The Office of the Chaplain and The Spiritual and Religious Life Center (SPARC) introduce two staff transitions: Associate Chaplain Steve Kocher has been promoted to Senior Associate Chaplain, and Sana Saeed has been hired as Assistant Chaplain—a new position in the office. Mr. Kocher’s new role is effective immediately and Ms. Saeed joined the Penn community in August. 

“This title affirms the excellent work that Steve has done at Penn for the last decade helping to grow and sustain religious life, promote wellness, teach and support student life,” Chaplain Chaz Howard said. “I’m pleased that he will take on new oversight and initiatives in the coming months.”

“Steve’s impact has been felt throughout the Penn community through his leadership with our religious communities, his teaching the iBelieve Faith and Service Course, his work with Penn Wellness, serving as an adviser in Student Conduct and SVIO cases,” said the Chaplain.

“Sana will bring a wisdom, compassion and a commitment to community building that will bless not only religious and spiritual life on campus, but the greater Penn and Philadelphia communities as well,” Rev. Howard added. “We’re very excited that she is joining our team.”

A recent graduate of Harvard Divinity School, Ms. Saeed earned a bachelor’s degree from George Mason University and an MA in peace studies, which she received in Tokyo, Japan. She has experience working in higher education chaplaincy, youth ministry, religious literacy training and consulting.

Religious and Spiritual Life at Penn is dynamic, boasting more than 50 student groups and communities from every major world religion and nearly every movement or sect. The SPARC team also includes office manager and special events coordinator Mary LeCates who leads several office initiatives, including the MLK Commemorative and the University’s Baccalaureate Ceremony.