OF RECORD

Provost Search: Final Report of the Consultative Committee

The search committee, which was convened by University President Judith Rodin on January 23, 1998, was chaired by Thomas P. Gerrity, Ph.D., Reliance Professor of Management and Private Enterprise and Dean of the Wharton School.

The committee included Herman Beavers, Ph.D., associate professor of English and Director of the African-American Studies Program; Rasool A. Berry (through June 30, 1998), a student in the College of Arts and Sciences ; Stephen B. Burbank, David Berger Professor for the Administration of Justice; William J. Donawick, D.V.M., Mark Whittier and Lila Griswold Allam Professor of Surgery; Owen D. Garrick, M.D. (through June 30, 1998), a student at the Wharton School;

Glen N. Gaulton, Ph.D., professor of pathology and laboratory medicine and Vice Dean of the School of Medicine; Eduardo D. Glandt, Ph.D., Heuer Professor of Chemical Engineering and Interim Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science; Rachael F. Goldfarb, a student in the College of Arts and Sciences; Larry Gross, Ph.D., Sol Worth Professor of Communications; Douglas J. Hagan (from Sept. 1, 1998), a student at the Wharton School;

Geoffrey C. Hazard, Jr., Trustee Professor of Law; Prem G. Kumar (from Sept. 1, 1998), a student in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Wharton School; Risa J. Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., Sylvan Eisman Professor of Medicine and Director of the Institute on Aging; Marvin Lazerson, Ph.D., Carruth Family Professor of Education; Jeremy Sabloff, Ph.D., professor of anthropology and Charles K. Williams II Director of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology;

Joyce E. Thompson, Dr.P.H., professor of nursing; Sandra K. Tilford, a student in the Graduate School of Education; and Rebecca Trumbull, ex officio, senior planning associate at the School of Medicine.

The committee pursued a consultative process that included broad-based discussions with faculty across the University, deans of the schools, and members of the University administration, both to understand the issues and challenges of the position and to begin the process of identifying and attracting a person of intellectual vision and with demonstrated leadership ability. The committee sought candidates with a record of distinguished scholarship, academic leadership and managerial experience. The committee solicited nominations from members of the faculty, the deans of the 12 schools and from peer institutions across the country. Advertisements for the position were included in the New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, the Chronicle of Higher Education, Black Issues in Higher Education, the Economist and Hispanic Outlook. The executive search firm of Heidrick & Struggles was retained to assist the committee. The committee held 24 meetings and considered more than 165 candidates, including those from within the campus community and others. The candidate pool included 37 women and 10 individuals identified as members of under-represented minorities. The committee interviewed 14 candidates.

Following careful consideration and deliberation on the merits of the candidates, the committee submitted its recommendations to Dr. Rodin, and she has announced the appointment of Robert L. Barchi, M.D., Ph.D., as Provost, effective February 1, 1999. The appointment will be submitted to the Executive Committee of the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania for final approval at their meeting to be held on December 11, 1998.

 

--Thomas P. Gerrity, Chair


Almanac, Vol. 45, No. 14, December 8, 1998

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