to keep the CEC afloat, including designing arts programs for children and adults; creating seasonal calendar and other marketing pieces; grant writing; fund-raising; overseeing the implementation of the mission, goals and program objectives; establishing financial systems and managing budget; supervising all programs and building operations; writing press releases; establishing and maintaining cooperative community relations; spear-heading short and long-term organizational planning; and reporting to and communicating with the board of directors. Ms. Shockley also serves on the Dance Advisory Committee of the Painted Bride and on the board of directors for Urban Bush Women, where she is also a founding member of the dance/theatre/vocal ensemble.
Ms. Shockley has selflessly served the West Philadelphia and Mantua community for nearly 20 years with minimal compensation and acknowledgment. Sacrifice and hard-work, in addition to her humble nature, are qualities for which she is known best.
Legacy Honoree
Winnie Smart-Mapp’s caring and guiding spirit for people has allowed her to successfully network and use these relationships coupled with her own gifts to assist others. She is a retired Senior Associate Director for Finance, Administration and Faith-Based Initiatives in the Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships, with over 23 years of service to the University of Pennsylvania. She began her Penn career in 1983 in the Office of Student Life. She worked with the Women of Color at Penn (WOCAP) organizations for over 16 years. She has been an innovator with this organization, and has raised substantial funds to host several breakfast programs to provide scholarships to high school, undergraduate and graduate students. Her efforts have led high school girls to WOCAP and this exposure has helped them to interact and carefully select the role models that have educated them on what it takes to be successful at Penn and wherever else they choose to go in life. Ms. Smart-Mapp’s work has not only helped to educate and empower women across the campus; it has in fact, reached far beyond the organization and institutional borders. Her efforts with the WOCAP organization were focused on education, outreach, ministry and fundraising, while incorporating vision and WOCAP’s principles into those communities and its projects.
Ms. Smart-Mapp helped develop the annual souvenir journal booklet and dedicated many tireless hours to that end. Her perseverance and fundraising gave others motivation to spend the time needed to make the souvenir journal a successful part of the WOCAP organization. She is a forward-thinker whose creative approach has provided leadership and provided mentorship to those new members and leaders coming into the fold of WOCAP. She felt fortunate to have worked with a wonderful and giving group of colleagues within WOCAP for many years.
Ms. Smart-Mapp had a positive impact and set the tone in excellence and service by maximizing finances and resources at the Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships to be supportive of the WOCAP organization. The Center developed, supported and contributed resources to the WOCAP webpage for many years. Her efforts allowed women in the Netter Center to take the time to work with this and other organizations with full support.
A gifted facilitator in gospel music history as it relates to Philadelphia, she has lectured and been embraced by Penn students in the department of music as she equipped them with the necessary tools needed to immerse them into cultures and communities of faith across the city. Her work has also fostered relationships with a number of organizations focused on health-related causes. One such organization, “Praise Is The Cure,” offers a week of free activities focusing on Breast Cancer Education and Awareness to women of color during the month of October, and culminates with a free Gospel Concert with professional artists for 5,000 people. Her work with students and communities of faith has touched thousands.
Her motto has been, “If I can help somebody as I pass along the way, then my living shall not be in vain.”
The 2014 Newly-Retired Faculty
The following faculty members were accorded emeritus status during the 2013-2014 academic year (unless otherwise noted). Those marked with an asterisk (*) have elected not to use the emeritus title modifier. The year in parentheses is the year that they joined the Penn faculty ranks.
*Jonathan Baron, Professor of Psychology, Psychology/SAS (’74)
Stephen Baylor, Professor Emeritus of Physiology, Physiology/PSOM (’80)
*Raymond Boston, Professor of Applied Biomathematics, Clinical Studies-New Bolton Center/Veterinary Medicine (’90)
Nancy Cooke, Professor Emerita of Medicine, Medicine-Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism/PSOM (’82)
James Coyne, Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry, Psychiatry/PSOM (’99)—accorded status in 2012-2013
Wilfred Ethier, Professor Emeritus of Economics, Economics/SAS (’69)
*Carolyn Gibson, Professor of Animal and Cell Biology, Anatomy and Cell Biology/Dental Medicine (’90)
Michael Grunstein, Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics, Pediatrics/PSOM (’87)
Frederick Henretig, Professor Emeritus (C-E) of Pediatrics, Pediatrics/PSOM (’93)
John Hershey, Professor Emeritus of Operations and Information Management, Operations and Information Management/Wharton (’76)
Peter Joseph, Professor Emeritus of Radiology, Radiology/PSOM (’83)
Anne Kazak, Professor Emerita (C-E) of Pediatrics, Pediatrics/PSOM (’86)—accorded status in 2012-2013
Hank Kung, Professor Emeritus of Radiology, Radiology/PSOM (’87)
Lynn Lees, Professor Emerita of History, History/SAS (’74)
Leonard Lodish, Professor Emeritus of Marketing, Marketing/Wharton (’68)
*Edward Macarak, Professor of Animal and Cell Biology, Anatomy and Cell Biology/Dental Medicine (’79)
Karin McGowan, Professor Emerita (C-E) of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine/PSOM (’86)—
accorded status in 2012-2013
Stanley Muravchick, Professor Emeritus (C-E) of Anesthesia, Anesthesia/PSOM (’81)—accorded status in 2012-2013
Janet Pack, Professor Emerita of Business Economics and Public Policy, Business Economics and Public Policy/Wharton (’70)
Howard Pack, Professor Emeritus of Business Economics and Public Policy, Business Economics and Public Policy/Wharton (’84)
Larry Palmer, Professor Emeritus of Neuroscience, Neuroscience/PSOM (’75)—accorded status in 2012-2013
Randall Pittman, Professor Emeritus of Pharmacology, Pharmacology/PSOM (’85)
Robert Preucel, Sally and Alvin V. Shoemaker Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, Anthropology/SAS (’95)
Arnold Rosoff, Professor Emeritus of Legal Studies and Business Ethics, Legal Studies & Business Ethics/Wharton (’71)
Lawrence Soma, Professor Emeritus of Anesthesia and Clinical Pharmacology, Clinical Studies-New Bolton Center/Veterinary Medicine (’60)
Marilyn Stringer, Professor Emerita (C-E) of Nursing/Nursing (’97)—accorded status in 2012-2013
Brian Strom, Professor Emeritus of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Epidemiology/PSOM (’80)
Stephen Thom, Professor Emeritus of Emergency Medicine, Emergency Medicine/PSOM (’86
Class of 2014 Ivy Stone
The Class of 2014 Ivy Stone was designed by Connie M. Li, N’14, and will be made from gray granite. The 2014 stone will be installed on the garden wall adjacent to the recently restored ARCH building.
Student Awards
Senior Honor Awards
Althea K. Hottel Award: Lindsay Y. Tsai, E’14
Gaylord P. Harnwell Award: Urja R. Mittal, C’14, W’14
David R. Goddard Award: Natalie M. Riemer, W‘14
R. Jean Brownlee Award: Tania V. Chairez, W’14
Spoon Award: Marcus M. Mundy, C’14
Bowl Award: Ethan R. Jones, W’14
Cane Award: Pulak Mittal, E’14, W’14
Spade Award: Jonathan E. Rosenbaum, E’14 W’14
Leadership Awards
Association of Alumnae Fathers’ Trophy: Alyssa F. Baron, C’14
Class of 1915 Award: John R. Worster, C’14
James Howard Weiss Memorial Award: Michelle I. Ho, E’14
Penn Student Agencies Award: Gionni Y. Ponce, C’14
Penn Alumni Student Awards of Merit: Julio Germán Arias Castillo, C’14; Dau Jok, C’14; Daniel R. Judd, W’14; Jodi L. Miller, C’14; William P. Smith, C’14
Sol Feinstone Undergraduate Awards: Abigail J. Kleva, C’15; Joy Li, C’15; Reginald S. Stewart, C’15; Nicole A. Woon, E’14, W’14
James Brister Society Student Leadership Award: Simone Során Leigh Stern, C’14
Association of Latino Alumni Student Leadership Award: Catalina Angelica Ramos, C’14
Association of Native Alumni Student Leadership Award: Robert Harold Noe Martin, C’14
Black Alumni Society Student Leadership Award: Mugha Eltigani, C’14
University of Pennsylvania Asian Alumni Network Student Leadership Award: Paulo B. Bautista, W’14
Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Alumni Association Student Leadership Award: Dawn H. Androphy, C’15
Trustees’ Council of Penn Women Leadership Award: Carolina Angel, C’14
William A. Levi Kite & Key Society Award for Service and Scholarship: Nicholas Boccardi, W’14
Stephen Wise Award: Mia Garuccio, C’14; Julie Berez, C’14; Muhga Eltigani, C’14
*Note: These awards will be presented during the Ivy Day ceremony on May 17. The other awards will be presented at several different ceremonies during Alumni Weekend May 16-19.
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