May 7, 2024 Volume 70 Issue 33

May 6, 2024

To the Penn Community,

University campuses across the country and around the world are facing protests of increasing intensity. We are all seeing these protests unfold differently—with university leadership responding differently and their communities reacting differently. Every day I hear from people with clear ideas about what we should do at Penn. They express support, surprise, or betrayal for the University’s actions or inactions, depending on their perspective. As we manage the situation at Penn and its many impacts on our campus, my north star continues to be the safety of our community and the furtherance of our teaching, research, and service missions.

The encampment should end. It is in violation of our policies, it is disrupting campus operations and events, and it is causing fear for many in our large, diverse community, especially among our Jewish students. But any response to the encampment must balance possible escalation of the current situation with the need to protect the safety and rights of everyone. At Penn, this risk is more significant than at some other institutions because we have an open campus in a large city.

I have now met twice with several of the Penn student and faculty protestors to hear their views and try to find a productive path forward. We continue to propose additional meetings—this path remains open. We have asked the protestors in the encampment to disband multiple times and offered accommodation to continue their demonstration in ways that do not conflict with safety and policy. On each occasion, the protestors have refused. They have made additional demands that reflect an unwillingness to negotiate on reasonable terms to a conclusion. I believe there are alternative paths and am willing to pursue all reasonable options to avoid escalation and further disruption to our community.

Universities must give broad latitude to the open expression of ideas but must do so in ways that keep campuses physically safe and free from disruption. At Penn, we embrace civil discourse and rigorous debate. The terrorism and hostage-taking by Hamas must be addressed, and so too, the urgent and critical humanitarian crisis and loss of life in Gaza. But passion for a cause does not entitle anyone to act beyond the rules that govern and protect us. Protests that threaten or harass, that disrupt the access of others to spaces and facilities, or that make us unsafe inevitably lose support and undermine their cause.

Now is the moment for de-escalation. We are in active conversation with local public officials and law enforcement, who recommend that we continue to focus on de-escalation and dialogue before taking steps that could inflame tensions. However, we are concerned that many of the protestors occupying the encampment on College Green are seeking such a confrontation. We have heard reports of circulating documents with instructions for escalating a protest, including through building occupations and violence.

Every day the encampment exists, the campus is less safe. Some have aimed to characterize this as a peaceful protest. It is not. Two cherished Penn landmarks, the Benjamin Franklin statue and the Button, have been defaced and vandalized. There have been disturbing reports of harassing and threatening speech. On Wednesday night, protestors threatened and attempted to provoke Penn Public Safety police officers. On Friday, we were made aware of an alarming video that showed a Penn student being barred entry to the encampment and threatened. Penn Public Safety has opened an investigation and is in touch with the student to provide support. Protestors within the encampment have also described being spit on, harassed, and threatened. Penn Public Safety continues to be onsite 24/7 to ensure safety and provide support. All of these actions are unacceptable.

Protestors wear masks and refuse to produce identification, as required by our policies and stated on each Penn ID, making it difficult to distinguish those individuals who are part of the Penn community from those who are not and are trespassing. The tents create an additional risk because they provide no line of sight to those entrusted with campus safety. Penn Public Safety resources are required 24/7 to monitor the safety of the encampment, diverting them from other campus spaces and events.

To this point, we have taken a measured approach to avoid escalation and to uphold our fundamental belief in and commitment to open expression. We must, however, also enforce rules that are designed to support safety and our missions. Those in violation of our policies are making choices. We are continuing to implement student conduct procedures, which may result in the inability of some of our students to graduate or continue their education at Penn in subsequent years. The roles, responsibilities, and activities of Penn faculty and staff members in the encampment are also under review.

We will maintain an enhanced security presence to support physical safety and will adjust our response as conditions warrant. We will continue to provide safety and wellness resources, which can be found here, to all members of the Penn community. I am distressed and disappointed by the actions of the protestors, which violate our rules and goals. I know this is a terribly difficult time for our community, but my confidence in our institution, our people, our traditions, and our spirit of discovery and service is unbowed.

—J. Larry Jameson
Interim President

Junhyong Kim has been appointed the Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor of Biology in the School of Arts & Sciences. He is also a secondary professor of computer and information science, the co-director of Penn Program in Single Cell Biology, and the former co-director of Penn Genome Frontiers Institute and former chair of the department of biology. Dr. Kim is an expert in genomics, single-cell biology, mathematical and computational biology, and evolutionary genetics. His current research interests include using single-cell technologies to generate a cell atlas of the human female reproductive system, single-cell analysis for kidney regenerative medicine, development of novel genomic technologies, and data analysis algorithms.

Dr. Kim is one of the pioneers of the field of single cell biology as well as of algebraic statistics for biological data analysis. He has received the Sloan Foundation Young Investigator Award, Yale Junior and Senior Faculty Awards, a J. S. Guggenheim Fellowship, and the Ellison Foundation Senior Scholar Award. Dr. Kim has served as a visiting fellow of the Newton Institute at Cambridge; as a visiting research fellow at Merton College, Oxford; and as a visiting fellow at the Institut des Hautes Etudes Scientifique.

The late Christopher H. Browne, C’69, served as the chair of the Board of Advisors for Penn Arts & Sciences and as a Trustee of the University. The Browne Distinguished Professorships recognize faculty members who have achieved an extraordinary reputation for scholarly contributions, demonstrated great distinction in teaching, and demonstrated intellectual integrity and unquestioned commitment to free and open discussion of ideas.

Greg Ridgeway has been appointed the Rebecca W. Bushnell Professor of Criminology in the School of Arts & Sciences. Dr. Ridgeway, who is also the department chair of criminology and a professor of statistics and data science, focuses his research on the development of statistical, computational, and analytical methods to improve the understanding of crime and the functioning of the justice system. He has put this expertise into practice in his work with police departments within the U.S. and beyond, prosecutor and public defender organizations, sentencing commissions, and civil rights agencies.

Dr. Ridgeway has previously served as acting director of the National Institute of Justice, and, as such, a member of the Senior Executive Service, the highest leadership position in the federal government’s civil service. He also served as director of the RAND Safety and Justice Program and the RAND Center on Quality Policing, where he worked with criminal justice organizations around the world. In addition, Dr. Ridgeway is a fellow of the American Statistical Association, the author of numerous academic papers, and the inventor on eight awarded U.S. patents.

This is one of two professorships endowed by the Penn Arts & Sciences Board of Advisors in honor of former dean Rebecca W. Bushnell. Dr. Bushnell joined the Penn Arts & Sciences faculty in the department of English in 1982 and served as the dean of the School of Arts & Sciences for eight years.

The Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award

This year’s Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award was presented to Jenni Punt. The Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award is the most prestigious teaching award in veterinary medicine. It is presented annually to a faculty member at each college of veterinary medicine in the United States. Its purpose is “to improve veterinary medicine education by recognizing outstanding instructors who, through their ability, dedication, character and leadership, contribute significantly to the advancement of the profession.” The entire Penn Vet student body votes on the recipient.

Dr. Punt is an immunologist who has spent most of her career integrating research and teaching. A biology professor at Haverford College for eighteen years, she collaborated with undergraduates to understand the molecular and cellular basis for cell fate decisions during T cell and hematopoietic stem cell development. An associate dean for student research at Columbia University’s School of Physicians and Surgeons from 2013-2015, she was the founding director of an MD/MSc dual degree program focused on interdisciplinary medical scholarship—and continued to investigate the regulation of cell fate with students in the laboratory. Since returning to Penn Vet in 2017, Dr. Punt has become the associate dean of One Health and a professor of immunology in the pathobiology department. With the help of an innovative team, she is working to develop interprofessional educational programs that provide our new generation of leaders with skills needed to address complex challenges that impact human, animal, and environmental health. Dr. Punt continues to teach at all levels and collaborate with students in the laboratory, where they are currently working to understand the relationship between immune cell activity and animal welfare.

“Dr. Punt has been a close colleague, advisor, and friend throughout my deanship and I want to thank her for her partnership on several innovative, challenging, and transformative endeavors,” said Penn Vet dean Andrew Hoffman. “These include her leadership of the One Health Unit that has advanced at least seven new dual degree programs; the masters and certificate programs in animal welfare and behavior; the One Health in Action Research Community, funded through Penn’s Environmental Innovations Initiative; the One Health Study Design course; and the MPH-One Health Track, as well as teaching many hours in the VMD core and elective curriculum, and teaching undergraduates.

“Dr. Punt, a fierce and compassionate advocate of graduate and professional students, thinks and acts globally. Recently, Dr. Punt received the Council on International Veterinary Medical Education award for the ‘Education Exchange Project,’ an educational partnership with Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources in Malawi. As an immunologist, Dr. Punt is well-known for her authorship, alongside Stranford, Jones, and Owens of the popular text entitled Kuby Immunology. Dr. Punt has served the community at Penn Vet with honor, in an exemplary manner, and to great effect.”

The William B. Boucher Award for Outstanding Teaching

The Boucher Award honors a house officer at New Bolton Center for excellent teaching, as was exemplified by William Boucher over four decades at Penn Vet. The graduating class votes on the recipient. The selection criteria include teaching skills, knowledge in the candidate’s area of expertise, responsiveness to the needs of the students, willingness to participate in off-hour seminars and discussions, and general dedication to New Bolton Center and to the veterinary profession.

Sarah F. Colmer completed a residency in large animal internal medicine at New Bolton Center in 2022 and is currently a fellow in neurology. She has clinical and research interests in equine neurodegenerative disease and has always had passions for teaching students and clients alike, which she enjoys pursuing in her current role.

“Just for fun, and without divulging the context, I asked Dr. Colmer the other day to explain how you teach one to remember the cranial nerves, which is OOOTTAFAGVSH,” said Dean Hoffman.  “She produced the following: ‘Such a great question. My favorite clean one, which my dad taught me, is: On Old Olympus’ Towering Tops, A Finn And German Viewed Some Hops. A friend uses: Only One Of The Two Athletes Felt Very Good, Victorious, And Healthy.’ So, in Dr. Colmer’s style, she conveyed not one, but two, mnemonic devices to remember the most complicated set of nerves in the body, fulfilling several of the great teacher qualities.”

“Sarah has always had a special talent for teaching, especially for teaching neurology,” said Amy Johnson, the Marilyn M. Simpson Associate Professor of Equine Medicine at the New Bolton Center. “No matter what she is doing, students gravitate towards Sarah because she radiates patience, kindness, and true passion for education. She inspires everyone around her to learn, diffuses tension in challenging situations, and makes NBC a happier place every day she is there. We are so grateful to have her with us!”

Class of 2024 Ryan Instructor Award

After completing veterinary school and an internship at Penn Vet, Lillian Aronson completed a small animal surgical residency at the University of California, Davis. From 1994-1996, she was the coordinator of the renal transplantation program for animals at the veterinary school at Davis. Following her residency, she joined the faculty at Penn Vet in 1998 and launched the renal transplantation program there. Her clinical interests include all areas of soft tissue surgery, but especially microvascular surgery and complex urinary tract surgery, including renal transplantation and treatment of urolithiasis. Her research interests in the field of feline and canine renal transplantation include mechanisms of action of immunosuppressive therapy and cytokine gene expression in the presence of immunosuppressive therapy. Her other research interests include mechanisms of renal hypertrophy and the evaluation of pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in urine and peripheral blood to help differentiate causes of urinary tract disease. Dr. Aronson has lectured extensively locally, nationally, and internationally, and recently published the second edition of her textbook, Small Animal Surgical Emergencies. Dr. Aronson is currently a professor of surgery and is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons.

Class of 2024 NBC Instructor Award

Maia Aitken graduated from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine in 2009. She completed her large animal surgery internship and residency at New Bolton Center, followed by a fellowship in large animal emergency and critical care. She is currently an assistant professor of clinical emergency and critical care at New Bolton Center. Dr. Aitken is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons and the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. She is also director of New Bolton Center’s internship program.

Class of 2025 Lecture Teaching Award

Patricia L. Sertich is an associate professor-clinician educator in reproduction and behavior at Penn Vet and is currently section chief of reproduction and behavior. Based at the Georgia and Philip Hofmann Research Center for Animal Reproduction at New Bolton Center since 1983, Dr. Sertich evaluates large animals for breeding soundness and develops treatment plans to optimize their fertility. Dr. Sertich provides consultation on reproductive issues of patients in the George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals and is a critical member of its high-risk pregnancy management team. As a diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists (ACT), she currently serves as its secretary and is on the ACT Examination Committee, which determines board certification for veterinarians specializing in animal reproduction. Dr. Sertich has mentored many ACT diplomates and received numerous teaching awards, including three Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teaching Awards and the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation Award (). Grateful that she can teach students in all four years of veterinary school, Dr. Sertich is able to identify students with a strong interest in reproduction early. As the faculty liaison for the student chapter of the Society for Theriogenology, she facilitates training for those students to develop excellent clinical skills, provides opportunities to gain clinical experience, and connects them with practices that will direct them to a satisfying and productive career in veterinary medicine. For these efforts, she received the 2022 David E. Bartlett Award for Lifetime Achievement in Theriogenology from the Society for Theriogenology.

Class of 2025 Laboratory Teaching Award

Heather Rudolph is a certified veterinary technician who received her training from Harcum College. She also earned a postgraduate certificate and diploma in veterinary education from Royal Veterinary College. As the clinical skills lab director, Ms. Rudolph has developed and manages the hands-on lab for students at Penn Vet. Her students have access to models to practice skills such as restraint, venipuncture, urinary catheter placement, cystocentesis, and suturing. Before coming to Penn Vet, Ms. Rudolph worked in emergency and critical care at Crown Veterinary Specialists and Quakertown Veterinary Clinic.

Class of 2026 Lecture Teaching Award

Susan Bender has been part of the Penn Vet community since 2003. She graduated from the combined VMD-PhD program in 2011 and completed an anatomic pathology residency in 2014, becoming board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. She joined the New Bolton Center faculty in 2015 and is currently an assistant professor of clinical pathobiology, section head of the biopsy and immunohistochemistry services, and co-director of the anatomic pathology residency program. Her main professional interest is forensic pathology, and she earned her MS in veterinary forensic science from the University of Florida in 2019. In the new core curriculum at Penn Vet, Dr. Bender is co-leader of the first-year evidence-based veterinary medicine course and teaches a variety of topics in the second-year blocks.

Class of 2026 Laboratory Teaching Award

Deborah Gillette attended Purdue University as an undergraduate and veterinary school at Cornell University. After completing a pathology residency at Penn Vet, she earned a PhD in comparative pathology at the University of California, Davis, and became board certified. Dr. Gillette joined the faculty at the University of Wisconsin for one year before joining the pathology faculty at New Bolton Center. During this time, she received a master’s degree in health professions education from Penn’s Graduate School of Education. Dr. Gillette left Penn Vet to become a pathologist in the toxicology department of Rohm and Haas Company (now part of Dow Chemical). After retiring from the industry, she returned to Penn Vet in 2018, working for the pathology department at the Philadelphia campus. Dr. Gillette also serves as photo editor for the journal Veterinary Pathology.

Class of 2027 Lecture Teaching Award

Stephen Cole is currently an assistant professor of clinical microbiology at Penn Vet. His research seeks to understand and mitigate the spread of extensively drug resistant bacteria in companion animals and to establish best educational practices in antimicrobial stewardship to promote proper use of critical drugs. He is a dedicated educator who currently directs the core courses at Penn Vet—in particular, a novel course focused on evidenced-based, bench-to-bedside veterinary medicine. Dr. Cole’s primary clinical specialties include clinical bacteriology and mycology, antimicrobial therapy and selection, and infectious diseases. Dr. Cole is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Microbiology (bacteriology/mycology, immunology, virology), a recipient of the Peggy Cotter Early Career Award from the American Society for Microbiology, and a One Health Scholar of the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges.

Class of 2027 Laboratory Teaching Award

Elizabeth Woodward joined the department of biomedical sciences in 2016 as a clinical assistant professor. Before her faculty appointment, she held postdoctoral research appointments in the Reference Andrology Laboratory at New Bolton Center and at the University of Kentucky’s Gluck Equine Research Center, where she also earned her doctorate studying equine reproductive physiology. Her primary faculty role is teaching first and second-year students. She is a course organizer for three blocks and two capstones, and teaches concepts across several blocks in anatomy, physiology, and histology. Dr. Woodward serves on several committees and is a faculty adviser for the Penn Vet Wine Club. Her research interests are in the field of reproductive physiology, specifically in the areas of sperm physiology and equine endometritis. Dr. Woodward received the Zoetis Distinguished Teacher Award in 2022 (Almanac May 31, 2022).

Don Ricardo Harrison, Jr., director of the Provost’s Summer Mentorship Program (SMP) in the Division of the Vice Provost for Student Engagement (VPSE), died unexpectedly on April 9. He was 39.

A native Philadelphian, Mr. Harrison attended Philadelphia’s Fitler Academics Plus elementary school and graduated from Philadelphia’s Central High School. He earned his bachelor of arts in sociology, with a focus in race and ethnic diversity, from Pennsylvania State University in 2006.

Mr. Harrison’s work at Penn spanned from 2004 to 2012, then from 2016 until his death. He began his work with SMP in 2008, the first year VPUL was assigned responsibility for the program. SMP began in 2006 as a summer college preparatory program for Philadelphia 10th and 11th grade public and charter school students.

Mr. Harrison was central to increasing and expanding the program’s offerings and served as the late Gail Oberton’s right-hand partner in the growth and enhancement of SMP. He created a college prep guide and brought a variety of innovative approaches to recruitment of participants, support to school partners, and creative joint activities for students. At Penn, Mr. Harrison received a Penn Models of Excellence Award in 2013 for the Summer Mentorship Program Team.

Mr. Harrison was an accomplished artist and sculptor of several mediums, including paint, ice, wood, and collage. That work took him around the United States and across the world, including Hawaii, Australia, and the Netherlands. He created “pop-up” sculptures including a figure of Neptune in the fountain in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and an ice angel along Kelly Drive.  

Mr. Harrison served as a team member on the construction of a 38-foot tall replica of the Disney Castle made of ice for the “Limited Time Magic” promotion in NYC’s Times Square for CBS in October 2012 and was a subcontracted performance sculptor for “Fear No Ice” performance events. He also was a specialist in “live-carving” for performances for various winter ice festivals. Mr. Harrison developed his own company, Liquid Matters LLC, to further his career as an artist and a sculptor.

Mr. Harrison is survived by his son, Alec Chase; his daughter, Zarah Lavender Gail Harrison; his father, Don Ricardo Harrison, Sr; his sister, Donielle Nicole Harrison; his great-great aunt, Annie Mae Blagmon; his great aunts, Gloria Lindner Jordan and Anita Swain; his grandmother, Sarah Harrison; his aunt, Valarie Swain-Cade-McCoullum (Henry); his uncles, William Arch Swain, Jr. (Charlotta), Brian A. Swain (Michele), Dirk Harrison (Yvette), Anthony Harrison, and J.R. Harrison; and many cousins and close friends.

Rodney Napier, a former professor in the Wharton School and co-founder of its organizational consulting and executive coaching program, died on April 6. He was 87.

Born in Philadelphia, Dr. Napier experienced a transient childhood, frequently moving across the United States. After graduating from high school, his family settled in Minnesota, where he attended Carleton College. Shortly after earning his degree, Dr. Napier joined the U.S. Marine Corps to serve as a reservist. Following his military service, Dr. Napier attended the University of Chicago, where he earned his master’s degree in counseling.  After earning his master’s, he joined the African American Institute, traveling to Ghana and teaching geography and coaching athletics at Okuapeman Secondary School in Akropong, Akuapim. Dr. Napier later relocated to Madison, Wisconsin, where he earned his doctorate in behavioral studies from the University of Wisconsin. After graduating, Dr. Napier moved to Philadelphia to teach and mentor at Temple University. He co-created the psycho-educational process program during his time there. He earned tenure at Temple, mentoring countless students and publishing numerous books in the management field.

Dr. Napier joined the Wharton School in 1995 as a lecturer, teaching a course on executive team dynamics and physician leadership.  In 2005, he also took a position as a lecturer in the College of Arts & Sciences’ master of science in organizational dynamics program. He co-founded Penn’s graduate program in organizational consulting and executive coaching (OCEC), leaving a legacy in organizational leadership and development. Dr. Napier designed a curriculum aimed at guiding students towards becoming proficient coaches and consultants. This involved a rigorous study of theory, personalized faculty supervision, and comprehensive advising to help students achieve their goals. He retired from teaching at Penn in 2019.

Dr. Napier is survived by his three daughters; Amma Napier (David Smith), Laura Napier (Doug Claybourne), and Tori Valadao Napier; his granddaughters, Annika and Marlena Napier-Smith and Marea Claybourne-Napier; and his sister, Joan Napier.

A private celebration of Dr. Napier’s life was held for family and friends.

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To Report a Death

Almanac appreciates being informed of the deaths of current and former faculty and staff members, students and other members of the University community. Call (215) 898-5274 or email almanac@upenn.edu.

However, notices of alumni deaths should be directed to the Alumni Records Office at Suite 300, 2929 Walnut St., (215) 898-8136 or email record@ben.dev.upenn.edu.

Pursuant to the Faculty Senate Rules, formal notification to members may be accomplished by publication in Almanac. The following is published under that rule.

TO:               Members of the Faculty Senate
FROM:         Kathleen Boesze-Battaglia, Chair, Nominating Committee
SUBJECT:     Senate Nominations 2024, Part One

In accordance with the Faculty Senate Rules, official notice is given of the Senate Nominating Committee’s remaining slate of nominees for the incoming Senate Officers. The nominees, all of whom have indicated their willingness to serve, are:

Chair-elect:

• Kathleen Brown (SAS/History)

Secretary-elect:

• TBD

At-large Members of the Senate Executive Committee
    to serve a 3-year term beginning upon election:

• Kathleen Boesze-Battaglia (Dental Medicine)
• William Burke-White (Carey Law)
• Fernando Lara (Weitzman Design)
• Karen Lasater (Nursing)
• TBD

Assistant Professor Member of the Senate Executive Committee
    to serve a 2-year term beginning upon election:

• TBD

Senate Committee on Academic Freedom and Responsibility
    to serve a 3-year term beginning on July 1, 2024:

• Frank Setzer (Dental Medicine)
• TBD
• TBD
• TBD
• TBD
• TBD

Senate Committee on Economic Status of the Faculty
    to serve a 3-year term beginning on July 1, 2024:

• Anh Le (Dental Medicine)
• Mark Oyama (Veterinary Medicine)
• TBD

Also in accordance with the Faculty Senate rules, you are invited to submit additional nominations, which shall be accomplished via petitions containing at least twenty-five valid names and the signed approval of the candidate. All such petitions must be received no later than fourteen days after circulation of the nominees of the Nominating Committee by email to the Faculty Senate, senate@pobox.upenn.edu, or Tuesday, May 14, 2024.

Under the same provision of the rules, if no additional nominations are received, the slate nominated by the Nominating Committee will be declared elected.

The remaining slate of nominees will be published in a future edition of Almanac.

The following agenda is published in accordance with the Faculty Senate Rules. Any member of the standing faculty may attend SEC meetings and observe by contacting Patrick Walsh, executive assistant to the Senate, either by telephone at (215) 898-6943 or by email at senate@pobox.upenn.edu.

Thursday, May 9, 2024
1:30-3:30 p.m. EDT
 

1. Finalize SEC meeting minutes of April 10, 2024, and special meeting minutes of April 29, 2024
2. Tri-Chairs’ Report
3. Discussion of Current Events on Campus and Resolution Proposals Received
4. New Business

The following agenda is published in accordance with the Faculty Senate Rules. Any member of the standing faculty may attend SEC meetings and observe by contacting Patrick Walsh, executive assistant to the Senate, either by telephone at (215) 898-6943 or by email at senate@pobox.upenn.edu.

Wednesday, May 15, 2024
3–5 p.m. EDT

1. Finalize SEC special meeting minutes of May 9, 2024
2. Tri-Chairs’ Report
3. Hearing Lists for Faculty Grievance Commission and Center for Community Standards and Accountability
4. Call for 2024 – 2025 University Council Steering Committee Representatives
5. Update from the Office of General Counsel: Discussion with SVP and General Counsel Wendy White
6. Senate Committee Reports
   • Senate Committee on the Economic Status of the Faculty
   • Senate Committee on Students and Educational Policy
   • Senate Committee on Faculty Development, Diversity, and Equity
   • Senate Committee on Faculty and the Academic Mission
7. Recommendations for the SEC Agenda for 2024-2025
8. New Business
9. Appreciation for Outgoing Past Chair Vivian Gadsden and Welcome and Introduction of Chair-Elect Kathleen Brown
10. Passing the Gavel: Prof. Eric Feldman Becomes Chair of the Faculty Senate and Prof. Tulia G. Falleti Past Chair
11. Adjournment of Meeting

The following is published in accordance with the Faculty Senate Rules. Among other purposes, the publication of SEC actions is intended to stimulate discussion among the constituencies and their representatives. Please communicate your comments to Patrick Walsh, executive assistant to the Senate Office, by email at senate@pobox.upenn.edu.

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Special Meeting

Monday, April 29, 2024

Meeting Announcement. Faculty Senate chair Tulia Falleti announced a special meeting of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee by email on Saturday, April 27, 2024, to be held on Monday, April 29, for the purposes of information exchange and discussion of current events on campus.

Meeting Discussion. Dr. Falleti summarized the purpose of the meeting, which is to exchange information regarding the events surrounding the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” that began on College Green on Thursday, April 25, and to consult. SEC members shared knowledge of recent events and how they might advise the University administration.

Provost John Jackson and Vice Provost for Faculty Laura Perna joined the meeting. They responded to questions and comments from committee members.

Following the Provost’s and Vice Provost’s departures from the meeting, SEC members then continued their ongoing discussion. Proposals for actions were discussed, but no action was adopted. While SEC members hold differing views about the encampment, SEC members present concurred that the main objective for University administration should be to de-escalate tensions and to find a negotiated resolution to this conflict without rushing to conclusions. SEC members suggested that faculty should promote academic spaces on campus that foster constructive debates and conversations on difficult or intractable topics and to encourage faculty to remain near the encampment to work toward de-escalation and to foster constructive dialogue. Caution was noted regarding suggestions to record names of participants as doing so could be seen as an act of intimidation. Individual SEC members volunteered to find creative ways to assist the administration in checking students’ IDs without recording names or ID numbers and without creating lists of protest participants. Administrators’ messages with encampment participants should be clear and unambiguous. Every effort should be made to hold Commencement and other customary year-end activities, even if the locations of those activities must be moved. SEC brainstormed specific measures that could be common ground for a negotiated resolution.

The Rules Governing Final Examinations at the University of Pennsylvania are published each semester as a reminder to the academic community Information about spring 2024 final examinations can be found at https://srfs.upenn.edu/registration-catalog-calendar/final-exams.

— John L. Jackson, Jr., Provost

1. No instructor may hold a final examination nor require the submission of a take-home final exam except during the period in which final examinations are scheduled; when necessary, exceptions to this policy may be granted for postponed examinations (see 3 and 4 below). No final examinations may be scheduled during the last week of classes or on reading days.

2. No student may be required to take more than two final examinations on any calendar day during the period in which final examinations are scheduled. If more than two are scheduled, the student may postpone the middle exam. If a take-home final exam is due on a day when two final examinations are scheduled, the take-home exam shall be postponed by one day.

3. Examinations that are postponed because of conflicts with other examinations, or because more than two examinations are scheduled on the same day, may be taken at another time during the final examinations period if the faculty member and student can agree on that time. Otherwise, they must be taken during the official period for postponed examinations.

4. Examinations that are postponed because of illness, a death in the family, for religious observance or some other unusual event may be taken only during the official periods: the first week of the spring and fall semesters. Students must obtain permission from their dean’s office to take a postponed exam. Instructors in all courses must be willing to offer a make-up examination to all students who are excused from the final examination.

5. No instructor may change the time or date of a final exam without permission from the appropriate dean.

6. No instructor may increase the time allowed for a final exam beyond the scheduled two hours without permission from the appropriate dean.

7. No classes or required class activities may be held during the reading period.

8. The first examination of the day begins at 9 a.m. and the last examination concludes by 8 p.m. There will be one hour between exam time blocks.

9. All students must be allowed to see their final examination. Exams should be available as soon as possible after being graded with access ensured for a period of at least one regular semester after the exam has been given. To help protect student privacy, a student should have access only to their own exam and not the exams of other students. Therefore, for example, it is not permissible to leave student exams (or grades or papers) in publicly accessible areas.

10. Students may not be asked for their social security numbers. Instructors may not publicly display a student’s Penn ID or any portion of the social security number, nor use names, initials or any personally identifiable information to post grades. Even when an identifier is masked or absent, grades may not be posted in alphabetical order, to protect student privacy.

11. Final exams for College of Liberal and Professional Studies (LPS) courses must be given on the regular class meeting night during the week of final examinations. No change in scheduling is permitted without unanimous consent of all students in the class and the director of LPS. LPS final exams may not be administered during the last week of class or on a reading day.

In all matters relating to final exams, students with questions should first consult with their dean’s office. Faculty wishing to seek exceptions to the rules also should consult with their dean’s office.

Three Penn undergraduate students received the 2024 Lawrence C. Nussdorf Student Award, presented by the Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR) at the 19th Annual Urban Leadership Forum on April 5. The awardees are Joey Jung, Marielle Kang, and Khalid Mohieldin.

The award is named for the late Lawrence C. Nussdorf, a founding Penn IUR board member, who deeply valued the brilliance and enthusiasm of Penn’s undergraduate students in Penn’s Undergraduate Urban Research Colloquium (UURC) and the Penn IUR fellows in urban leadership program. Both programs seek to enrich students’ exploration of cities and the urban landscape in the classroom and the field.

Penn IUR co-directors Eugenie Birch and Susan Wachter presented the Nussdorf Student Award to the three graduating students who have all exemplified the goals of the award. The winners are:

Joey Jung, C’24, is majoring in urban studies and political science and minoring in public policy and data analytics. With his mentor, Yeonhwa Lee, he conducted research on gentrification through the UURC program in 2022 and was a 2023-2024 Penn IUR Undergraduate Fellow in Urban Leadership. He was also a former president of Wharton Undergraduates in Public Policy. Mr. Jung previously worked at the Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations and Econsult Solutions in Philadelphia and the Charter Cities Institute in Washington, D.C. Mr. Jung is primarily interested in public policy, urban planning, and city diplomacy and plans to do urban policy-related work following graduation.

Marielle Kang, C’24, is studying environmental studies with a concentration in sustainability and environmental management with minors in urban studies and economic policy. She explored her interest in climate risk management and resiliency with mentor and Penn IUR faculty fellow Simon Richter as a participant in the spring 2024 UURC. Her research focused on Cebu City, Philippines and private sector participation in relief efforts following Typhoon Odette in 2021. After graduation, Ms. Kang will join J.P. Morgan as a credit risk analyst.

Khalid Mohieldin, C’24, is majoring in urban studies and minoring in history and Africana studies on the pre-law track. Attentive to global urbanization trends and the intersections between urbanization, displacement, and public health, he has specific interests in African and southern European nations. With his mentor Heidi Artigue, a doctoral student in Wharton’s applied economics program, his spring 2023 UURC project aimed to map and analyze poverty changes in America’s major metropolitan areas and its impact on job distribution and affordable housing for low-income population. He has also worked as a research assistant for Penn IUR faculty fellow Domenic Vitiello. Mr. Mohieldin hopes to be working as a paralegal or legal assistant following graduation.

The Nussdorf Student Award commends the work of “all of students serving as models, who seek out opportunities to better understand how cities work,” Dr. Wachter said. “Their work considers how we might address the critical issues cities face for a better future for all.”

Mitchell A. Lazar, the Willard and Rhoda Ware Professor in Diabetes and Metabolic Disease and director of the Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, is the 2025 recipient of the George M. Kober Medal from the Association of American Physicians (AAP). Dr. Lazar received the honor in Chicago at the AAP’s annual meeting, which took place April 25-27, 2025.

The AAP, an elected society of the nation’s most distinguished physician scientists, was founded in 1885 by seven physicians, including Sir William Osler. The Kober Medal, first presented at the annual meeting in 1925, is the AAP’s highest honor, given in recognition of an AAP member whose lifetime efforts have had an enormous impact on the field of internal medicine (or the specific member’s discipline) through the scientific discipline they have brought to the field and the many outstanding scientists that they have trained. Past Penn faculty to receive the Kober Medal include former deans Arthur H. Rubenstein (2012) and William N. Kelley (2005).

Dr. Lazar has made fundamental discoveries uncovering connections between hormone receptors, circadian rhythms, and the regulation of gene expression in normal physiology as well as metabolic diseases including diabetes and obesity. He has also been a leader in academic medicine while at Penn, serving as chief of the Penn division of endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism from 1996-2019 and as founding director of the Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism. Nationally, Dr. Lazar has served on the Board of Scientific Councilors of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the Council of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, and the Council of the AAP, where he also served as president in 2021.

“I am deeply honored and humbled to receive the prestigious George M. Kober Medal from the AAP,” said Dr. Lazar. “This recognition is not just a personal achievement but a testament to the dedication and collaborative efforts of my colleagues and trainees over the years. It is a privilege to be acknowledged for our work in unraveling the complexities of metabolic diseases as well as our contributions to academic medicine.”

Afaf Ibrahim Meleis, a professor of nursing and sociology and Penn Nursing dean emerita, will be one of three awardees of the 2024 Humanism in Medicine Medal from the Arnold P. Gold Foundation, the leading nonprofit dedicated to humanism in healthcare for all.

“I am deeply touched that my contributions and humble impact are celebrated by the Gold Foundation,” said Dr. Meleis. “I accept the honor on behalf of my mentees and collaborators, who continue to inspire me with their dedication to humanistic care and scholarship.”

 “This is a well-deserved honor,” said Penn Nursing dean Antonia M. Villarruel. “Afaf Meleis’ leadership and commitment to women embodies humanism in healthcare—compassionate, collaborative, and scientific excellence. She has had a global impact in advocating for humanistic care. The echoes of her dedication to a more equitable society are foundational of our school, and we join the Gold Foundation in applauding her many contributions.”

Penn’s Interim President J. Larry Jameson, who worked closely with Dr. Meleis while dean of the Perelman School of Medicine, said his colleague and friend is “richly deserving of this recognition.” Interim President Jameson continued: “Through her scholarship, Afaf Meleis has championed the essential role of nurses in providing humanistic care on a global scale, and through her teaching and mentorship, she has trained compassionate leaders who have made healthcare delivery more patient-centered and equitable.”

Dr. Meleis is an internationally renowned nurse scientist and medical sociologist who has made an extraordinary impact on nursing, global health, and women’s health through her groundbreaking research and mentorship.

Much of her life’s work has been dedicated to uncovering the experiences and the voices of vulnerable women who are burdened by societal inequities, multiplicity of roles, differential compensation and rewards, and the gender divide. Her leadership in the International Council on Women’s Health Issues played a central role in inspiring scholarship on women’s health and in bringing together world leaders to form partnerships to improve the lives of women.

Born in Egypt, she has been named “one of the great immigrants in the United States of America” by the Carnegie Corporation and designated a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing.  She is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine and the recipient of many honorary doctorates and professorships from American and global universities. She has been invited as a consultant in more than 40 countries.

Dr. Meleis is the author of more than 200 articles, seven books, and numerous monographs, proceedings, and policy papers. She made an international impact with her book Transition Theory, which presented her visionary research on women’s health, and has mentored hundreds of students, faculty, clinicians, and administrators, within the United States and around the globe.

Dr. Meleis was the Margaret Bond Simon Dean of Nursing and director of the school’s World Health Organization collaborating center from 2002 through 2014. This followed her 34-year tenure at the University of California, San Francisco, and where she is a professor emeritus. Currently, she serves as a trustee of the Aga Khan University in Pakistan and East Africa, and of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging in California. She also serves on the National Advisory Committee of the Josiah Macy Foundation Faculty Scholars Program in New York City.

The Penn Institute for Urban Research (Penn IUR) honored three pathbreaking urban leaders from around the globe at the 19th Annual Urban Leadership Forum on April 5, 2024.

Recipients of the 2024 Lawrence C. Nussdorf Urban Leadership Prize, which recognized leaders who are guiding cities worldwide toward a resilient, sustainable, and equitable future, included:

• Jaime Alberto Pumarejo Heins, former mayor of the city of Barranquilla, Colombia, led the main economic center of the Caribbean region of Colombia as a model for sustainable and inclusive urban development.
• Andrew Melnik, former international projects manager for the city of Bucha, Region of Kyiv, Ukraine, has dedicated his efforts to Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction, urban development, and energy efficiency projects, attracting funding for Ukrainian municipalities by cooperating with the world’s leading consulting and architectural companies, NGOs, and funds.
• Lauren Sorkin, executive director of the Resilient Cities Network, uses the expertise of a team of urban resilience professionals in London, Mexico City, New York, and Singapore.

In speaking about the award’s namesake, Lawrence C. Nuss­dorf, Penn IUR co-director Eugenie Birch said, “Larry was a wonderful guide to our advisory board and now Melanie Nussdorf, his wife, is part of our family as well. Larry was passionate about cities–particularly about their enduring value to society. The forward thinking of the exemplary leaders we honor today paves the way for the future of our cities.”

The ceremony was followed by awardees’ remarks and a discussion moderated by Dr. Birch and Penn IUR co-director Susan Wachter.

Dr. Wachter commended the leaders, noting their need for courage in each of their contexts. “We need to congratulate you for taking on very difficult circumstances and showing leadership,” she said.

Penn Nursing’s Colleen Tewksbury, an assistant professor in nutrition science in the department of biobehavioral health sciences, was recently awarded the 2024 Keystone Award from the Pennsylvania Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (PAND). She received the award at the group’s annual meeting and exhibition in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on April 14, 2024.

The Keystone Award recognizes  Pennsylvania dietitians who have, through leadership ability, demonstrated exemplary professional standards to serve and advance the aims of PAND. It is presented to a maximum of two members of PAND Pennsylvania each year.

Dr. Tewksbury also has a secondary appointment as an assistant professor of nursing in surgery at the Perelman School of Medicine. Her previous roles at Penn for the past decade have included serving as a weight management dietitian, bariatric program coordinator, bariatric program manager, and senior research investigator. Dr. Tewksbury has received more than ten scholarships and awards from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and has served in multiple leadership positions for the academy, as well as for American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.

On April 25, graduate students and friends, families, and supporting staff gathered to celebrate the ten recipients of the 2024 Penn Prize for Excellence in Graduate Teaching.

“As graduate instructors, Penn Prize winners have made tremendous impacts on Penn students, helping them learn and find connection in classes and fields,” said Bruce Lenthall, co-director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Innovation, which provides support for the awards organized by the Office of the Provost. “The prize winners’ commitment to their students reminds us how meaningful the engagement between graduate instructors and their students often is here.”

The awards were presented by Karen Detlefsen, vice provost for education, who noted tthat the awards are unique because nominations are University-wide and come from undergraduates instead of faculty. This year, there were 114 nominations that were narrowed by a committee to 20 finalists, and then to 10 winners.

The winners are:

• Jeongmoon Choi—Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (SEAS)
• Jonathan Dick—English (SAS)
• Jamie Galanaugh—Neuroscience (PSOM)
• Joyce Kim—Sociology (SAS/GSE)
• Nipun Kottage—Anthropology (SAS/PSOM)
• Marissa Shandell—Management (Wharton)
• Azsaneé Truss—Communication (Annenberg)
• Jacqueline (Jacqui) Wallis—Philosophy (SAS)
• Caroline Wechsler—History and Sociology of Science (SAS/PSOM)
• Hannah Xiao—Data Science (SEAS)

The University of Pennsylvania Libraries and Gratz College are collaborating to ensure access to a significant collection of more than 15,000 items in manuscript and print that documents the musical life of synagogues in Germany and throughout Europe before the Holocaust.

Through this new partnership, Gratz College, the oldest independent and pluralistic college for Jewish studies in North America, will give the Gratz College-Eric Mandell Jewish Music Collection to the Penn Libraries, where the collection will be fully cataloged for the first time. Supported by a grant award from the Federal Republic of Germany, the Penn Libraries will also digitize 190 music manuscript compositions, establishing the Gratz-Mandell Jewish Music Digital Archive.

“We are honored to partner with Gratz College to ensure perpetual access to this priceless collection,” said Brigitte Weinsteiger, interim director of the Penn Libraries and the Gershwind & Bennett Family Senior Associate Vice Provost for Collections & Scholarly Communications. “The project to digitize the Gratz-Mandell Jewish Music Collection and make it discoverable is important not only to Gratz and to Penn, but to the world’s cultural and scholarly record.”

The project is one of several major archive digitization efforts initiated by Gratz College, including the Barbara and Fred Kort Holocaust Geniza Project, which was launched in November 2022 with the Gratz Holocaust survivor testimonial archive. Gratz College President Zev Eleff said, “With the commitment and financial support of the German government, along with Penn’s expertise in preservation and digitization, Gratz College is emerging as a field leader in Judaica digitization, amplifying the reach of this important collection.”

The physical and forthcoming digital archive will join Penn’s collections in Jewish sound, including the Robert and Molly Freedman Jewish Sound Archive, which is regarded as one of the most important resources in the world for the study of Jewish culture, folklore, history, linguistics, and literature.

“The Gratz-Mandell Jewish Music Collection amounts to a time capsule of a destroyed world of Jewish sound,” noted Arthur Kiron, the Penn Libraries’ Schottenstein-Jesselson Curator of Judaica Collections. “Thanks to its survival, and by partnering to catalog and digitize the collection, we are able to reconstruct and even potentially perform this otherwise lost sacred soundscape.”  

A Giant of Musical Judaica

The Gratz-Mandell Collection includes manuscripts, books, articles, clippings, catalogues, anthologies, sheet music, vocal and instrumental compilations, and more, all collected by German-born cantor and collector Eric Mandell, who resettled in Philadelphia in 1941 after fleeing the threat of Nazi expansion in Europe.

For many scholars of Jewish music, including Israel Prize-winning musicologist Edwin Seroussi, the Emanuel Alexandre Professor Emeritus of Musicology and chair of the Academic Committee of the Jewish Music Research Centre at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, the name “Mandell” is legendary. In fall 2023, Dr. Seroussi was awarded the Ellie and Herbert D. Katz Distinguished Fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania’s Herbert D. Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies to study German Jewish sacred musical intersections using the Gratz-Mandell Collection.

Dr. Seroussi describes the focus of the materials as “a trove of German Jewish music culture.” The collection records the musical repertoires of synagogues—primarily in Germany, German-speaking territories, and to a certain extent Eastern Europe—before the Holocaust.  

Eric Mandell (1902-1988) was born in Gronau, Westphalia, Germany and trained at a young age under prominent cantors with plans to be a cantor and music teacher. At the same time, he began collecting original scores and books about music, a passion that would continue throughout his life. After surviving the Sachsenhausen concentration camp, Mr. Mandell fled to Amsterdam and managed to transfer his budding collection to the Netherlands. Unfortunately, his collection had to be left behind as the Nazis expanded throughout Europe and he fled again, this time to England, in 1939.

Mr. Mandell moved to the United States in 1941 and became music director of Har Zion Temple in Philadelphia, a position he would hold until his retirement in 1970. Upon his arrival in the U.S., he attempted to recover his collection and continued to build it by purchasing works from Holocaust survivors, immigrant cantors, and auctions and estate sales. Over the years, the collection came to fill Mr. Mandell’s brownstone house. According to a Music Library Association article, it was highlighted in exhibits at the Free Library of Philadelphia in 1947, at the Jewish Museum of New York City in 1948, and at the Smithsonian Institute for a 1954 celebration of the tercentenary of Jewish settlement in America.

While in Philadelphia, Mr. Mandell also taught at Gratz College, which had a significant program in Jewish music at the time. When Mr. Mandell retired in 1970, he endowed his collection to the Schreiber Music Library at Gratz. He then oversaw the acquisition as consultant-curator and advised the college on the purchase of audio equipment and furniture to aid in the use of the collection, such as a grand piano. In 1989, Gratz College relocated and designed a special room to house the Mandell Collection with temperature and humidity controls to aid in preservation. The college also cataloged the printed books in the collection.

Decades later, much of the Mandell Collection remained unexplored—but an ambitious new leader at Gratz and a tenacious fellow at Penn were committed to giving the collection new life.

An Instrumental Partnership

Dr. Seroussi began championing the collection and advocating for this digitization partnership when he met the president emeritus of Gratz College, Jonathan Rosenbaum, in spring of 2019.

“That’s when we started to play with the idea of moving [the collection] to Penn. But at the time it was a faraway dream,” Dr. Seroussi said. “So it took five years ... for the dream to become reality.”

As a scholar of Jewish music, Dr. Seroussi was deeply invested in the future of the Mandell Collection, immediately understanding the importance of both preserving the physical collection for the future and making it easier for scholars to access all over the world—so much so that he returned to Philadelphia on sabbatical to work with the collection. Dr. Seroussi credits Gratz College president Zev Eleff, who took on the role in 2021, with recognizing the magnitude of the collection’s importance and with giving Dr. Seroussi free reign to review, audit, and organize the collection.

For months, Dr. Seroussi and his wife, Cantor Marlena Fuerstman, sorted through the boxes in the library.

“There was a huge amount of physical work sorting out all these materials,” Dr. Seroussi explained. “So in the fall of 2021, Marlena and I came to Philly. We went to Gratz College and met with President Eleff, who, after a working meeting in which I reviewed for him the significance of the collection, told me, ‘Edwin, this is the key to the room. You do whatever you think that needs to be done.’”

Dr. Eleff said, “Without any financial relationship, Edwin and his wife spent months in our offices working and exploring the materials. Each day he would come down to my office and share something new that he had found.”

Treasures to Uncover

Drs. Kiron, Seroussi, and Eleff are all excited by the possibilities for new scholarship that could come from this partnership. In addition to the many avenues for study within the field of Jewish music, the collection offers plenty of opportunity for wider cultural study.

For example, as a self-described “American Jewish historian who’s tone deaf,” Dr. Eleff said he personally appreciated reviewing the Mandell Collection’s High Holiday prayer books, which Mr. Mandell annotated: “For me to see what scholars called lived religion—his annotations, marginalia on the side of prayer books—just demonstrate how he was able to apply his scholarship to the basic, day-to-day sensibilities of American Judaism.”

Dr. Seroussi, whose own research focuses on Jewish music, has accumulated a variety of research topics and questions outside of his field that he hopes another scholar will be able to answer once they have access to the materials.

“One of the questions that I have, one of the riddles, is: How did [Mandell] amass the financial means to put all this together? Because he came as a refugee in the early 1940s, barely saved himself from the war. And here in Philadelphia he was a cantor in a synagogue and a music educator. I don’t know how he could have afforded to put together this amazing collection,” Dr. Seroussi said.

Dr. Seroussi believes the answer could lie in an element of the collection that has not yet been explored: Mr. Mandell’s personal correspondence. More than 500 letters related to the collection and Mr. Mandell’s acquisitions are awaiting study.

“There is a huge stack of letters that I assume will provide future scholars with the answers as to: how did he recover his collection after the war, and what was his network, the people who provided him materials? I know that cantors just sent him materials for free because they knew that he was the person to keep them. This is part of the of the story. It’s a fascinating story in itself,” Dr. Seroussi said.

Meanwhile, as staff in the Penn Libraries’ Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts and Schoenberg Center for Electronic Text and Image begin the work of cataloging and digitizing, Dr. Seroussi continues digging through the materials and will publish his findings on an ongoing basis.

Adapted from a Penn Libraries news release by Amanda Alexander, April 24, 2024. 

As the undergraduate and graduate classes of 2024 graduate from Penn, there are a wide array of events to celebrate their accomplishments. Listed below is the date, time, and location of each school’s individual graduation ceremony, a link to more information about each ceremony, and the names of each ceremony’s guest speaker (if applicable).

This information is subject to change. Tickets may be required. For more information, visit https://commencement.upenn.edu/ceremonies/school-ceremonies.

Children’s Activities

7          K-12 Archaeology Talk with Dr. Steve: The Sphinx That Moved to Philadelphia; 11 a.m.; Rainey Auditorium, Penn Museum; 11 a.m.; learn how the largest sphinx in the Western Hemisphere came to Philadelphia and hear from a real archaeologist about its history and importance; tickets: $15; register: https://tinyurl.com/museum-dr-steve-may-7 (Penn Museum). Also May 14; theme: “Is Archaeology Really Like Indiana Jones?”

Conferences

10        The Transnational Korea in Eurasian Context; a unique platform for sharing cutting-edge research, fostering collaboration, and engaging in thought-provoking discussions within the realm of Korean history in the context of Northeast Eurasia; 8:30 a.m.-5:45 p.m.; suite 310, 3600 Market Street (Korean Studies) Also May 11, 9:15 a.m.-10:45 a.m.

Films

14        Bout Mine I Matter Full Circle; a succinct documentary that focuses on the profound experiences of three individuals: a survivor of gun violence, a person directly impacted by such violence, and activists with a history of incarceration; 4 p.m.; room 261, Stiteler Hall; register: https://tinyurl.com/gse-film-may-14 (Graduate School of Education).

Fitness & Learning

9          Working Dog Center Tour; see firsthand what it takes to train leading detection dogs; watch as the Working Dog Center staff explains the step-by-step process to preparing a dog to serve in explosive detection, search & rescue, cancer detection, and more; 2 p.m.; Working Dog Center; RSVP: pvwdcoutreach@vet.upenn.edu (Working Dog Center).

Special Events

11        The Illuminated Body: A Community Celebration of Creativity; an outdoor percussive procession, a performance by the Children’s Ballet Stilt Walkers, and family-friendly craft making activities; 1-5 p.m.; Arthur Ross Gallery, Fisher Fine Arts Library (Arthur Ross Gallery).

Talks

10        Celebration of CLALS Director Tulia Falleti with Special Panel on Democracy in Latin America; panel of speakers; 4 p.m.; room 403, McNeil Building, and Zoom webinar; register: https://tinyurl.com/clals-panel-may-10 (Center for Latin American & Latinx Studies).

13        Emergent Selectivity in Complex Stereoarrays; Alison Wendlandt, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; 4 p.m.; location TBA (Chemistry).

14        The Mechanics of Animal Collective Behavior: From Insect Swarms to Fish Schools; Hungtang Ko, Princeton University; 10 a.m.; room A5, DRL (Mechanical Engineering & Applied Mechanics).

Economics

In-person events. Info: https://economics.sas.upenn.edu/events.

7          Tax Exclusion, Spousal Insurance, and Labor Market Outcomes of Households; Keunsang Song, economics; 12:30 p.m.; room 101, PCPSE.

8          Rental Markets and Wealth Inequality in the Euro-Area; Johannes Huber, University of Regensburg; 12:15 p.m.; room 200, PCPSE.

This is an update to the May AT PENN calendar, which is online now. To submit events for upcoming AT PENN calendars or weekly updates, email us at almanac@upenn.edu.

Division of Public Safety University of Pennsylvania Police Department Crime Report

About the Crime Report: Below are the Crimes Against Persons and/or Crimes Against Property from the campus report for April 22-28, 2024. The Crime Reports are available at: https://almanac.upenn.edu/sections/crimes. Prior weeks’ reports are also online. –Eds.

This summary is prepared by the Division of Public Safety (DPS) and contains all criminal incidents reported and made known to the Penn Police, including those reported to the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) that occurred within our patrol zone, for the dates of April 22-28, 2024. The Penn Police actively patrol from Market Street to Baltimore Avenue and from 30^th Street to 43^rd Street in conjunction with the Philadelphia Police.

In this effort to provide you with a thorough and accurate report on public safety concerns, we hope that your increased awareness will lessen the opportunity for crime. For any concerns or suggestions regarding this report, please call DPS at (215) 898-7297. You may view the daily crime log on the DPS website.

Penn Police Patrol Zone
Market Street to Baltimore Avenue and from 30^th Street to 43^rd Street

Philadelphia Police 18th District
Schuylkill River to 49th Street & Market Street to Woodland Avenue

Below are the Crimes Against Persons from the 18th District: 8 incidents were reported for April 22-28, 2024. by the 18^th District, covering the Schuylkill River to 49th Street & Market Street to Woodland Avenue.

The Division of Public Safety offers resources and support to the Penn community. DPS developed a few helpful risk reduction strategies outlined below. Know that it is never the fault of the person impacted (victim/survivor) by crime.

• See something concerning? Connect with Penn Public Safety 24/7 at (215) -573-3333.
• Worried about a friend’s or colleague’s mental or physical health? Get 24/7 connection to appropriate resources at (215) 898-HELP (4357).
• Seeking support after experiencing a crime? Call Special Services - Support and Advocacy resources at (215) 898-4481 or email an advocate at specialservices@publicsafety.upenn.edu
• Use the Walking Escort and Riding services available to you free of charge.
• Take a moment to update your cellphone information for the UPennAlert Emergency Notification System
• Download the Penn Guardian App which can help Police better find your location when you call in an emergency.
• Access free self-empowerment and defense courses through Penn DPS.
• Stay alert and reduce distractions; using cellphones, ear buds, etc. may limit your awareness.
• Orient yourself to your surroundings. (Identify your location, nearby exits, etc.)
• Keep your valuables out of sight and only carry necessary documents.

Penn Benefits Open Enrollment will end this Friday, May 10. If you haven’t reviewed your medical, prescription, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits elections for the 2024–2025 plan year, now is the time to do so.

If you are regular full-time faculty and staff or regular part-time and ACA-eligible faculty and staff, visit the Open Enrollment webpage for detailed information about your benefits options. You can also find details in the Benefits Enrollment Guide and Part-Time & ACA Eligible Benefits Enrollment Guide.

Postdoctoral researchers and fellows eligible for the Penn Postdoc Benefit Plan can find details by visiting the Postdoctoral Researchers and Fellows webpage. Postdocs can also review the Postdoctoral Researchers and Fellows Benefits Enrollment Guide for more information.

Changes made during Open Enrollment will be effective as of July 1, 2024. If you don’t make changes during Open Enrollment, your current elections will roll over when the new plan year starts on July 1, 2024. You can update your benefits coverage 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the new Benefits, Comp and Pay Hub via Workday@Penn. To access the hub, click on “View All Apps” or “Menu” from your homepage, then select “Benefits, Comp and Pay Hub” from the Apps menu. Read the Self-Service: Manage, View and Change Your Benefits Workday tip sheet for instructions. Please remember to print a confirmation statement for your records.

Even if you don’t make changes to your elections, please review and update your life insurance beneficiary information while you are logged into Workday@Penn. If you have questions, please contact Health Advocate at answers@HealthAdvocate.com or call 1 (866) 799-2329, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.  

—Division of Human Resources

Another tip in a series provided by the Offices of Information Security, Information Systems & Computing and Audit, Compliance & Privacy

As we conclude the spring semester, remember that if you are planning to travel nationally or internationally, your responsibility to Penn and your responsibility to protect sensitive data does not end.

Before You Travel:

• Make sure to back up your data so that you can still access it in case your device is lost or stolen.
• If you need to bring a work laptop while traveling, discuss a loaner laptop with your department IT (information technology) support staff.
• Delete unneeded data from your computing device.
• Password protect your mobile device and enable the device location feature.
• Review Penn’s Two-Step Verification: Before you Travel page. Check the Department of State travel advisory webpages for international restrictions in areas you plan to visit. Please note that Penn’s two-step verification service, Duo, is unavailable in certain sanctioned countries. 
• Carry the number and address of your country’s embassy and consulate for the location you will be visiting.
• Install anti-virus software and run it at least once a week. Penn provides a free anti-virus for its eligible employees and students.

While Traveling:

• Keep essential documents in a secure location in your hotel room, or in a secure travel wallet or pouch that is hidden on your person.
• Access Penn-related work using secure channels such as the University’s VPN.
• Avoid connecting to systems with sensitive information using public Wi-Fi. Your phone hotspot may be a better option when needed.
• Be cautious connecting a foreign portable device, such as a USB drive or external hard drive, to your computer.

After Travel:

• Run anti-virus software. 
• Delete emails you did not expect to receive.
• Contact your IT support staff for after-travel guidance.

Resources:

• Two-Step Verification: Before You Travel: https://www.isc.upenn.edu/how-to/two-step-verification-before-you-travel.
• Sophos Home: https://www.isc.upenn.edu/how-to/sophos-home.
• Penn Global Travel Guidelines and Procedures: https://global.upenn.edu/travel-guidance/technology.
• Data Security on Foreign Travel: https://www.isc.upenn.edu/security/aware/practice/travel.

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For additional tips, see the  One Step Ahead link on the  Information Security website: https://www.isc.upenn.edu/security/news-alerts#One-Step-Ahead.