At the University of Pennsylvania Board of Trustees (virtual) Stated Meeting on Friday, June 11, 2021, David L. Cohen presided over his last meeting as Chair. The meeting began with an invocation led by Charles Howard, Vice President for Social Equity and Community and University Chaplain, before Mr. Cohen presented his final Chair’s Report.

After formally acknowledging Lee Spelman Doty as the incoming Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Cohen thanked her and Robert Levy for their service as co-chairs of the Power of Penn campaign. During her Vice Chair’s report, Ms. Doty read a resolution to elect Scott L. Bok as Chair of the Board of Trustees, effective July 1, 2011, which was approved.

Vice Chair and incoming Chair Scott L. Bok then presented a resolution of appreciation for David L. Cohen and to re-elect him as Charter Trustee, which was approved. Mr. Cohen thanked everyone for their support, friendship, and enthusiastic engagement on behalf of Penn. He expressed gratitude at being a part of the Penn family.

During the Nominating Committee Report, Mr. Cohen presented resolutions to elect the Executive Committee and the Investment Board, as well as to re-elect Marc J. Rowan as Term Trustee and to elect Harlan M. Stone as Term Trustee, which were all approved.

President Amy Gutmann said Commencement was a memorable occasion and a precursor to the fall semester, which will bring the Penn community back together on campus. She highlighted the extraordinary efforts Penn contributed to understanding the COVID-19 virus and the creation of COVID vaccines. She then presented a resolution to re-appoint Vijay Kumar as Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science, a resolution to appoint Craig R. Carnaroli as Senior Executive Vice President, and a resolution to appoint Whitney Soule as Vice Provost and Dean of Admissions, which were all approved.

Senior Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli gave the financial report; Executive Vice President for the Health System and Dean of PSOM J. Larry Jameson gave the Penn Medicine Report; and Interim Dean of Admissions John McLaughlin reported on the record number of applications received for the Class of 2025.

President Gutmann thanked Dr. Jameson and his team for their work to protect Penn and the greater community during the COVID-19 pandemic through the provision of testing, expert care, and vaccine administration.

The Trustees then heard committee reports. David Ertel, chair of the Academic Policy Committee, presented resolutions to establish a Master of Advanced Dental Studies in the School of Dental Medicine and to adopt the Revised Patent and Tangible Research Property Policies and Procedures of the University of Pennsylvania, both of which were approved.

Dhananjay Pai, chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, presented 14 resolutions, all of which were approved.

Chairs of the Audit and Compliance; Development; Facilities and Campus Planning; Local, National and Global Engagement; and Student Life Committees presented, as did the President of Penn Alumni.

Before adjourning, Mr. Cohen presented 16 resolutions of appointments to Penn Medicine and other boards, all of which were approved.

For more information, visit https://secretary.upenn.edu/trustees-governance/open-trustee-meeting.

The next Trustees meetings will be held on September 23, 2021.