May 11, 2021

I am writing to share with you the news that our dear friend and colleague, Provost Wendell Pritchett, will be taking a medical leave of absence from his responsibilities here at Penn, beginning July 1, 2021 through the end of the fall 2021 semester. Wendell has been dealing with some health issues that, while not life-threatening, require greater attention over the coming months.

As everyone who has had the pleasure of working with him knows, Wendell continues to do an absolutely superb job as Provost. He is an exceptional leader who is universally recognized for his scholarship, teaching, compassion, and commitment to academic excellence and civic engagement. He is also a cherished friend to so many of us here at Penn. We all want Wendell to take the time necessary to tend to his health, and this leave of absence will allow him to do just that.

While Wendell is on leave, Deputy Provost Beth Winkelstein will assume the role of Interim Provost. Wendell appointed Beth as Deputy Provost in June of 2020 after she had served as Vice Provost for Education for five highly successful years. Beth earned her PhD in bioengineering from Duke University and BSE cum laude in bioengineering from Penn as a Benjamin Franklin Scholar. She has taught in the bioengineering department of Penn SEAS since 2002, becoming in that time one of the world’s leading innovators in research on new treatments for spine and other joint injuries. Appointed two years ago as the Eduard D. Glandt President’s Distinguished Professor, she leads a pioneering Spine Pain Research Lab, mentors students and postdocs, and is chair of The American Society of Mechanical Engineers Board of Editors. She served as co-editor of the Journal of Biomechanical Engineering from 2013-2020.

Wendell and I and everyone who has worked with Beth have great confidence in her ability to step in and lead the Provost’s Office while Wendell is on leave. Beth is an exceptional University citizen who is involved in all aspects of our academic, research and student-centered programming. We are very grateful that she is willing to take on this important responsibility.

Please join me in wishing Wendell a speedy return to full health.

—Amy Gutmann, President