January 13, 2026 Volume 72 Issue 19

The largest-ever study testing the effectiveness of an evidence-based approach to increasing physical activity using smartphone fitness trackers gamification to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease will launch at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Ascension, one of the nation’s leading nonprofit health systems, thanks to a $25 million award. The six-year study, funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), will build on the highly successful BE ACTIVE trial, published in 2024, which demonstrated sustained increases in daily step counts using a behavioral economics-based approach to gamification to enhance ongoing engagement, where participants were awarded points for meeting daily step goals and progress through levels based on accumulated points.

Doctors often tell patients to exercise more to improve heart health, but until now, large controlled trials like this one have been missing to prove that physical activity truly prevents heart events. “We’re testing whether a fairly simple points system, coupled with ongoing behavioral reinforcement to encourage participants, achieves sustained increases in physical activity to a sufficient degree to prevent heart attacks and save lives,” said Alexander C. Fanaroff, an assistant professor of cardiovascular medicine at Penn Medicine and a core faculty member in the Penn Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics (CHIBE). “Despite overwhelming observational evidence that higher physical activity is associated with better cardiovascular health, no prior randomized trial has been large enough to prove that increasing activity actually prevents heart attacks and strokes and to quantify the magnitude of these effects.”

This new study will enroll 18,000 adults with at least a 1-in-10 chance of having a heart attack, stroke, hospitalization for heart failure, or dying from heart disease within the next decade, as calculated by the American Heart Association PREVENT equations.

Participants in the trial will establish a baseline step count over two weeks and then set a goal to increase their daily step count by 33-50% above their own baseline. They will then be entered into a game designed using principles from behavioral economics, in which they receive points each week and lose points on days they miss their goal. Participants get a text message each day letting them know if they met their goal or not. As they earn or lose points, they move up and down to different levels of the game. A support partner, identified by each participant, will receive weekly updates on how the participant is doing.

The study is made possible through systemwide partnership with Ascension. Ascension will offer the trial to patients in communities they serve across 15 states and the District of Columbia. “We are excited to partner with Penn Medicine on this innovative clinical trial to help support our patients and their health at scale,” said Mitesh Patel, chief clinical transformation officer and national vice president at Ascension. Dr. Patel is also the former director of the Penn Medicine Nudge Unit, and an adjunct professor at the Wharton School.

“Because of its size and scope, this trial tests whether behavioral economics applied in practice can act as the missing bridge between encouraging patients to move and actually preventing heart attacks and strokes,” added Kevin Volpp, director of the Penn Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics and the Mark V. Pauly President’s Distinguished Professor.

The trial is fully remote from start to finish and requires no office visits. Participants simply use a technology that already exists in nearly every smartphone: a tiny sensor called an accelerometer that measures movement and motion.

“Results from this landmark trial have the potential to transform cardiovascular prevention guidelines, reduce mortality, improve quality of life, and dramatically lower healthcare costs,” said Dr. Fanaroff.

Christopher P. Atwood: Presidential Distinguished Professor of East Asian Languages and Civilizations

Christopher P. Atwood has been named the Presidential Distinguished Professor of East Asian Languages and Civilizations in the School of Arts & Sciences. Dr. Atwood’s research focuses on the Mongols, the Mongol empire, and role of Inner Asian peoples—Mongols, Manchus, and others, in the history of China.

After receiving his BA from Harvard University in 1986, Dr. Atwood spent two years traveling and studying in Inner Mongolia. He received his doctorate from Indiana University’s central Eurasian studies department in 1994; his dissertation used newly opened archives to explore 20th century nationalist movements in Inner Mongolia.

In 1996, Dr. Atwood became an assistant professor at Indiana University. His research eventually followed his teaching back from the Mongols in Soviets’ Eurasian empire to the Mongols’ own Eurasia-wide empire of the 13th century. He went on to serve as chair of the department of central Eurasian studies and interim director of the Center for Languages of the Central Asian Region.

In 2016, Dr. Atwood joined the department of East Asian languages and civilizations at Penn, where he served for six years as department chair and on the executive committee of the Kim Center for Korean Studies. His publications include Young Mongols and Vigilantes in Inner Mongolia’s Interregnum Decades, 1911-1931 (2002), Encyclopedia of Mongolia and the Mongol Empire (2004), The Rise of the Mongols: Five Chinese Sources (2021), and a Penguin Classics translation of Secret History of the Mongols (2023). His latest work, soon to be published, is a critical edition, translation, and commentary of the Campaigns of Chinggis (“Genghis”) Khan, a medieval Mongolian work preserved only in Chinese translation, with a Persian paraphrase.

Karen Detlefsen: Adam Seybert Professor in Moral and Intellectual Philosophy

Karen Detlefsen has been named the Adam Seybert Professor in Moral and Intellectual Philosophy in the School of Arts & Sciences. Dr. Detlefsen’s research focuses on 17th and 18th century philosophy, women philosophers of that period, and the philosophy of education. She has published on a wide range of figures, including Astell, Cavendish, Descartes, Du Châtelet, Hobbes, Malebranche, and Wolff, and on topics in metaphysics, natural philosophy, ethics, and social-political philosophy. 

Dr. Detlefsen has received research grants from the National Science Foundation, the American Council of Learned Societies, the Australian Research Council, the Social Sciences and Humanities Council of Canada, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Her teaching and mentoring have been recognized with Penn’s Edmund J. and Louise W. Kahn Award for Distinguished Teaching by an Assistant Professor in 2007, Penn’s Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching in 2016, and the Trustee Council of Penn Women Undergraduate Advising Award in 2024. From 2021 to 2024, she served as Penn’s Vice Provost for Education. 

Dr. Detlefsen is committed to cultivating greater inclusion in the discipline of philosophy by regularly incorporating philosophy from across the globe in her syllabi and through her role as founding director of Penn’s Project for Philosophy for the Young, a broad initiative to bring philosophy into Philadelphia’s public school classrooms and after-school programs.

The Adam Seybert professorship is one of the oldest endowed chairs at Penn Arts & Sciences, having been established in 1883 through the estate of Henry Seybert.

Nicole Rust: Rose Family Endowed Term Professor of Psychology

Nicole Rust has been named the Rose Family Endowed Term Professor of Psychology in the School of Arts & Sciences. Dr. Rust received her BS in molecular biology from the University of Idaho, received her PhD in neural science from New York University, and completed her postdoctoral training at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her research focuses on understanding the brain’s ability to remember the things we’ve seen (“visual memory”), and what in the brain drives the mysterious feeling we call “mood.” As a complement to this foundational research, Dr. Rust also works to develop new therapies to treat memory and mood dysfunction. She teaches undergraduate classes, including Introduction to Neuroscience.

In parallel to her research and teaching, Dr. Rust is active in public-facing science communication and is the author of the 2025 book Elusive Cures: Why Neuroscience Hasn’t Solved Brain Disorders—And How We Can Change That. In addition, she serves as an editor at BrainFacts.org and as a contributing editor for The Transmitter.

Dr. Rust’s research and teaching have been recognized by numerous awards, including the Troland Research Award from the National Academy of Sciences. She is an elected member of the Memory Disorders Research Society and has received a McKnight Scholar Award, a CAREER Award from the National Science Foundation, an Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship, and the Charles Ludwig Distinguished Teaching Award. She is currently a Simons Foundation Pivot Fellow.

The Rose Family Endowed Term Chair was established in 1996 by Gary D. Rose, C’67, and Karen Bress Rose, CW’67, GED’68. Both Mr. and Mrs. Rose have a long history of volunteer service and philanthropy to Penn. Mr. Rose is an emeritus member of the Penn Arts & Sciences Board of Advisors and is a retired partner of Goldman Sachs & Company.

Lilith Todd: Stephen M. Gorn Family Assistant Professor of English

Lilith Todd has been named the Stephen M. Gorn Family Assistant Professor of English in the School of Arts & Sciences. Dr. Todd studies 17th and 18th century British, American, and Caribbean literature; care work in the past and present; and poetics across literary forms. Before coming to the University of Pennsylvania, Dr. Todd taught in Columbia University’s core curriculum and served as managing editor of Synapsis: A Health Humanities Journal. She received her PhD from Columbia University and her BA from Brown University.

Dr. Todd’s writing can be found in journals including The Eighteenth Century: Theory and Interpretation, Studies in Eighteenth-Century Culture, The Journal for Medical Humanities, and Publications of the Modern Language Association of America. Her current book project, Care Work: Nursing and Writing, 1650-1800, traces nursing as a set of highly generative material and literary practices in the long 18th century.

Research for this project has been supported by fellowships at the Lewis Walpole Library, the John Carter Brown Library, and the Winterthur Museum, Library, and Gardens. Additionally, Dr. Todd is co-editing a forthcoming volume entitled Literature as Clinic: Eighteenth-Century Patient Narratives, which examines what 18th century literary texts and medical practices can teach us about humanistic methods in medicine today.

The Stephen M. Gorn Family Assistant Professorship was established in 2008 by the Stephen M. Gorn Family Foundation for a preeminent scholar and teacher in the department of English at Penn Arts & Sciences.

Penn Engineering announces the launch of the Master of Science in Engineering in Energy and Sustainability (MESE)—a new graduate program designed to prepare engineers to lead the transition toward a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable energy future.

Designed for the next generation of innovators, MESE combines rigorous technical training with hands-on, real-world experience. The program emphasizes experiential learning through team-based capstone projects, opportunities to integrate internships, and applied coursework that connects directly to industry challenges. Students graduate with a robust portfolio of work and the practical expertise that employers demand in today’s rapidly evolving energy and sustainability sectors.

“Climate change is one of the defining challenges of this century, driving social, economic, and environmental disruptions worldwide,” MESE program director Lorena Grundy said. “That existential threat demands rapid action to reduce emissions at scales ranging from our local communities to global industries. Reshaping the future of our planet requires engineers who are ready to design and implement practical solutions to meet critical needs related to energy transformation and storage, climate change, and environmental sustainability.”

The program is ideal for students with a technical background who want to specialize in energy and sustainability. With four concentration areas—environment and climate solutions, clean energy technology, society and policy, and economics and innovation—MESE offers the flexibility to tailor coursework to individual interests and career goals. Students also benefit from mentorship from Penn’s world-class faculty and access to interdisciplinary resources across the University, including from the Wharton School, the School of Arts & Sciences, and the Weitzman School of Design.

The updated Three-Year Academic Calendar for 2025-2026 through 2027-2028 is now available.

Graduate and professional programs may follow their own calendars; check the website for each school or program. The University’s Three-Year Academic Calendar is subject to change. In the event that changes are made, the latest, most up-to-date version will be posted to Almanac’s website, almanac.upenn.edu/penn-academic-calendar. Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Election Day in November, the first two days of Passover and Good Friday are holidays that affect large numbers of University community members and that fall during the academic year.

To view the University’s policy regarding these and other holidays, please visit https://catalog.upenn.edu/pennbook/secular-religious-holidays/.

Two longstanding policies that prescribed the framework to address allegations of research misconduct at Penn have been updated for current regulations and best practices and synthesized into one policy applicable to both faculty and non-faculty members of the University research community. The new policy below has been reviewed and approved by the Provost, the Vice Provost for Research, the Faculty Senate Executive Committee, the Provost’s Council on Research, and the Faculty Senate Committee on Faculty and the Administration. These procedures became effective on January 1, 2026 and supersede any previously published protocols.

—John L. Jackson, Jr., Provost
—David F. Meaney, Vice Provost for Research

Policy for Reviewing Alleged Research Misconduct

The University relies on all members of its community to establish and maintain the highest standards of ethical practice in academic work including research. Misconduct in research is forbidden and represents a serious breach of both the rules of the University and the customs of scholarly communities.

The University is committed to fostering an environment conducive to the responsible conduct of research. Although instances of research misconduct are relatively rare, the University has a responsibility to evaluate allegations of misconduct and to resolve such matters in accordance with this policy.

The primary responsibility for maintaining integrity in research must rest with those who perform it. In light of this responsibility, the University expects each member of the community:

• To maintain and further the highest standards of ethical practice in research. Especially important are integrity in recording and reporting results, care in execution of research procedures, and fairness in recognition of other’s work.
• To be responsible for the integrity of the research carried out under their supervision.
• To understand that authorship implies acceptance of responsibility for the methods and findings of the work.
• To keep and preserve thorough and verifiable records of research.
• To report suspected research misconduct.

This policy is applicable to research conducted under the auspices of the University of Pennsylvania and to all members of the University community including faculty and, subject to Section 6.11, students and staff. Unless the sponsor requires a longer period of review, in the absence of exceptional circumstances, this policy is limited to alleged misconduct that occurred within six years of the date the University received an allegation.

Definitions

As used in this policy, the following terms shall have the meaning ascribed to them below:

Allegation means a disclosure of possible research misconduct brought directly to the attention of the appropriate School or University official as described in Section 1.

Complainant means an individual who makes an allegation of research misconduct.

Good faith as applied to a complainant or witness means having a reasonable belief in the truth of one’s allegation or testimony, based on the information known to the complainant or witness at the time. An allegation or cooperation with a research misconduct proceeding is not in good faith if made with knowledge of or reckless disregard for information that would negate the allegation or testimony.

Inquiry means preliminary information-gathering and preliminary fact-finding that meets the criteria and follows the procedures of Section 2.

Investigation means the formal development of a factual record and the examination of that record that meets the criteria and follows the procedures of Section 3.

Preponderance of the evidence means proof by evidence that, compared with evidence opposing it, leads to the conclusion that the fact at issue is more likely true than not.

Research means a systematic study directed toward fuller knowledge or understanding of the subject studied.

Research Integrity Officer or RIO refers to the institutional official responsible for administering the institution’s written policies and procedures for addressing allegations of research misconduct in compliance with this policy and applicable regulations, or such official’s designee.

Research misconduct means fabrication, falsification, or plagiarism or other serious deviation from accepted practices in proposing, performing, or reviewing research, or in reporting research results. Research misconduct does not include honest error or differences of opinion.

• Fabrication is making up data or results and recording or reporting them.
• Falsification is manipulating research materials, equipment, or processes, or changing or omitting data or results such that the research is not accurately represented in the research record.
• Plagiarism means the appropriation of another person’s ideas, processes, results, or words, without giving appropriate credit.
• Plagiarism includes the unattributed verbatim or nearly verbatim copying of sentences and paragraphs from another’s work that materially misleads the reader regarding the contributions of the author. It does not include the limited use of identical or nearly identical phrases that describe a commonly used methodology.
• Plagiarism does not include self-plagiarism or authorship or credit disputes, including disputes among former collaborators who participated jointly in the development or conduct of a research project.
• Serious deviation from accepted practices refers to actions that materially compromise the integrity of the research record. This includes but is not limited to stealing, destroying, or damaging the research property of others with the intent to alter the research record; reckless disregard for accuracy of the work of research staff or maintenance of appropriate research records; and directing or encouraging others to engage in fabrication, falsification or plagiarism. As defined here, it is limited to activity related to the proposing, performing, or reviewing of research, or in the reporting of research results and does not include misconduct that occurs in the research setting but that does not affect the integrity of the research record, such as authorship or credit disputes, self-plagiarism, misallocation of funds, sexual harassment, and discrimination, which are covered by other University policies.

Research record means the record of data or results that embody the facts resulting from research. Data or results may be in physical or electronic form. Examples of items, materials, or information that may be considered part of the research record include, but are not limited to, research proposals, raw data, processed data, clinical research records, laboratory records, study records, laboratory notebooks, progress reports, manuscripts, abstracts, theses, records of oral presentations, online content, lab meeting reports, and journal articles.

Respondent means the individual against whom an allegation of research misconduct is directed or who is the subject of a research misconduct proceeding.

Retaliation means an adverse action taken against a complainant, witness, or committee member by the University or one of its members in response to:

(a) A good faith allegation of research misconduct; or
(b) Good faith cooperation with a research misconduct proceeding.

Findings of Research Misconduct

A finding of research misconduct as defined under this policy requires that:

• There be a significant departure from accepted practices of the relevant research community;
• The misconduct be committed intentionally, or knowingly, or recklessly; and
• The allegation be proven by a preponderance of evidence.

Procedures for Handling Alleged Research Misconduct

The following procedures recognize the need to protect the rights and reputations of all individuals, including those who are alleged to have engaged in misconduct but against whom no finding has been made and those who report the alleged misconduct. These procedures also recognize that ethical standards are not only an individual obligation but represent a responsibility to the institution, to scientific communities, and to the public.

All committees and persons involved in an inquiry or investigation have the obligation to maintain confidentiality throughout the proceedings except as otherwise set forth in this policy. All persons concerned have the obligation to cooperate and furnish all requested information at any time during the proceedings. If any individual refuses to do so, the committees of inquiry and investigation will note this in their reports.

The making of knowingly false or reckless accusations regarding research misconduct violates acceptable norms of behavior for members of the University community and may result in, among other things, formal charges being brought under applicable University procedures, against the person making such accusations.

1. Assessment

1.1. Before filing a complaint alleging research misconduct, an individual is encouraged to seek advice from trusted individuals, such as a department chair, Dean or University Ombuds, and through such consultation to determine whether the matter should be pursued. Complaints should be submitted to the University Research Integrity Officer who shall acknowledge receipt of the complaint. The Research Integrity Officer, along with the responsible administrative entity, will determine potential applicability of this policy and jurisdiction, and forward a complaint that may fall within the policy to the Dean of the School with primary oversight of the respondent. The complainant can be any individual, whether or not affiliated with the University. To the extent possible, the complaint should be detailed, specific, and accompanied by appropriate documentation.

1.2. Upon receipt of the complaint from the Research Integrity Officer, the Dean will promptly assess the matter to determine whether it falls within the definition of research misconduct as described herein and is sufficiently credible and specific so that potential evidence of research misconduct may be identified. If so, the matter will be referred to inquiry. The assessment only involves the review of readily accessible information relevant to the allegation. If the person who conducted the questioned work is not apparent in the complaint, the assessment phase may also be used to determine who performed the work that is the subject of the allegation so that the respondent(s) can be appropriately named if proceeding to inquiry is appropriate.

2. Inquiry

2.1. Upon completion of an assessment necessitating inquiry, the Dean will notify the respondent and, at the discretion of the Dean, the complainant. The Dean shall outline to the respondent and if applicable to the complainant, their rights and obligations by reference to this and other relevant University policies and procedures. The Dean will take steps to secure all documents, data and other materials that appear to be relevant to the allegations. The respondent is obligated to cooperate fully in all such efforts.  Reasonable efforts will be made to minimize disruption to the respondent’s research during this and subsequent phases of the inquiry, subject to Sections 6.4, 6.5, or 6.7. Where possible the respondent will be provided copies or reasonable supervised access to the materials.

2.2. Promptly after notification to the respondent the Dean will appoint an inquiry committee. The committee shall consist of at least two individuals, none of whom will be a member of the same department as, or a recent collaborator of, the respondent or complainant, or will have unresolved personal, professional, or financial conflicts of interest relevant to the proceedings. From the appointed committee members the Dean shall appoint a Chair who is a member of the standing faculty with the rank of Professor. The members of the committee should be unbiased and have backgrounds appropriate to consider the issues being raised. Upon appointment of the inquiry committee, the Dean will notify the respondent and at the discretion of the Dean, the complainant, of the names of the committee members.

The appointment of the inquiry committee will generally be completed within 15 calendar days of completing the assessment. The inquiry is initiated once the committee is charged.

2.3. The committee will perform an inquiry to determine whether the allegation warrants a formal investigation. An investigation is warranted if the committee finds there is a reasonable basis for concluding that the allegation falls within the definition of research misconduct and the allegation may have substance. The committee will then submit a written report of its findings to the Dean with a copy to the Provost and the respondent. The complainant may be provided the report or portions thereof at the discretion of the Dean. The report should state what evidence was reviewed, summarize relevant interviews and include the committee’s recommendation, which will be decided by simple majority of the committee; any dissenting opinion will be noted. This report will generally be submitted within 45 calendar days of the initiation of the inquiry. The respondent may review and provide comments on the report of the inquiry committee. Any comments must be received within 15 calendar days following the sending of the report to the respondent. Such reply will be incorporated by the Dean as an appendix to the report. The entire inquiry process should be completed within 90 calendar days of the initiation of the inquiry unless circumstances clearly warrant a delay as determined by the Dean in consultation with the Provost. In such cases the record of inquiry will detail reasons for the delay.

2.4. If the majority of the inquiry committee finds that a formal investigation is warranted the Dean shall initiate an investigation in accordance with section 3. If a majority of the inquiry committee finds that a formal investigation is not warranted, the Dean in consultation with the Provost may (i) drop the matter, (ii) not initiate an investigation, but take such other action as the circumstances warrant, or (iii), nonetheless initiate an investigation. In the event the committee is unable to reach a majority opinion, the Dean will move forward to investigation. The decision should be completed within 10 calendar days following the respondent’s response, if any, or the close of the review and comment period described above. The Dean will inform the appropriate parties of the decision. Where such notification is appropriate, the Provost will inform the applicable government agency or source funding the research, in writing, of the determination that an investigation is warranted and will identify the respondent to the agency or source.

3. Investigation

3.1 Promptly after the determination to conduct an investigation, the Dean will appoint an investigation committee. The committee shall consist of at least three individuals and at the Dean’s discretion such additional number of members, if any, as may be suitable to competently conduct the investigation. At least one member of the investigation committee will not have served as a member of the inquiry committee. None of the committee members will be a member of the same department as, or a recent collaborator of, the respondent or complainant, or will have unresolved personal, professional, or financial conflicts of interest relevant to the proceedings. Committee members shall have backgrounds appropriate to evaluate the issues being raised. A majority of the members of the investigation committee shall be members of the standing faculty. From the appointed committee members the Dean shall appoint a Chair who is a member of the standing faculty with the rank of Professor. The Chair of the investigation committee may also have served as Chair of the inquiry committee.

Generally within 30 calendar days after the determination that an investigation is warranted, the Dean will initiate an investigation by charging the committee.

The investigation will be divided into five phases:

(i) investigation and development of an initial factual record,
(ii) draft report of the findings,
(iii) comment period,
(iv) final report of the findings, and
(v) final statement/appeal by respondent.

The Office of General Counsel and the Research Integrity Officer shall provide guidance in procedures appropriate to the case and may have a representative present at meetings of the committee. The representative will not participate directly in the proceedings except when and as requested to do so by the committee.

3.2. Investigation and development of an initial factual record. The investigation committee will be provided with copies of the complaint, the report of the inquiry committee and any other materials acquired by the inquiry committee during the course of its inquiry. The investigation committee will undertake a thorough examination of the allegations, including, without limitation, a review of all relevant research data and proposals, publications, correspondence, and records of communication in any form. Experts within or outside the University may be consulted. The investigation committee will also investigate any possible acts of research misconduct by the respondent that come to light during its investigation and will include them in its findings. Whenever possible, interviews will be conducted with the complainant and respondent, as well as with others reasonably expected to have material information regarding the allegations. Recordings will be made of all interviews and saved for reference. Either summaries or transcripts as determined by the committee will be provided to the interviewed party for comment or revision and included in the investigation file. The respondent and the complainant will not appear before the committee at the same time. When appearing before the committee the respondent and the complainant may each be accompanied by an advisor, who may be a lawyer but who may not participate directly in the proceedings except when and as requested to do so by the committee.

The respondent will be notified by the committee when the investigation is near completion (and after the respondent has been interviewed) and offered an opportunity to present additional information that is material to the investigation. The committee has the authority to set reasonable page limits and will provide a time limit for submission of additional information.

3.3. Draft report of the findings. Following development of the initial factual record, the investigation committee will prepare and provide a written draft report of its proposed findings to the respondent, to the Research Integrity Officer, and the Office of General Counsel. The complainant may be provided the report or portions thereof if authorized by the Dean. The report will describe the allegations investigated, how and from whom information was obtained, the proposed findings and their basis, and will include texts or summaries of the interviews conducted by the committee.

3.4. Comment Period. The respondent, and the complainant if they have been provided the draft report, may render comments on the draft report to be included in the record. Comments must be provided to the committee in writing within 30 calendar days following receipt of the draft report. The committee will consider any such comments prior to finalizing their report. 

3.5. Final report of the findings. The committee will submit a written final report to the Dean with copies to the Provost, the Research Integrity Officer, Office of General Counsel, and the respondent. The complainant may be provided the report or portions thereof at the discretion of the Dean. This report should describe the policies and procedures under which the investigation was conducted, how and from whom information was obtained, the allegations investigated, the findings and the basis of the findings, and should include summaries or transcripts of interviews as determined by the committee or as required by applicable funding agency. The committee will state that it finds the charge(s) made by the complainant or otherwise emerging during the course of its proceedings to be unsubstantiated or substantiated by a preponderance of evidence[1]. For each charge considered, the vote of a majority of the committee will constitute the decision of the committee. The vote will be recorded. If the vote is not unanimous, a statement of any dissenting opinion will be included in the report. If the committee finds that a violation of University policy in addition to or other than research misconduct might have been committed, a description of the possible violation will be included for consideration by the Dean under other procedures. The final report will preferably be submitted within 120 calendar days of the initiation of the investigation

3.6. Final statement/appeal by the respondent. Within 15 calendar days after receipt of the final report, the respondent will be permitted to make a written appeal of the findings to the Dean with a copy to the Provost. Such appeal shall include respondent’s objections, if any, to the findings and specify any alleged violations of procedures provided in this policy. The statement of appeal must be succinct and describe the basis for the objections, if any, being made. The statement will be incorporated as an appendix to the report but will not be considered by the committee unless the Dean requests that they do so.

4. Adjudication

4.1. The Dean will consider the final report and appeal, if any. The final report is final and will be accepted by the Dean unless the Dean in consultation with the Provost determines that there has been (i) procedural error that is likely to have affected the committee’s findings, or (ii) that any material finding is unsupported by a preponderance of evidence. If the Dean finds that a defect described in clause (i) or (ii) above has occurred, the Dean may remand the matter to the committee for further proceedings or take other action to address the defect. A revised report, if any, delivered by the committee will be accepted unless deficient under the same standard stated above. Upon acceptance of the report by the Dean, the Provost will report the outcome of the investigation to the appropriate government agency or source funding the research. The Provost will also provide a copy of the report and other required materials to the appropriate government agency or source funding the research, as required. The entire investigation process should be completed within 180 calendar days of its initiation, unless circumstances clearly warrant a delay as determined by the Dean in consultation with the Provost. In such cases the reasons for a delay will be documented.

4.2. If the final report of the investigation committee finds the charges to be unsubstantiated, the case will be closed and the appropriate parties will be informed.

4.3. If the report of the investigation committee finds the charges against a respondent to be substantiated, the Dean in consultation with the Provost will take appropriate action under applicable University corrective action, sanction, or disciplinary policies or procedures. In any subsequent proceeding the final report of the investigation will form part of the record.

4.4. Sponsors may have standards of conduct different from the standards for research misconduct described in this policy. Findings or actions taken under this policy are independent from any determinations or actions taken by the Sponsor.

5. Safeguards

5.1. Confidentiality. During the conduct of the proceedings, where feasible and appropriate the Dean will take reasonable precautions to enforce the confidentiality obligations as set forth above and protect the identities of complainant, respondent, witnesses, and committee members with respect to the larger community. Nonetheless, disclosure by the Dean or Provost, in their discretion based on the circumstances, is permissible to those who need to know, e.g. institutional review boards, department chairs or division chiefs, journals, editors, publishers, co-authors, and collaborating institutions.

5.2. Protection from Retaliation. The Dean and the Provost have the responsibility to protect the position and reputation of the complainant, committee members, witnesses, or all others providing information related to the proceedings and to protect these individuals from retaliation, so long as they have acted in good faith. In order to protect from retaliation, identities of the complainant and witnesses may be withheld from the respondent where appropriate, provided such withholding does not materially prejudice the ability of the respondent to defend against the allegations.

5.3. Timely request for a procedural correction. As set forth in sections 2.3, 3.4, and 3.6, the respondent shall have an opportunity to submit written responses to the inquiry report, the draft investigation report, and the final investigation report. If the respondent feels that any action of the Dean, inquiry committee, or investigation committee violates procedures set forth in this document and requires immediate correction prior to such opportunity to reply to a report, the respondent may, during the course of the proceeding, submit a timely written request for immediate correction to the party whose action is being questioned i.e. the Dean, inquiry committee, or investigation committee, stating the nature of the action and the reasons why the action violates the procedures set forth in this policy. This request must be made promptly after the respondent becomes aware of the concern, and the request must be succinct and include only information reasonably related to the specific objection being raised. The request must not be repetitive of previously raised concerns. The proceedings will not be delayed during the course of consideration of the objection(s). The decision of the Dean or respective committee with regard to the complaint and responsive corrective action, if any, shall be reflected in the record. If the respondent is dissatisfied with the decision, the respondent may reiterate the concern in the written response to the applicable committee’s report as set forth in section 2.3, 3.4, and 3.6.

5.4. Acceptable Working Environment. The Dean in consultation with the Provost may, during the course of the inquiry and investigation, take action including notification to individuals, programs, or institutions, as appropriate to ensure an acceptable working environment for individuals under the direction of, or working with, the respondent.

5.5. Conflict of Interest of the Dean. If the Dean is the complainant or respondent or in any other way has an unresolved personal, professional, or financial conflict of interest relevant to the proceedings, the Dean is obligated to remove themself from the case during the inquiry and investigation and to transfer to the Provost responsibility for carrying out these procedures. In carrying out the latter the Provost will assume the role specified for the Dean, and the President or President’s designee the role specified for the Provost in this policy.

5.6. Restoring Position and Reputation. As necessary the Dean and the Provost will take diligent efforts to restore the position and reputation of respondents against whom no finding of research misconduct is made, and the position and reputation of complainant, committee members, witnesses, or all others providing information related to the proceedings if they acted in good faith. Where the facts suggest that the allegation was knowingly false or made recklessly, the Dean and Provost may refer the matter for consideration under other appropriate University processes.

6. Other Actions and Procedures

6.1. Delegation of authority. The Dean may designate an Associate or Vice Dean to represent them in all or part of the administration of any case of misconduct. The Provost may similarly designate a Vice Provost to represent them.

6.2. Additional respondent(s). If an additional respondent is identified during an inquiry or investigation, the University is not required to conduct separate proceedings provided that each additional respondent is notified of the allegations and has an opportunity to respond.

6.3. Subsequent review. Any final action taken by the Dean under Section 4.3, may be reviewed under other established University grievance and appeal procedures to the extent such review is within the stated jurisdiction of such procedures. All other actions taken, proceedings conducted, and reports prepared under this policy are not subject to review or consideration under the Faculty Grievance Procedure or other appeal procedures.

6.4. Animal and Human Subject Protection. The Dean in consultation with the Provost will, during the course of the inquiry or investigation, take administrative action as appropriate to protect the welfare of animal or human subjects.

6.5. Fund Stewardship. The Dean and Provost will, during the course of the inquiry and investigation, take administrative action for appropriate stewardship of external financial support.

6.6. Notification to Federal Agency(ies). The Dean and Provost will as required or appropriate notify relevant agency(ies) if public health or safety is at risk; if agency resources or interests are threatened; if research activities should be suspended; if there is reasonable indication of possible violations of civil or criminal law; if federal action is required to protect the interests of those involved in the investigation; if the University believes the inquiry or investigation may be made public prematurely so that appropriate steps can be taken to safeguard evidence and protect the rights of those involved; or if the research community or public should be informed.

6.7. Compliance with Federal Regulation. The National Science Foundation, the Public Health Service, and other federal agencies have published regulations regarding the investigation of allegations of research misconduct in the context of research supported by those agencies. If applicable, the University will apply additional or different standards and procedures to comply with those statutory and regulatory requirements.

6.8. Failure to record. Inadvertent failure to record any interview under Section 3.2 will not be considered a procedural defect requiring correction.

6.9. Correcting the research record. The Dean may take appropriate action to correct errors in the research record if they become apparent during the course of the proceedings. If the final report of the investigation committee finds charges have been substantiated, the Dean will take appropriate steps to correct any misrepresentations resulting from the misconduct in question upon acceptance of the report. Collaborators and other affected individuals, organizations, or institutions will be informed at the appropriate time. If misrepresented results have been submitted for publication, already published, or otherwise disseminated into the public domain, appropriate journals and other sponsors will be notified.

6.10. Record Retention. Complete records of all relevant documentation on cases treated under the provisions of this policy will be preserved by the appropriate offices including those of the Dean and the Provost in a manner consistent with University or sponsor requirements. The Research Integrity Officer may be consulted for guidance in determining appropriate retention periods.

6.11. Additional or Alternative Proceedings. This policy does not create procedural rights for University staff members subject to performance management under human resources policies over issues of data integrity or for students who are accused of violating the code of academic integrity in course work. In addition, some forms of misconduct, such as failure to adhere to requirements for the protection of human subjects or to ensure the welfare of laboratory animals, are governed by specific federal regulations and are subject to the oversight of established University committees. Such violations may also be covered under this policy or possibly by other University policies when so determined by the responsible committees or institutional officials. Where multiple internal policies may apply, the Dean shall determine which policies shall be invoked and, where the application of several policies may be appropriate, the order in which the respective proceedings shall occur.

6.12. Independence of Procedures. The procedures described in this policy are independent of possible civil or criminal claims arising out of the same or other events. The Dean, with the concurrence of the Provost, after consulting with the Office of General Counsel and any applicable sponsoring federal agencies, will determine whether or when the University will proceed under this policy against a respondent who also faces related charges in a civil or criminal proceeding. If the University defers proceedings, it may subsequently proceed under this policy irrespective of the time provisions set forth hereunder.

6.13. Actions in furtherance of intent of the policy. Matters not specifically addressed in this policy may be decided by the Dean in their discretion to further effectuate the purposes of this policy.

Tobias Baumgart, a professor of chemistry in the School of Arts & Sciences, has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Thomas E. Thompson Award of the Membrane Structure and Function subgroup of the Biophysical Society for his “inspiring, foundational research and service to the membrane biophysics community.”

The award aims to promote excellence in research in membrane structure and function and to increase the visibility of MSAF members within the Biophysical Society. The award celebrates the legacy of Thomas E. Thompson (1926-2021), a pioneer in the field of membrane structure and function and a former president of the Biophysical Society and editor-in-chief of the Biophysical Journal. The award will be presented at the upcoming 2026 Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society in San Francisco.

Lisa M. Fairfax, a Presidential Professor of Law at the Carey Law School, has been named the 2026 recipient of the Patricia J. Williams Award by the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) Section on Race and Private Law. She was recognized at the organization’s sixth annual awards ceremony in New Orleans on January 7.

The award, named in honor of critical race theorist, feminist legal theorist, and private law trailblazer Patricia J. Williams, honors a legal scholar who has made outstanding scholarly contributions to the study of race and private law.

“To receive an award named after the incomparable Patricia J. Williams, who has dedicated her life to issues of social justice and produced pathbreaking scholarship on issues of race and private law, is an extreme and humbling honor,” said Ms. Fairfax.

Since its founding in 1900, AALS has promoted excellence in legal education through its member schools, setting standards in education, scholarship, and diversity. The Section on Race and Private Law aims to encourage the exchange of ideas, interests, and activities among members and to offer recommendations on issues related to race and private law, especially contracting and private ordering.

“Professor Fairfax’s groundbreaking scholarship on corporate purpose, board diversity, and fiduciary duty exemplifies the spirit of this award,” said the organization. “Beyond her prolific academic writing, her leadership as a teacher, mentor, and public servant—including her historic nomination to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)—has profoundly shaped the field and inspired generations of scholars and practitioners.”

Ms. Fairfax is a leading scholar in corporate law, governance, shareholder rights, and securities regulation. Her work examines corporate purpose, board governance practices and procedures, board composition and diversity, board oversight and fiduciary duties, shareholder rights and activism, and various securities law topics, with a specific focus on securities and investment affinity fraud. Her book, Shareholder Democracy: A Primer on Shareholder Activism and Participation, is a seminal work on shareholder activism.

At the Carey Law School, Ms. Fairfax is the co-director of the Institute for Law and Economics. She was an appointed member of the Investor Advisory Committee of the SEC and previously served as an independent public governor on the Board of Governors of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), where she was a member of the organization’s National Adjudicatory Council and NASDAQ Market Regulation Committee.

“The fact that this award comes from my peers and colleagues on the AALS Section of Race and Private Law, whose work I greatly admire, is especially humbling and meaningful, as is the recognition of both my scholarship and mentorship,” said Ms. Fairfax. “I have had such incredible mentors throughout my life and I believe so strongly in paying their efforts forward.”

Nadia Figueroa, the Shalini and Rajeev Misra Presidential Assistant Professor in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics (MEAM) in Penn Engineering, has received the National Science Foundation’s Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Award, one of the most prestigious honors supporting early-career faculty whose work integrates research and education in meaningful and far-reaching ways.

Her award-winning project, Constraint-Aware Estimation, Learning and Control for Fluid Physical Human-Robot Collaboration, aims to fundamentally expand how robots sense, predict and physically interact with people in dynamic, real-world environments.

“We want robots to be truly useful, physically intelligent machines that understand us, adapt to us, and keep us safe,” Dr. Figueroa said. “To get there, we need robots that can interact with humans as fluidly as humans interact with one another.”

In her lab, Dr. Figueroa and her students work across control, learning, perception, and robot design to achieve “fluid physical interaction,” a regime where robots co-regulate motion, force and intent continuously, adapting to uncertainty just as humans do.

“What excites me most is building robots that can understand the world the moment they touch it,” Dr. Figueroa said. “Our algorithms bring sensing, learning, and control together so a robot can instantly judge how heavy something is, adjust its strength, or follow a person’s guidance through touch. I want to build robots that can help lift or carry objects safely, open jars or doors, polish a surface with human feedback, or handle items it has never seen before. And with a new humanoid robot coming to the lab next year, we’ll be able to explore even more complex, whole-body tasks like carrying boxes, navigating cluttered spaces, and truly working alongside people in a natural way.”

Dr. Figueroa collaborates closely with her campus colleagues Josh Baxter in Penn Medicine and Flavia Vitale in Penn Engineering and Penn Medicine to understand human biomechanics and apply those principles to robot design.

One project, a “muscle-in-the-loop” training platform, allows robotic arms to adjust their resistance based on real-time measurements of a participant’s muscle tension and strength. The system has applications in rehabilitation, athletics, and the study of human motor adaptation, and may ultimately inform muscle-inspired robot controllers.

Faculty members from Penn GSE have once again earned national recognition in the 2026 RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings, published annually by Education Week. The rankings identify the 200 education scholars in the United States whose research and public engagement most strongly shape education policy, practice, and public discourse.

Penn GSE scholars were represented across the rankings, reflecting the school’s sustained leadership in research that bridges rigorous scholarship and real-world impact—from classroom practice and teacher workforce issues to racial equity, higher education access, and civic engagement.

Penn GSE Scholars in the 2026 Edu-Scholar Rankings:

1. Angela Duckworth. Psychologist, bestselling author, GSE secondary faculty member, and 2025 GSE Commencement speaker Angela Duckworth claimed the top spot in the 2026 rankings. Her influential work on grit, motivation, and character development continues to shape conversations in education, psychology, and beyond.

18. Jonathan Zimmerman. Historian and public scholar Jonathan Zimmerman was recognized for his widely-read commentary and scholarship connecting education to broader political, cultural, and historical debates.

66. Howard C. Stevenson. Howard C. Stevenson, a leading voice on racial literacy and school climate, was honored for research that centers equity, belonging, and psychological well-being in educational settings.

73. Richard Ingersoll. Sociologist Richard Ingersoll continues to be recognized for foundational research on teacher preparation, retention, and workforce stability—work that directly informs policy nationwide.

78. Laura W. Perna. Higher education scholar Laura W. Perna earned recognition for her influential research on college access, affordability, and student success, particularly for historically underrepresented populations.

99. Pam Grossman. Former Penn GSE Dean Pam Grossman was acknowledged for her enduring contributions to teacher education and professional learning, shaping how educators are prepared and supported.

101. Katharine O. Strunk. Penn GSE Dean Katharine O. Strunk was recognized for her scholarship on education policy, labor markets, and organizational change, highlighting her dual role as a national research leader and institutional leader.

186. Vivian L. Gadsden. Vivian L. Gadsden, a scholar of family and community engagement, was honored for research that elevates intergenerational learning, literacy, and the role of families in educational success.

The RHSU Edu-Scholar rankings assess scholars based on research citations, media engagement, and public impact—emphasizing not only academic excellence, but also the ability to inform and influence public understanding of education.

Together, Penn GSE’s strong presence in the 2026 rankings underscores the school’s commitment to scholarship that engages pressing educational challenges and contributes meaningfully to national conversations about equity, opportunity, and educational improvement.

The School of Social Policy & Practice’s Desmond Upton Patton has been selected to join the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare (SSWR)’s 2026 Class of Fellows. 

This honor recognizes distinguished scholars, practitioners, and policy leaders whose high-impact work advances social good. Dr. Patton is one of nine individuals chosen for induction this year and will be formally inducted on January 17 during the SSWR Conference in Washington, DC.

“I am deeply honored to join the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare’s Class of 2026,” said Dr. Patton. “This recognition reflects the brilliance of the youth, community partners, and colleagues who have trusted me to learn alongside them and to imagine new ways to bring heart, equity, and innovation into our digital lives. I see this fellowship as a charge to keep building technologies and policies that protect, uplift, and create real possibility for communities too often pushed to the margins.” 

As Penn’s 31st Penn Integrates Knowledge University Professor, Dr. Patton holds joint appointments in Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) and Annenberg School for Communication, along with secondary appointments at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the Perelman School of Medicine. He is the founding director of SAFELab, founding faculty director of the Penn Center for Inclusive Innovation & Technology, and chief innovation officer at SP2. He is also a member of the National Academy of Medicine.

At a December 9 ceremony, Penn Provost John L. Jackson, Jr., and Netter Center director Ira Harkavy presented Emilio Parrado, the Dorothy Swaine Thomas Professor of Sociology in the School of Arts & Sciences, and the Centro de Cultura, Arte, Trabajo y Educación (CCATE) with the 2025 Provost/Netter Center Faculty-Community Partnership Award.

The annual award, which grants $5,000 to the faculty member and $5,000 to the community partner, recognizes local, productive, and sustained faculty-community partnership projects. Winners are selected based on the project’s engagement, impact, and sustainability.

Dr. Parrado, who is also a member of the Netter Center’s Faculty Advisory Board, has demonstrated a deep commitment to community-engaged scholarship, particularly through long-standing collaboration with CCATE.

CCATE is an award-winning nonprofit organization based in Norristown, Pennsylvania, that advances social transformation through education, arts, culture, and career development. Serving nearly 400 families of diverse backgrounds, CCATE offers programming in media production, visual and plastic arts, music, academics, and STEM, fostering creativity, leadership, and community empowerment.

Together, Dr. Parrado, Penn’s Center for Latin American and Latinx Studies, and CCATE have launched Navegando Juntes. Navegando Juntes brings together two core initiatives: the ABCS course Latinos in the United States and the High School Latinx Leadership Institute. Through these interconnected efforts, Penn undergraduates and CCATE youth participate in reciprocal learning, collaborative research, and college-readiness programming that advance Latinx student success and strengthen community networks. This partnership is led by Holly Link and Obed Arango of CCATE—both lecturers at Penn’s School of Social Policy and Practice—in collaboration with Nelson Flores, a professor of educational linguistics, and Guadalupe Barrientos, a PhD candidate in educational linguistics, both in GSE. 

Since 2009, Dr. Parrado has taught Latinos in the United States, an academically-based community service (ABCS) course that introduces students to the sociological study of Latinos and immigration in the United States. A central component of the course is its partnership with CCATE. Each semester, Penn students work in small teams to design and facilitate workshops with CCATE high school students in a weekly postsecondary success program. Students also collaborate with CCATE youth and families to collect and analyze data that informs the workshops they develop.

The High School Latinx Leadership Institute, launched in 2022, is a week-long summer program that responds to the structural and cultural barriers—financial, linguistic, legal, and institutional—that Latinx and first-generation students often face in the transition to higher education. The institute provides academic preparation, leadership development, and family engagement activities designed to support college readiness and long-term success.

The Weitzman School’s Michelle Lopez, an associate professor of fine arts, and alumni David L. Johnson, MFA’20, and Emilio Martinez Poppe, MFA’22, are among the artists to be exhibited in Whitney Biennial 2026. The roster of 56 participating artists, duos, and collectives was announced on December 15, 2025, following more than 300 studio visits by the curatorial team.

The 82nd edition of the Biennial, widely considered the most prestigious survey of work by living American artists, opens on March 8, 2026, and “offers a vivid atmospheric survey of contemporary American art shaped by a moment of profound transition.”

Michelle Lopez is an interdisciplinary sculptor and installation artist. Her installations bring together precarious assemblages of such materials as steel rope, pulled glass, bent wood, and street rubble, and draw from the histories of industrialization, art movements, and the built environment. Last fall, a major exhibition of Ms. Lopez’s work was mounted at the Galleries at Moore College of Art & Design. Other recent solo exhibitions were mounted at Commonwealth & Council in Los Angeles and the Institute of Contemporary Art in Philadelphia. Ms. Lopez holds a MFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York and a BA from Barnard College of Columbia University in New York. She has received a Guggenheim Fellowship and a Pew Fellowship.

In the coming year, David L. Johnson has upcoming exhibitions at Theta in New York; Galerie Thomas Schulte in Berlin, and the Storefront for Art and Architecture in New York. His work was included in recent group exhibitions at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris and the Chicago Architecture Biennial and is held in the public collection of the Studio Museum in Harlem. Mr. Johnson is an adjunct professor at the Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art.

Emilio Martínez Poppe is an artist and educator whose work is concerned with the right to the city and the struggle for public space. In 2025, Mr. Poppe’s Civic Views, a public art project celebrating Philadelphia’s municipal employees, was installed in the Philadelphia City Hall courtyard. His work has also been included in recent exhibitions at the Queens Museum, CUE Art Foundation, and Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts, all in New York. Mr. Poppe is a visiting assistant professor at the Pratt Institute.

“After more than 300 visits, we found that many of the artists we gravitated toward were exploring various forms of relationality with a particular emphasis on infrastructures,” said Drew Sawyer, co-curator of the Biennial with Marcela Guerrero.

Please visit https://aarc.upenn.edu for current event information, including additional registration links. Symposium events are sponsored by the African-American Resource Center and the MLK Executive Planning Committee with additional sponsors listed in parentheses.

Ongoing  Penn Reads Children’s Book Donation Project; help a young child develop a love of reading by purchasing books from a curated list of short multicultural, anti-bias children’s books; full list available at https://tinyurl.com/PennReadsBookList2026; your donation supports a local bookstore; please ship books to the African-American Resource Center, 3643 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Through January 31.

1/14 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Heath Equity Lecture; Aletha Maybank, American Medical Association; noon-1:30 p.m.; auditorium, Smilow Center; register: https://tinyurl.com/HealthEquity2026 (PSOM).

1/17 Young Quakers MLK Sports & Wellness Event; 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; Pottruck Health & Fitness Center (Penn Athletics; Netter Center). 

1/19 Day of Service Kick-Off Breakfast; features guest speaker VanJessica Gladney, history, and vocal performances by Ruth Naomi Floyd; 8:30 a.m.; program starts at 9 a.m.; Hall of Flags, Houston Hall.

       Free Dog and Cat Wellness and Vaccination Clinic; call the Penn Ryan Veterinary Hospital’s appointment desk at (215) 898-4680 to schedule a visit (clinic will be run by appointment only); clinic is limited to two pets per household; owners can also receive a free flu vaccine; 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; Ryan Veterinary Hospital (Penn Vet).

       Community Beautification Service Project; volunteers will help clean up/spruce up Comegys Elementary School, Global Leadership Academy Charter School, and Laura Sims Skate House; dress appropriately; light refreshments and water will be provided; 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; meet at 9:50 a.m. at Hall of Flags, Houston Hall, for transportation to locations; register: https://community-outreach.trumba.com/.

       Class of ‘80/Sayre Mentoring Program; members of the class of 1980 and Sayre High School students will make care packages and no-sew blankets to be donated; for designated participants only; 10 a.m.-1:00 p.m.; Hall of Flags balcony, Houston Hall.

       Helping Hands Service Projects; participants will assemble a pocketbook full of toiletries, make no-sew blankets, stuff crew socks with toiletries, and write love letters to senior citizens to be donated to area shelters; 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; various locations in  Houston Hall; register: https://tinyurl.com/HelpingHands2026.

       Mobile CPR Project; tabling event that will teach the basics of CPR; 10 a.m.-11:45 a.m.; Reading Room, Houston Hall.

       Penn Reads Literacy & Children’s Art Project—“Imagine A World...!”; children ages 3-8 are invited to participate in a theatrical story time experience; attendees will learn about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s vision, explore a Penn library, and create a book to take home; pizza and snacks will be provided; 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Class of 1978 Orrery Pavilion, 6th floor, Van Pelt Library (Penn Libraries).

       So You Want to Go to College?; this workshop will help you better understand the college admissions and financial aid processes; 1-2:30 p.m.; Zoom event; register: https://tinyurl.com/SoYouWantCollege2026.

       MLK 101: The Man and His Legacy; learn about the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in this introduction to his participation in the civil rights era, facilitated by Robert Carter; 5:30-7 p.m.; Zoom event; register: https://tinyurl.com/MLK1012026.

       Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Candlelight Vigil; join the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority for an annual Candlelight Vigil; route will begin at Du Bois College House and proceed to the compass at 37th and Locust Walk with songs, stories, and quotes from Dr. King; ends with refreshments at Penn Women’s Center; 7-8:30 p.m. (Alpha Phi Alpha; Alpha Kappa Alpha).

1/20 Phishing Prevention Seminar; a look at common phishing attempts and how to keep your information safe; noon-1 p.m.; 3901 Walnut St., Suite 400 and online; register: https://tinyurl.com/PhishingPrevention2026 (Penn Professional Staff Assembly).

        King the Preacher; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was a pastor and preacher; his work for justice was grounded in his faith; hear and discuss one of his sermons; noon-1:30 p.m.; Penn Women’s Center (Christian Association). 

        Annual Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Lecture in Social Justice; the honoree will be filmmaker Spike Lee in conversation with professor Heather A. Williams, Africana studies; 5:30-7 p.m.; Zellerbach Theater, Annenberg Center, Penn Live Arts; register: https://tinyurl.com/spike-lee-lecture (Africana Studies; Annenberg School for Communication).

1/21 REAL T.A.L.K. Lunch Series: In Good Company: A Celebration of Collective Joy; Daina Richie-Troy, Africana studies, will explore how community—especially among women of color—is a source of joy, strength, and cultural resilience; noon-1:30 p.m.; register: https://forms.gle/sMxJCALzeyUGJMMH6 (WOCAP).

        Equity-Minded Leadership in the Spirit of MLK; a conversation with Selena Ann Gilles, Penn Nursing; 2-4 p.m.; Claire Fagin Hall Auditorium; register: https://tinyurl.com/Equity2026 (Penn Nursing’s Office of School and Community Engagement).

1/22 Interfaith Commemoration and Awards Ceremony; this annual event commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., emphasizes common humanity, and acknowledges individuals whose active service exemplifies Dr. King’s vision; this year’s guest speaker is Pastor Carl Day; 6-8 p.m.; Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall (Office of the Chaplain, Office of the President).

1/23 Gender Equity in Action II: Laws, Advocacy, and Civil Engagement; noon-1:30 p.m. (Penn Women’s Center).

        Breaking the Mold; three-part community dialogue series designed to create an open and supportive space for all students, especially men of color, to explore ideas of masculinity; 5-6:30 p.m.; Greenfield Intercultural Center (Greenfield Intercultural Center).

        Threads of Resistance: Part II: Woven in Power: A Century of Black Style is a dynamic continuation of last year’s Threads of Resistance, exploring (with a fashion show) how Black fashion has served as a powerful form of identity,pride, and protest across the decades; 5:30-7:30 p.m.; location TBA (Africana Studies).

1/26 The Orator: Celebrating the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; highlighting the journey of K Rose, a gifted child orator, growing up in the city of Philadelphia under the influence and tutelage of her mother; 5:30-7:30 p.m.; the Rotunda, 4014 Walnut St.

1/27 Creating Dr. King’s Beloved Community Through Arts & Community; 5:30-7:30 p.m.; livestream available on African-American Resource Center Facebook page (Netter Center; Paul Robeson House).

1/28 A.I. and the Dream: Technology in Service of Humanity; explores how artificial intelligence—one of the most transformative technologies of our time—can be guided by the ethical imperatives Dr. King championed; 5:30-7 p.m.; Shotel Dubin Auditorium, Hillel Steinhardt Hall (SP2; SEAS).

1/29 Paint-Along Social: Create in Community; join us to paint an easy follow-along picture and decompress with others in a fun, relaxed environment for adults; 5-7:30 p.m.; Hall of Flags, Houston Hall; $10 fee and limited space; register: https://tinyurl.com/MLKPaint (Office of Social Equity & Community; Penn Professional Staff Assembly).

1/30 Jazz for King: Unifying Service: A Path of Resilience and Grace; enjoy the music of Glenn Bryan & Friends and MC Darin Toliver; 6-9 p.m.; Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz and Performing Arts; 736 S. Broad Street; tickets: $15 at https://www.payerexpress.com/ebp/PennAARC (African-American Resource Center, MLK Symposium Committee).

2/3 The Penn Staff & Community Choir Winter Concert; brings together adults, (21+) who are all Penn employees, Philadelphia residents, or both, to sing a range of music across genres and traditions; 6:30-7:30 p.m.; Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral; register: http://tinyurl.com/UPennChoir (Office of Social Equity & Community).

To Members of the University and Surrounding Community:

Please join the Women of Color at Penn (WOCAP) in extending congratulations to our 2026 awardees.

• Undergraduate Awardee: Herinah Asaah
• Graduate Awardee: Kristina “Kris” Stallings
• Faculty/Staff Awardee: J. Margo Brooks Carthon 
• Community Awardee: Marion Campbell
• Joann Mitchell Outstanding Legacy Awardee: Felicia Saunders (awarded posthumously)

The annual WOCAP Awards Luncheon will be held on Friday, March 20, 2026, from noon-2 p.m. at the Inn at Penn. More details will be forthcoming soon.

Luncheon tickets are now available for purchase.

• Tickets: $85 per person
• Table (10 ppl.) + Full Page Ad: $950
• Full Page Ad: $250
• Half Page Ad: $175
• Quarter Page Ad: $90

You may send ticket requests, camera ready ads, and journal info to wocaptix@gmail.com. 

Learn more about the 2026 WOCAP Day Awards Program at https://aarc.upenn.edu/women-color/women-color-awards.

—Women of Color Executive Planning Committee 

The Penn Staff and Community Choir, hosted by the Office of Social Equity & Community, brings together adults (21+) who are Penn employees, Philadelphia residents, or both, to sing a range of music across genres and traditions. The group’s second annual winter concert is on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral, 19 S. 38th Street.

Tickets are free, but registration is required at https://tinyurl.com/UPennChoir.

Conferences

16        Beyond Academia: Careers for PhDs in Behavioral & Brain Sciences; panel discussions and Q&A with PhD holders about careers outside of academia, followed by a networking lunch; 10 a.m.-1 p.m.; room 111, Neural and Behavioral Sciences Building; info: https://mindcore.sas.upenn.edu/calendar_event/beyond-academia-2026/ (MindCORE).

Exhibits

            Impressions By Color and Water; an exhibition of paintings by Nella Sewarda watercolor artist whose creative journey began in Rome, Italy, where she studied the arts until the age of 17; Burrison Gallery, University Club. Through January 24.

Fitness & Learning

Graduate School of Education

Online webinars. Info: https://www.gse.upenn.edu/news-and-events/events-calendar.

13        School Leadership, MSEd Virtual Information Session; 7 p.m.

15        Urban Teaching Apprenticeship, MSEd Virtual Information Session; 7 p.m.

19        Urban Teaching Residency, MSEd Virtual Information Session; 7 p.m.

Penn Libraries

Various locations. Info and to register: https://www.library.upenn.edu/events.

15        Coffee with a Codex: Illuminated Psalter; Kislak Center curator Dot Porter will discuss Ms. Codex 2265, an illuminated psalter arranged in eight sections, probably originally marked by illuminations or decorated borders; noon; online webinar.

            Quizzo Through the Stacks; a fun, team-based trivia event designed to help sophomore students discover library services, spaces, and support while competing for prizes; 6 p.m.; RDDSx, Van Pelt Library.

On Stage

16        Mastiland; Penn Masti’s annual South Asian fusion dance show brings together 35+ high-energy pieces, each choreographed and performed by their talented team of dancers; 7 p.m.; Iron Gate Theater; tickets: $12 (Platt Performing Arts House). Also January 17, 7 p.m.

            Quadramics Presents "MisQast"; a cabaret-style show in which all members of the Penn community are welcome to perform a song, scene, or monologue belonging to a role you are completely wrong for; 8 p.m.; lobby, Platt House (Platt Performing Arts House).

Talks

14        Formal Methods for Language Model Systems; Gagandeep Singh, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; noon; room 414, Amy Gutmann Hall (SEAS ASSET Center).

            Membrane Fusion Driven By a Bacterial Pathogen; Fabienne Paumet, Thomas Jefferson University; noon; Austrian Auditorium, CRB (Microbiology).

15        Expanding Immunotherapy Access in Africa: Early Lessons and Cost Considerations; panel of speakers; 10 a.m.; Zoom webinar; register: https://tinyurl.com/cgh-talk-jan-15 (Center for Global Health).

            Polymer Chain-End Chemistry: Unlocking Next-Generation Functional Materials; Moon Jeong Park, Pohang University of Science and Technology; 10:30 a.m.; room 101, Levine Hall (Materials Science & Engineering).

            Why Giles of Rome’s “De Regimine Principum”? Rita Copeland, classical studies and comparative literature; 4:45 p.m.; room 402, Cohen Hall (Classical Studies).

16        Datafication, Discipline, and Due Process: Explaining Chinese Public Law’s Limited Response to Data-Driven Governance; Clement Yongxi Chen, Australian National University Law School; 12:15 p.m.; room 418, PCPSE (Center for the Study of Contemporary China).

This is an update to the January AT PENN calendar, which is online now. To submit events for future AT PENN calendars or weekly updates, email almanac@upenn.edu.

Division of Public Safety

University of Pennsylvania Police Department Crime Report

About the Crime Report: Below are the Crimes Against Persons and/or Crimes Against Property from the campus report for December 29, 2025-January 4, 2026. The Crime Reports are available at: https://almanac.upenn.edu/sections/crimes. Prior weeks’ reports are also online. –Eds.

This summary is prepared by the Division of Public Safety (DPS) and contains all criminal incidents reported and made known to the Penn Police, including those reported to the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) that occurred within our patrol zone, for the dates of December 29, 2025-January 4, 2026. The Penn Police actively patrol from Market Street to Baltimore Avenue and from 30^th Street to 43^rd Street in conjunction with the Philadelphia Police.

In this effort to provide you with a thorough and accurate report on public safety concerns, we hope that your increased awareness will lessen the opportunity for crime. For any concerns or suggestions regarding this report, please call DPS at (215) 898-7297. You may view the daily crime log on the DPS website.

Penn Police Patrol Zone

Market Street to Baltimore Avenue and from 30^th Street to 43^rd Street

Philadelphia Police 18th District

Schuylkill River to 49th Street & Market Street to Woodland Avenue

Below are the Crimes Against Persons from the 18th District: 1 incident was reported for December 29, 2025-January 4, 2026 by the 18^th District, covering the Schuylkill River to 49th Street & Market Street to Woodland Avenue.

The Division of Public Safety offers resources and support to the Penn community. DPS developed a few helpful risk reduction strategies outlined below. Know that it is never the fault of the person impacted (victim/survivor) by crime.

• See something concerning? Connect with Penn Public Safety 24/7 at (215) -573-3333.
• Worried about a friend’s or colleague’s mental or physical health? Get 24/7 connection to appropriate resources at (215) 898-HELP (4357).
• Seeking support after experiencing a crime? Call Special Services - Support and Advocacy resources at (215) 898-4481 or email an advocate at specialservices@publicsafety.upenn.edu
• Use the Walking Escort and Riding services available to you free of charge.
• Take a moment to update your cellphone information for the UPennAlert Emergency Notification System
• Download the Penn Guardian App which can help Police better find your location when you call in an emergency.
• Access free self-empowerment and defense courses through Penn DPS.
• Stay alert and reduce distractions; using cellphones, ear buds, etc. may limit your awareness.
• Orient yourself to your surroundings. (Identify your location, nearby exits, etc.)
• Keep your valuables out of sight and only carry necessary documents.

The Office of the Provost requests nominations for the eighteenth cohort of Penn Fellows.

Penn Fellows Program

The Penn Fellows program provides select mid-career standing faculty members (recently promoted associate professors to early full professors) with opportunities to develop their leadership skills, build networks, think strategically, and interact with campus leaders. We also strive to promote a cross-University network of support for participants as they move through their careers. Previous Penn Fellows have subsequently served in roles such as provost, deputy provost, vice provost, dean, vice dean, and department chair, and we anticipate that this trend will continue in the future.

Expectations

Participants are expected to participate in leadership development sessions that will be scheduled over the course of the 2026-2027 academic year. Participants will also be invited to participate in the Provost’s Leadership Academy. 

Qualifications

Candidates should be mid-career standing faculty members (recently promoted associate professors to early full professors) with a demonstrated record of academic excellence, administrative leadership potential, and interest in higher education leadership. Of particular interest are faculty who have not yet held senior higher education leadership positions and can further contribute to the excellence of our campus leadership.

Request for Nominations

Nominations should be submitted to provost-fac@upenn.edu by February 25, 2026.

Nominations should include a letter of support from the dean or department chair and the candidate’s curriculum vitae. Previously nominated candidates may be re-nominated. Please direct questions to Kristen Barnes at kabarnes@upenn.edu.

The Office of the Provost requests applications for the Special Advisor Program, which provides an immersive leadership development opportunity for faculty interested in academic administration and service to the Penn community. Selected faculty members will spend one year embedded in a unit of the Provost’s Office, contributing to strategic projects while gaining exposure to academic decision-making, program design, and cross-unit collaboration. 

This program advances Penn’s strategic commitment to fostering leadership, service, and institutional stewardship by offering experiential learning for faculty members who demonstrate strong leadership potential and an interest in administrative roles. Special advisors will engage directly with senior leaders, participate in key meetings, take on unit-specific initiatives, and broaden their understanding of University operations and strategy. 

• Selected faculty will: 
• Contribute to strategic projects that enhance programs, policies, or operations in the Provost’s Office 
• Strengthen leadership capacity through mentorship, guided learning, and hands-on administrative experience 
• Advance Penn’s goals related to faculty excellence, innovation, and leadership development 

Qualifications 

Advanced associate professors or full professors in the standing faculty are eligible to apply. Applicants must demonstrate leadership engagement and potential, as well as support from their department chair and/or dean. 

Request for Applications

Applications are due by Wednesday, February 25, 2026. 

See the complete call for applications for more information. Please direct questions to Kristen Barnes at kabarnes@upenn.edu.

Associate professors are invited to apply for the spring 2026 Total Leadership Program. This program is presented in four online sessions (held via Zoom) led by Stewart Friedman, an emeritus practice professor of management in the Wharton School, director of the Wharton Work/Life Integration Project and founding director of the Wharton Leadership Program, and Michelle Rajotte, Total Leadership’s director of client services, in partnership with the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty. Total Leadership is a systematic method for integrating work, home, community, and self—and improving performance and well-being in all these parts—by the powerful combination of increased authenticity (being real), integrity (being whole), and creativity (being innovative).  

Through this program, participants will learn more about what it takes to be effective leaders, make real progress towards becoming effective leaders in their lives, and apply Total Leadership principles to their own personal leadership challenges. Participants will explore what and who matter most to them and then innovate by pursuing real-world experiments to produce “four-way wins,” defined as demonstrable results that are meaningful not only for work, family, community, or self (mind, body, spirit), but for all these different domains.

Expectations

Participants are expected to join four three-hour Zoom sessions that will be held from noon to 3 p.m. on February 20, March 6, April 10, and May 15, 2026. Participants will be asked to complete materials before each session and engage in peer-to-peer coaching throughout the program. 

Qualifications 

Associate professors in the standing faculty are eligible to apply. 

Request for Applications

Applications are due by Monday, January 26, 2026. 

Interested associate professors should complete the online application form. See the complete call for applications for more information. Please direct questions to Kristen Barnes at kabarnes@upenn.edu or Michelle Rajotte at rajotte@wharton.upenn.edu.

Another tip in a series provided by the Offices of Information Security, Information Systems & Computing and Audit, Compliance & Privacy

As you settle back into the spring semester, take a moment to make sure your technology is ready for a smooth and secure start.

Complete the mandatory tutorial Information Security at Penn: A Practical Guide: Spend about 20 minutes to finish the required Information Security at Penn: A Practical Guide in Workday by January 12, 2026. Visit the course webpage to access the training and find answers to your questions at https://isc.upenn.edu/security/aware/infosec_online_training.  

Choose a strong password or passphrase: If you need to reset your password frequently or want to select a new one after travel, create a password that is at least 16 characters long. A passphrase is a memorable sentence that meets Penn’s password complexity requirements. For example, Eat Healthy 3$Daily. You also use Dashlane, a password manager provided by the University for no cost, to create and store passwords.

Update and patch your devices: If your computer or mobile device was unused over winter break, it might have missed important updates. Install the latest operating system and application patches recommended by your local support team. Staying current helps protect your devices and the data they hold.

Restart regularly: A simple restart can boost performance. Rebooting your device clears temporary files, applies pending updates, and refreshes background processes, helping your system run more smoothly and reliably.

Review and secure your data: Take a few minutes to review your stored data. Delete anything that is no longer needed. For data that must be retained, especially information classified as moderate or high risk, ensure that it is stored securely and encrypted in accordance with University guidelines. Some tech housekeeping now can prevent bigger problems later.

Welcome back and have a great semester!

Penn Data Risk Classification: https://isc.upenn.edu/security/penn-data-risk-classification.  

Get IT help: https://isc.upenn.edu/get-it-help.

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For additional tips, see the One Step Ahead link on the Information Security website: https://isc.upenn.edu/security/news-alerts%23One-Step-Ahead. 

Almanac publishes a supplement early each year featuring the camps and programs taking place at Penn over the summer. It lists camps for children, teens, and young adults representing an array of activities, from academic enrichment—including anthropology, business, law, veterinary medicine, and music—to recreation and sports camps. To submit information about a camp, email almanac@upenn.edu with the following information:

• Name of camp
• Dates held (if multiple sessions, indicate dates for each)
• Age range for participants
• Short summary of the program
• Cost (note any scholarships, financial aid, or discounts)
• URL for enrollment/application forms
• Deadline to apply/enroll (if applicable)
• An email, link, and/or phone number to obtain more information.

If possible, please submit information by Tuesday, January 20, 2026.