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21st Century Project: Dr. Steinberg as Interim Director
As Interim Director of the 21st Century Project,
Provost Stanley Chodorow has appointed--effective immediately --Dr. Stephen
Steinberg, a longtime member of the President's Office who is also executive
director of the Penn National Commission on Society, Culture and Community.
While the search continues for a permanent director--with a target of filling the position within the next six months--Dr. Steinberg will coordinate the projects, individuals and groups relevant to the project, which is a major academic initiative of the Agenda for Excellence touching on all aspects of the undergraduate experience at Penn. He will also serve as the representative on the Council of Undergraduate Deans and work closely with students who are directly involved with 21st Century initiatives.
Dr. Steinberg will continue as executive director of the PNC.
"As Penn continues to implement the 21st Century Project, it's essential that we have a committed and experienced administrator lead the project," said Provost Stanley Chodorow. "Dr. Steinberg has rich experience and expertise with undergraduate education. He has a love of higher education, in general and of Penn, in particular. During this interim period he will work closely with the undergraduate deans and schools, the Residential Advisory Board, and 21st Century Project Undergraduate Advisory Board, to make sure the 21st Century initiatives will thrive."
A specialist in 20th century European philosophy, Dr. Steinberg was awarded the bachelor's degree with distinction at the University of Michigan. He earned his Ph.D. from Penn in 1989 after receiving master's degrees from the New School for Social Research (in philosophy) and Columbia University (in journalism). He is now an adjunct faculty member in phil-osophy, with teaching and research interests in the philosophy of nationalism; phenomenology, existentialism and postmodernist thought; psychoanalysis; and contemporary issues in higher education.
As an administrator and teacher at Penn since 1978, Dr. Steinberg has worked with faculty, students and administrators on a wide range of matters, including undergraduate education, doctoral education, campus issues and policies, and national educational issues. He also has broad experience in curriculum development and student advising. "I'm delighted to have the opportunity to renew my long-standing work relationship with the Provost's office and the undergraduate schools," Dr. Steinberg said. "I am particularly looking forward to working with students, which has always been one of my greatest pleasures as an administrator. Working with students on undergraduate education only doubles the excitement."
Return to:Almanac, University of Pennsylvania, December 9, 1997, Volume 44, Number 15