In a message to the University, Interim President J. Larry Jameson announced the creation of the Office of Religious and Ethnic Inclusion (Title VI), which will be the first of its kind nationally. The office will continue to protect students, faculty, and staff from discrimination based on their religion, ethnicity, shared ancestry, or national origin, while serving as a critical central point of contact.
A new initiative that advances In Principle and Practice, the Draw Down the Lightning grants encourage collaborative endeavors in support of the strategic framework’s four principles and five practices. Says Interim President J. Larry Jameson: “In Principle and Practice asks Penn citizens to reaffirm and build upon our principles of being anchored, interwoven, inventive, and engaged. These grants, hand-in-hand with our creative community, will accomplish just that.”
At a dedication ceremony on Sept. 28, University leaders joined Penn President Emerita Amy Gutmann to celebrate Penn’s new center for data science and artificial intelligence, Amy Gutmann Hall. The facility, said Interim President J. Larry Jameson, “will be a place for discovery and breakthroughs, and there are already so many of these happening at Penn.”
In a Q&A with Penn Today, Provost John L. Jackson Jr. discussed his first year as provost, upholding academic independence, the University’s approach to AI, and what’s ahead. “This semester and moving forward, we are going to keep emphasizing what we think is so important about our ambitious new strategic framework—and about the role every member of our community can play in making sure it has a measurably positive impact on Penn’s future,” he says.
Interim President J. Larry Jameson and Provost John L. Jackson Jr. announced the 2024 cohort of Presidential Ph.D. Fellows, representing six schools and a wide range of academic areas. Fellows receive a three-year fellowship that includes a 12-month stipend, tuition, fees, research funds, and Penn Student Insurance coverage.
Deputy Provost Beth Winkelstein, who was tapped by Interim President J. Larry Jameson to lead implementation of the recommendations of the Task Force on Antisemitism and the Commission on Countering Hate and Building Community, discussed her approach to the work at hand. “I believe it’s possible—and necessary—to implement every recommendation from both reports,” says Winkelstein, adding that making Penn a better place “has to be a collective effort.”
Andrew M. Hoffman was reappointed dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine, subject to approval by the Board of Trustees. “Dean Hoffman is an empathetic, visionary, and effective leader who will steer the School to continued success,” said Interim President J. Larry Jameson. Hoffman’s term will extend to June 30, 2030.
Derek Griffith was named the Risa Lavizzo-Mourey Population Health and Health Equity University Professor in the School of Nursing and the Perelman School of Medicine. Griffith is an innovator in the study of health equity. Citing health as one of the great challenges and opportunities of our time, Interim President J. Larry Jameson said, “His singular focus on translating fresh scholarship to meaningful policy aligns perfectly with Penn’s inventive and engaged ethos.”
Steven J. Fluharty, dean of the School of Arts & Sciences since 2013, will step down as dean effective Dec. 31, 2024, returning to the faculty. Fluharty has been a member of the Penn faculty since 1986 and earned his three degrees from Penn. “I’m grateful for the opportunity I have had to serve the School and to be able to end my term knowing that it is positioned to continue its long history of excellence,” says Fluharty.
The Center on Media, Technology, and Democracy will bring together six schools at Penn with $10 million in support from the Knight Foundation and the University. The Center will propel research involving media, technology, and democracy within Penn with an aim of being a global hub for researchers, private sector leaders, and policymakers.
Katalin Karikó, an adjunct professor of neurosurgery in the Perelman School of Medicine and Nobel Prize winner, was inducted to the Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania Class of 2024 at a ceremony at the Governor’s Mansion, hosted by Governor Josh Shapiro. The honor recognizes women who have made significant contributions to society in a plethora of fields, including science, education, the arts, and public service.
Through the SNF Paideia Program, seven undergraduates and recent grads, in tow with political scientist Lia Howard, traveled all over the commonwealth this summer, listening to residents talk about their lives and the issues that matter to them. The conversations were held as part of the Political Empathy Lab, a 10-week paid research experience. The group covered 2,500 miles and a range of ideas and backgrounds.
In 2020, the University announced a pledge of $10 million annually for 10 years to the School District of Philadelphia. Tony B. Watlington, School District superintendent, provided an update in August to Penn leaders on how the contribution has been put to work. Watlington cited examples of how the contribution has helped to tackle environmental challenges in schools throughout the city, improving the safety and quality of the city’s public schools.
The Penn Vet Working Dog Center, in a new study, identified an effective cooling method for dogs in field situations in which they overheat: training them to voluntarily dunk their heads into 22°C water. “Voluntary head dunking is an invaluable tool in preventing exercise-induced hyperthermia or exercise-induced heat stress, and that can save lives,” says Cynthia Otto, senior author on the paper.
The Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (CURF) hosted the Fall Research Expo at Houston Hall, showcasing 380 posters detailing research projects undertaken by 436 undergraduate students mentored by faculty. The Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring program, started in 2007, has grown “by leaps and bounds,” says Ann Vernon-Grey of CURF, who adds that interest from both faculty and students continues to increase.
In the graduate-level city planning class Metropolitan Food Systems, Dominic Vitiello of the Weitzman School of Design emphasizes dynamic interactions between urban communities and their food environments, ranging from mapping food accessibility in neighborhoods to understanding the role of community gardens and local markets. “These courses urge my students to consider how institutions like schools, mosques, churches, community kitchens, and even public transportation networks play a role in food access and security,” says Vitiello.
For National Voter Registration Day on Sept. 17, Penn Today compiled important and notable numbers about this year’s general election, polling places, and registration. The date also marked Constitution Day and Citizenship Day.