September 10, 2019 Volume 66 Issue 4

Last Thursday, the University of Pennsylvania announced the naming of Lauder College House. It was formerly known as New College House and is located at 34th and Chestnut streets (Almanac August 30, 2016). The new name was revealed at a ceremony celebrating the house’s first cohort of fourth-year residents, along with incoming Class of 2023 and second- and third-year residents.

Lauder College House (LCH) officially opened its doors on August 24, 2016, and is the first Penn residential building specifically designed as a college house. The University’s residential system brings together undergraduates, faculty, staff and graduate students to form shared communities within the larger context of Penn’s campus.

“The University of Pennsylvania gratefully acknowledges the generosity of the Lauder family for their extraordinary contributions to create Penn’s first student residence designed as a College House community,” said Penn President Amy Gutmann. “For over half a century, the Lauders, starting with our Trustee Emeritus Leonard Lauder, have made Penn an integral part of their family. 

“Three generations of the Lauder family have come to live and learn at Penn,” said President Gutmann. “Lauder College House is named in their honor,” she said adding, “I only wish that I could live here. It is just a spectacular home.”

Joining President Gutmann at the podium were Campbell Grey, LCH faculty director and associate professor of classical studies; Ronald Lauder, Lauder Institute Board of Governors chairman; and William Lauder, Penn term trustee.

The Lauder Family released a statement for the occasion saying, “the Lauder College House is a love letter from our family to the students of Penn. The University of Pennsylvania has been pivotal in helping to shape the ideas and experiences of each of the Lauder family members that have attended. We are honored to be part of creating memories for students at Penn for generations to come.”

Other members of the Lauder family attending the ceremony included Gary and his wife, Laura; Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer; and May 2019 graduate Josh, who was a resident of the house his junior year. “I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the generosity I’ve experienced throughout my four years at Penn,” said Josh Lauder. “Its exceptional environment for intellectual exploration cultivated my drive for lifelong learning, and it turns out I’m not the only one in my family who loves Penn ... I couldn’t be more proud of my family for giving back to the University that has given us so much. I was lucky to be among the first students to stay in the eponymous Lauder College House, before it was called that. To its future tenants, I can attest to its magnificence as a living space, and I sincerely hope that it can enrich student’s lives and leave a purely positive mark on Penn’s campus for generations to come.” 

Designed by the Philadelphia-based design firm of Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, the seven-story, 198,000-square-foot, $121 million project houses undergraduate students, in three-, four-, five-, and six- bedroom suites with a dining venue and many public and programmatic spaces built around a private central courtyard (Almanac September 13, 2016).

As a four-year house, Lauder College House is a microcosm of Penn. This year, among the 351 undergraduate residents, roughly 29% are from the Class of 2023, 31% are sophomores, 25% are juniors and 15% are seniors. Within the College House system, each of the 12 houses has a distinct character and mission. The LCH community is centered around a global sustainability theme, a founding principle of the house’s design. 

The celebration took place in the Heyman Courtyard, which was named for other major donors to the project, emeritus trustee Stephen Heyman and his wife, Barbara Heyman.

Virginia M.Y. Lee, the John H. Ware 3rd Endowed Professor in Alzheimer’s Research in the department of pathology and laboratory medicine and director of the Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research at the University of Pennsylvania, will receive the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences. The award recognizes Dr. Lee’s work in understanding how different forms of misfolded proteins can move from cell to cell and lead to disease progression in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other dementias and movement disorders.

“It is an honor to receive such a prestigious award, and this funding will help us as we continue to push for a greater understanding of these diseases that can ultimately help us find ways to help millions of these patients,” Dr. Lee said.

Dr. Lee’s research focuses on proteins that form pathological inclusions in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and related neurodegenerative disorders. She discovered tau, alpha-synuclein, and TDP-43 as the critical proteins, and further clarified the role they play in each disease. She demonstrated that cell-to-cell transmission of these pathological proteins explains how each disease progresses. This research has opened up new avenues of research to identify targets for drug discovery to develop better treatments for patients with these disorders.

Now in its eighth year, the Breakthrough Prize recognizes the world’s top scientists. Each prize is $3 million and presented in the fields of Life Sciences (up to four per year), Fundamental Physics (one per year) and Mathematics (one per year). In addition, up to three New Horizons in Physics and up to three New Horizons in Mathematics Prizes are given out to early career researchers each year. The new laureates will be recognized at the eighth annual Breakthrough Prize gala awards ceremony Sunday, November 3, at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California, and broadcast live on National Geographic.

The Breakthrough Prizes are sponsored by Sergey Brin, Priscilla Chan and Mark Zuckerberg, Ma Huateng, Yuri and Julia Milner, and Anne Wojcicki. Selection Committees composed of previous Breakthrough Prize laureates in each field choose the winners.

Information on Breakthrough Prize is available at breakthroughprize.org

We have received the report of the Consultative Review Committee on the Reappointment of Steven J. Fluharty as Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences and are delighted to recommend to the Trustees the reappointment of Dean Fluharty for a second term, to run through June 30, 2025.

The Committee was unanimous that Dean Fluharty has the vision, energy, skills and broad support needed to thrive and succeed in a second term as Dean. We enthusiastically agree. Dean Fluharty’s first term was one of significant accomplishment. The Committee found especially notable the comprehensive, inclusive and far-reaching strategic plan—titled Our Foundations and Frontiers—that guided the Dean’s first term. The strategic plan has grown the faculty, galvanized exciting new cross-disciplinary initiatives and positioned Penn Arts & Sciences as a leader in 21st century liberal arts education.

The Review Committee also commended Dean Fluharty for two especially striking accomplishments: his effective stewardship of the School’s myriad disciplines and departments and his many contributions to driving SAS and Penn forward by virtue of his University leadership. The Committee was struck by the Dean’s genuine and deeply held commitment to both the School and the University, qualities that are consistently borne out in the Dean’s day-to-day work.

We are especially grateful to the members of the Review Committee for their time and effort throughout this important process. After receiving its charge from us in March 2019, the Committee—both in formal meetings and through its chair, J. Larry Jameson, Executive Vice President for the Health System and Dean of the Perelman School of Medicine—interviewed Dean Fluharty; conducted informational interviews and conversations with various members of the faculty, staff, student body and alumni community; convened discussions with department chairs, major School committees and student assemblies; and held open meetings for faculty and staff within the School. The Committee also examined a comprehensive selection of data and documents concerning the School, including detailed budget, enrollment and employment data. The Committee met seven times over a period of 11 weeks.

The Committee’s final report to us assessed and analyzed the accomplishments of the Dean and the School over the past five years in a wide array of domains, including: strategic vision and planning; faculty recruitment, retention, and diversity; academic programs and student quality; research and scholarly programs; School administration and staff; finances and fundraising; facilities and infrastructure; and engagement with alumni, the professional community and the general public.

This is an important inflection point for the liberal arts and sciences, and we believe that Dean Fluharty is exceptionally well-positioned to lead Penn Arts & Sciences through a period characterized by great opportunity and change. A thoughtful, principled, proven leader with an infectious enthusiasm for the liberal arts and sciences, Dean Fluharty is a model University citizen.

We wholeheartedly agree with the members of this Review Committee and will enthusiastically recommend to the Trustees that Steven J. Fluharty be reappointed as Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences.

—Amy Gutmann, President

—Wendell Pritchett, Provost

We are pleased to announce the formation of an ad hoc Consultative Committee to advise us on the selection of the next Dean for The Wharton School.  The members of the Consultative Committees are listed below.  The Committee welcomes—and will keep in the strictest confidence—nominations and input from all members of the University community. For fullest consideration, communications should be received, preferably in electronic form, no later than September 30, 2019, and may be sent to Adam Michaels at adampm@upenn.edu

—Amy Gutmann, President

—Wendell Pritchett, Provost

Consultative Committee for the Selection of a Dean of the Wharton School

Chair

J. Larry Jameson, Executive Vice President of the University for the Health System, Dean of the Perelman School of Medicine, and Robert G. Dunlop Professor of Medicine (PSOM)

Faculty

Gérard Cachon, Fred R. Sullivan Professor; Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions; Professor of Marketing; Vice Dean of Teaching and Strategic Initiatives (Wharton)

Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Professor of Population Health and Health Equity (PSOM, Nursing and Wharton)

Daniel A. Levinthal, Reginald H. Jones Professor of Corporate Strategy, Professor of Management (Wharton)

Michael R. Roberts, William H. Lawrence Professor, Professor of Finance (Wharton)

Nancy Rothbard, David Pottruck Professor, Professor of Management, and Chair, Management Department (Wharton)

Lisa Servon, Kevin and Erica Penn Presidential Professor, Professor of City and Regional Planning, and Chair, City and Regional Planning Department (Design)

Philip E. Tetlock, Leonore Annenberg University Professor in Democracy and Citizenship, Professor of Management, Professor of Psychology (SAS and Wharton)

Students

Maggie Browdy (W’21)

Anisha Mocherla (WG’20)

Alumni

Bonnie Bandeen (C’80, WG’85), University Trustee and Wharton Overseer

Marc Rowan (W’84, WG’85), University Trustee and Chair of the Wharton Board of Overseers

Ex Officio

Joann Mitchell, Senior Vice President for Institutional Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer

Staff to the Committee

Adam P. Michaels, Assistant Vice President and Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the President

Seth Zweifler, Assistant to the Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff, Office of the President

Consultants to the Committee

Kenneth L. Kring, Korn Ferry

Vickie Antolini, Korn Ferry

Effective September 23, 2019, Mary C. Francis will become the thirteenth director of the University of Pennsylvania Press.

Ms. Francis is a national leader in the university press community. She has been editorial director at the University of Michigan Press/Michigan Publishing since 2015 and was previously executive editor and team leader for the humanities at the University of California Press, where she started in 1999 as an editorial assistant. Ms. Francis also worked in the editorial and production departments at Oxford University Press, Yale University Press and Mayfield Publishing. She is on the board of directors of the Association of University Presses, and has served AUPresses in various capacities, including chair of the 2019 Annual Meeting Program Committee, and chair of the Acquisitions Committee. She has conducted numerous presentations and workshops on scholarly communication for the Society for Scholarly Publishing, the Social Science Research Council, the American Historical Association, Society for Cinema and Media Studies, the American Musicological Society, as well as various library and campus groups. She has spoken on a variety of topics, including peer review, digital publishing, Open Access, and diversity, equity, inclusion and access (DEIA) issues. Ms. Francis holds a BA in music from Brandeis University and completed graduate work in musicology at Yale University.

“It is truly an honor to be selected to join the Penn community as director of Penn’s excellent Press,” Ms. Francis said of her new role. “I am excited to come to Philadelphia to work and learn with Press staff to move the Press forward.”

Ms. Francis has been a leader in developing new forms of Open Access, including Michigan Publishing’s pioneering community-based, open-source platform, Fulcrum. Launched with support from the Mellon Foundation, Fulcrum is now being used by many presses across the country. At the same time, she has been an award-winning acquiring editor of books within her areas of expertise in media/film studies, digital culture, literary studies and music.

“I am confident that Mary will be a spectacular leader, working closely and collaboratively across the Penn community to chart the future of Penn Press,” said University Provost Wendell Pritchett.

Outgoing director Eric Halpern has devoted 39 years to the dissemination of scholarly knowledge. He took the helm of Penn Press in 1995, bringing with him more than 14 years of experience in academic publishing, coming to Penn from Johns Hopkins University Press and Cornell University Press.

“We are deeply in Eric’s debt for the vision and integrity with which he has guided Penn Press for more than two decades,” Provost Pritchett said. “Eric has been, through many unpredictable changes in both the publishing and academic markets, a powerful steward of the Press’ highest scholarly traditions.”

A major gift from a Penn Dental Medicine alumnus is helping to advance pediatric dentistry education and patient care. With this contribution from Tony Saito, a 1995 DMD graduate, the School will name its pediatric clinic the Saito Pediatric Care Center.

“Dr. Saito’s commitment to our School, our students, and the patients we serve is tremendous,” said Morton Amsterdam Dean Mark Wolff. “His support and engagement are invaluable.”

A pediatric dentist, Dr. Saito owns a private practice based in West Boylston, Massachussetts, which he opened in 2001. After earning his DMD from Penn Dental Medicine in 1995, Dr. Saito completed a general practice residency at Mount Sinai Medical Center and went on to a pediatric residency at Columbia University Medical Center.

“I chose to make this gift to support the future of our rapidly evolving profession. Our students under the guidance of our outstanding Penn faculty need the most advanced technology in order to provide the best care for the children in the Philadelphia community,” said Dr. Saito. “It is my hope to have the students that I have mentored, return to Penn Dental and give back their time and energy as I have given to them.”

Since 2017, Dr. Saito has been an active member of the Dean’s Council at Penn Dental Medicine, an external advisory group to the Dean. In addition, he lectures annually to both the DMD students and the postdoctoral students in the pediatric program at Penn Dental Medicine.

“Our students benefit greatly from Dr. Saito’s perspective as a practicing pediatric dentist,” noted Betty Hajishengallis, chief of Penn Dental Medicine’s division of pediatric dentistry and director of the postdoctoral pediatric program. “His willingness to come back to the School on a regular basis to share his experiences and serve as a mentor can have a great impact as students look to enter the specialty,” said Dr.  Hajishengallis.

The space, to be named the Saito Pediatric Care Center, is the 16-chair teaching clinic for the School’s pediatric program, where postdoctoral students as well as DMD students provide care to children of all ages. The care center includes 10 private operatories and an open bay area with six treatment areas.

The section with the private operatories and the waiting area underwent a renovation in early 2019 to enhance the clinical care and patient experience. All 10 operatories have been outfitted with new equipment, including new dental chairs with rear-delivery instruments, new radiology units and new cabinetry. One of the most significant changes was the creation of an operatory designed to accommodate patients who use a wheelchair—now outfitted with a lift, patients can be easily treated without having to leave their wheelchairs.

“This generous support from Dr. Saito will allow us to continue to strengthen our clinical care resources, and in turn, our service to the community,” added Dean Wolff. “We couldn’t be more appreciative of his shared commitment to our mission.”

A celebration of the official naming of the Saito Pediatric Care Center will take place as part of the School’s Alumni Weekend 2020, May 15-16, when Dr. Saito will be marking his 25th reunion from Penn Dental Medicine

After more than seven years, Amy Sadao, Daniel W. Dietrich II Director of the Institute of Contemporary Art at the University of Pennsylvania, announces that she is stepping down to pursue new opportunities and personal projects. Under Ms. Sadao’s leadership, ICA broadened its critically acclaimed exhibition and publications program, increased attendance and public engagement, and expanded the museum’s digital impact and reach.

“It has been a privilege to work alongside ICA’s Board of Overseers and a spectacularly talented staff. Together we extended ICA’s bold history as a place to explore the unknown and the poetic, and to present contemporary artists’ affective and political contributions in an admission-free kunsthalle.”

Ms. Sadao continued, “I created and exceeded a strategic plan focused on curatorial excellence, community partnerships, and visitors’ and artists’ experience. I was guided by questions of what a feminist, anti-racist, queer- and trans-embracing contemporary museum would look, feel and act like. It’s only right that a new director creates the next strategic plan. I am excited to experience the next iteration of ICA. My goals now include a book project on art and community and the efforts to redefine the evolving roles and responsibilities of museums across the country.”

Penn’s Provost Wendell Pritchett has named John McInerney as interim director at the ICA.  Mr. McInerney is currently executive director of Penn’s Sachs Program for Arts Innovation (Almanac May 23, 2017) and will continue in that role as he also serves as the ICA’s interim director.

Under Ms. Sadao’s leadership, ICA presented 51 critically acclaimed exhibitions of underrepresented and overlooked artists. Ms. Sadao shepherded 35 publications, among them the award-winning titles Barbara Kasten: Stages and Rodney McMillian. Under her tenure, ICA developed a new department of public engagement and expanded its digital impact and reach. “We wish her the best in her next steps,” said Vice Provost for Faculty Anita Allen, who will chair the Provost’s Advisory Committee for the Selection of the ICA Director. Due to start work next month, the committee will be composed of faculty scholars and artists, staff, alumni and representation from the ICA Board of Overseers. “Penn is fortunate to have retained Russell Reynolds to assist with the search, guided by Laurie Nash and Michael Singleton,” said vice provost Allen.

The Advisory Selection Committee will include David Hartt, assistant professor of fine arts, Weitzman School; Sharon Hayes, associate professor of fine arts, Weitzman School; Michael Leja, James and Nan Wagner Farquhar Professor of History of Art and department chair, SAS; Aaron Levy, senior lecturer, English and history of art, SAS, and executive director and senior curator, Slought Foundation; Kenneth Lum, Marilyn Jordan Taylor Presidential Professor of Fine Arts and department chair, Weitzman School;  Lynn Marsden-Atlass, University curator and executive director, Arthur Ross Gallery; Katherine Sachs, emerita ICA Board of Overseers and emerita Penn trustee; David Simon, managing director and partner at Littlejohn & Co, and chair, ICA Board of Overseers; Julian Siggers, Williams Director, Penn Museum; and Bryan Verona, Board of Overseers, founder, president, and co-portfolio manager, Vanadium Capital Management, LLC.

Patrick Philip (“Pat”) Confalone, a Health Safety Technician at EHRS, passed away on August 29 from cancer. He was 55.

Mr. Confalone was born and raised in South Philadelphia and attended St. John Neumann High School. He joined Penn in 1987. He worked at Morris Arboretum before joining the staff at the Office of Environmental Health and Safety (now known as Environmental Health and Radiation Safety, or EHRS).

At EHRS, Mr. Confalone was a key member of the chemical waste and asbestos management programs and was a certified asbestos project inspector with the City of Philadelphia. When Mr. Confalone joined the EHRS office, only a handful of people worked for the department. He helped it grow into a 50-plus person department that helps with any environmental or radiation safety issues on campus.

Mr. Confalone is survived by daughters, Megan (Dave) and Nicole (Jason); sons, Zachary and Justin; sisters, Sheila (Steve) and Kristina (Joe); and his beloved friend, Michelle.

Ann Louise Strong, emeritus professor of city and regional planning, former department chair and former associate dean at the Graduate School of Fine Arts (now Weitzman School of Design) at the University of Pennsylvania, died peacefully in her home in Bryn Mawr on August 25. She was 89.

Ms. Strong graduated from Vassar College and Yale Law School, where she wrote her thesis on regional planning for New England. She came to Penn in 1960 at the recommendation of William Wheaton, a well-respected member of the city planning department’s faculty, who suggested to the Fels Institute that she be hired to undertake a study of planning and zoning in the Philadelphia metro area. She began her career at Penn serving as a research associate and later associate director at Penn Law.

In 1963 she was appointed professor in the department of city and regional planning in the then Graduate School of Fine Arts (GSFA). Over her career of 30 years, her focus was principally in land use and environmental law policy. She taught several courses but was most well known for her course on environmental law, which was a requirement for Ian McHarg’s Master of Regional Planning curriculum. She also held several administrative positions, chairing the planning department and serving as associate dean.

According to Weitzman School Dean Frederick Steiner, a former student of hers who had her as his thesis advisor, “She was a champion for using the law to advance decision making about environmental quality who devoted her career to teaching generations of planning students. She was an inspiring and rigorous teacher who employed the Socratic Method with the skill and wisdom of a conductor for a symphony orchestra… Term papers were reviewed with surgical precision.”

Ms. Strong published six books, including Private Property and the Public Interest, The Brandywine Experience about her experience creating an innovative plan for the Brandywine Valley, and Planned Urban Environments: Sweden, Finland, Israel, The Netherlands, France, which influenced the new-community movement then popular in the US. Through Land Banking: European Reality, American Prospect and other works, she became an early pioneer of the purchase and transfer of development rights concept. Closer to home, she coedited The Book of the School: 100 Years, which serves as a sourcebook about GSFA and the people who defined it during its first century.

Ms. Strong published articles in planning journals and law reviews on topics such as open space preservation, growth management, eminent domain, national parks, conservation easements, wetlands conservation, and agricultural lands protection. She was active in both Europe and Asia and maintained strong relationships with planners internationally.

She served on the editorial board of the Journal of Planning Literature and as a reporter for Land Use Law and Zoning digest. She was active in numerous civic and professional organizations and a member of the boards of the Environmental Law Institute and the Environmental Defense Fund. She served on the Pennsylvania State Planning Commission and the Chester County Housing Authority (which she founded and chaired) in addition to other local and national boards.

In a 1993 article Dean Steiner wrote for the Journal of Planning Education and Research, he noted that “Through her life’s work, it is no overstatement to say she helped create the fields of environmental law and environmental planning.”

She remained at Penn until her retirement in 1993, at which time she earned emeritus status. The Ann Louise Strong Leadership Award is given annually by the School to an MCP student for demonstrated leadership among their peers.

Ms. Strong is survived by her sons, Mark (Claire) and Christopher (Terri); grandchildren, Sam, Nick and Jessica; and three great-grandchildren. Donations in her memory may be made to the Weitzman School of Design Annual Fund at https://tinyurl.com/y4xw82l2 A Memorial will be held in the fall; information to come.

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To Report A Death

Almanac appreciates being informed of the deaths of current and former faculty and staff members, students and other members of the University community. Call (215) 898-5274 or email almanac@upenn.edu

However, notices of alumni deaths should be directed to the Alumni Records Office at Suite 300, 2929 Walnut St., (215) 898-8136 or email record@ben.dev.upenn.edu

The following is published in accordance with the Faculty Senate Rules. Among other purposes, the publication of SEC actions is intended to stimulate discussion among the constituencies and their representatives. Please communicate your comments to Patrick Walsh, executive assistant to the Senate Office, either by telephone at (215) 898-6943 or by email at senate@pobox.upenn.edu

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Actions

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Chair’s Report. After introductions, Faculty Senate Chair Steven Kimbrough welcomed the members of the Senate Executive Committee (SEC) and offered a brief review of the Senate and its structure. He indicated that the responsibility of SEC is to be the central mechanism for input and feedback between faculty and Penn leaders. He encouraged SEC members to serve as conduits for communication between the Standing Faculty and the Senate leadership. A full roster of SEC members is available on the Senate’s website (http://www.upenn.edu/faculty_senate/sec_members.html). Dr. Kimbrough described the recent redesign of the Senate’s website, which is intended to enhance efficiency and advance SEC’s role in communicating with the faculty. A faculty web portal is under development, which will serve as a repository for information presented to, and discussed by, the Senate, thereby making that information available to the entire faculty. Additional features are planned to expand the website as a faculty resource.

Past Chair’s Report. The report was deferred to a future meeting.

Faculty Handbook Amendment (Faculty Parental Policy, Section II.E.4). (See Almanac, May 28, 2019.) Following on SEC’s May 15, 2019, discussions of proposed revisions to the Parental Leave Policy, a set of questions and concerns was forwarded to Vice Provost for Faculty Anita Allen, whose written reply was shared with SEC members in advance of the meeting along with an amended draft policy revision. After discussion with Dr. Allen, SEC members approved the amended version of the Policy draft as presented.

Discussion of Draft Committee Charges.  The specific charges of the Faculty Senate standing committees were reviewed and approved. Discussion topics for future SEC meetings were proposed.  A SEC member suggested that Penn faculty should identify approaches to more systematically ensure that its faculty are nominated for positions in honor societies. Since nominations into these societies typically require past inductees to submit candidate nominations, the member suggested that SEC should propose a process to ensure that people who are positioned to submit nominations do so in order that those who deserve honor society participation are identified and nominated.

Ad Hoc Committee on Scholarly Communications. Senior leadership from Penn Libraries joined the meeting: H. Carton Rogers III Vice Provost and Director of the Penn Libraries Constantia Constantinou, Associate Vice Provost and Deputy University Librarian Jon Shaw, and Associate University Librarian for Collections Brigitte Weinsteiger. Ms. Weinsteiger and Dr. Kimbrough reported on their recent participation at the University of California’s “Open Access Tipping Point Workshop,” held in Washington, DC, on August 28-29, 2019. They together recommended that the Faculty Senate convene faculty and relevant stakeholders at Penn to discuss Penn’s role in communication and dissemination of scholarly research.  Following discussion, SEC members approved the creation of an Ad Hoc Committee on Scholarly Communications with the following charge: “The Faculty Senate’s Ad Hoc Committee on Scholarly Communication will convene for the 2019-2020 academic year with a focus on deliberating on current issues in the publisher ecosystem and the dissemination of scholarly research. Specifically, the Committee will evaluate how publishers are influencing, and at times inhibiting, the production of and access to information resources and explore opportunities to form unique partnerships and transformative agreements. The Committee will also address overarching issues (e.g., publisher influence, partnerships and publisher agreements, open access/scholarship, copyright and retention of author’s rights, privacy, new and experimental models for publishing, the production and dissemination of information), broadly disseminating a common understanding of the scholarly resource landscape and developments within it. The Ad Hoc Committee’s work will be prioritized by the group to keep interests aligned with the priorities of the Senate. The Committee may review some of the current topics and engender greater collective awareness of the issues involved. The Committee may delve into practices of the faculty in their various roles in scholarly production (e.g., as authors, editors, reviewers) and consider how, as a University, we can support greater dispersal of information resources developed and managed at Penn. The Committee shall have power to present reports and recommendations on any matter relating to scholarly communications to the Senate. The Committee shall be governed in its responsibilities and procedures by rules established by the Faculty Senate. The Committee’s work will be reviewed on a yearly basis by the Senate Executive Committee.”

Last week’s issue, listed the upcoming Trustees committee meetings in the incorrect order. On September 26, the Budget and Finance Committee will meet 9:50-11:05 a.m. and the Executive Committee will meet 1:45-1:55 p.m. Both meetings will be held in Bodek Lounge, Houston Hall. We regret the error.

—Eds.

Penn Arts & Sciences has announced the 2019 funded projects for Making a Difference in Diverse Communities, an initiative that encourages faculty to explore innovative ways of applying their expertise. Through a combination of coursework, research and service, the projects address issues of diversity and inequality at the local, national and international level. Making a Difference in Diverse Communities is a key component of the School’s commitment to driving global change and advancing research and teaching around issues of diversity, inequality and human well-being.

The awarded researchers come from the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences and represent the potential for liberal arts faculty to establish local and global partnerships and lead collaborative projects with scholars from diverse fields including nursing, medicine and design.

The grant recipients are:

The Alice Paul Center Transgender, Non-Binary and Gender Nonconforming Oral History Archive; led by Kathleen Brown, David Boies Professor of History and director of the Alice Paul Center for Research on Gender; Anne Esacove, associate director of the Alice Paul Center, co-directs this project.

Cognitive Decline with Aging in Diverse Chilean Communities and in Comparison with Mexico and the US; led by Irma Elo, professor of sociology; Jere Behrman, William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Economics, co-directs the project along with faculty from Penn Nursing and the Perelman School of Medicine.

Memory and Identity in Afro-Brazilian Archives; led by Michael Hanchard, professor of Africana studies; Melissa Teixeira, assistant professor of history, and Roquinaldo Ferreira, Henry Charles Lea Professor of History, are project co-directors.

Life of Water: Community Resilience through Science and Art Immersion; led by Byron Sherwood, senior fellow in the department of biology; Junhyong Kim, Patricia M. Williams Term Professor of Biology, and Howard Neukrug, professor of practice in the department of earth and environmental science and executive director of the Water Center at Penn, are co-directors.

Understanding the Effects of Mexico’s Prospera Program on Reducing Inequalities in Schooling and Academic Achievements in Diverse Communities; led by Petra Todd, Edmund J. and Louise W. Kahn Term Professor of Economics; Jere Behrman, William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Economics, co-directs this project.

Building Community Partnerships in the Galápagos Archipelago; led by Michael Weisberg, professor of philosophy, this project supports the Galápagos Education and Research Alliance (GERA). Faculty co-directors are from SAS, Penn Nursing, and the Stuart Weitzman School of Design.

The annual University-wide initiative to foster diversity and inclusion known as the Excellence Through Diversity Fund, is awarded annually by the Provost’s office. This year’s awardees are:

Ezekial J. Dixon-Román, associate professor, SP2; Project Title:  Control Societies: Technocratic Forces & Ontologies of Difference

Karen Redrobe, professor, SAS; Project Title:  Signs of Inclusion: Making the Public Humanities Accessible to the Deaf Community

Emily Steiner, professor, SAS; Project Title: Networks in the Humanities (NET-Hum)

Stephanie Abbuhl, professor, PSOM; Project Title: Penn Pathways

Sophie Hochhausl, assistant professor, Weitzman School of Design; Project Title: Aesthetics of Difference: Excellence and Diversity in Design

Dagmawi Woubshet, assistant professor, SAS; Project Title: The Legacy of 1619: The 2019 Annual Callaloo Conference

Maria Velasco, assistant clinical professor, Dental Medicine; Project Title: Hispanic Dental Association Regional Student Conference

Harald Schmidt, assistant professor, PSOM; Project Title: World Congress on Bioethics—paper and post sessions on “Underrepresented minorities: emerging issues”

US News & World Report recently published its 2019-2020 Best Hospitals rankings. HUP–Penn Presbyterian ranked #18 nationally, #2 in Pennsylvania, and #1 in Philadelphia. Penn Medicine Lancaster General ranked #7 in the state. Pennsylvania Hospital ranked #4 in Philadelphia.

Steven J. Fluharty, School of Arts and Sciences Dean and Thomas S. Gates, Jr. Professor of Psychology, Pharmacology and Neuroscience, has announced the third round of grants from the Dean’s Global Inquiries Fund. The initiative provides support for global teaching and research projects across the liberal arts.

The following projects were selected to receive up to $50,000 to support a variety of activities including research, conferences, workshops and course development. The collaborative projects exemplify the School’s commitment to driving global change, a key priority in the Power of Penn Arts & Sciences fundraising campaign.

Collaborative Pedagogies in the Global History of Science: Juan-Sebastián Gil-Riaño, assistant professor of history and sociology of science, Projit Mukharji, associate professor of history and sociology of science; Harun Küçük, assistant professor of history and sociology of science; Ramah McKay, assistant professor of history and sociology of science; Marcy Norton, associate professor of history, and Ian Petrie, associate director at Center for Teaching and Learning will assist on this project, along with  lecturers and doctoral students from history and sociology of science.

International Organizations in Crisis: led by Julia Gray, associate professor of political science; Mitchell Orenstein, professor and chair of Russian and East European studies; and David Zaring, associate professor of legal studies and business ethics at Wharton, are also involved in this project.

Rivers Have Memory: Community Recovery of a Watershed in Times of Conflict and Transition: Kristina Lyons, assistant professor of anthropology; Bethany Wiggin, associate professor of Germanic languages and literatures and director of Penn Program in Environmental Humanities, and Deborah Thomas, R. Jean Brownlee Professor of Anthropology and director of the Center for Experimental Ethnography, are also part of this project.

This summer, the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania announced the first Leonore Annenberg Institute for Civics Award, a $200,000 prize that went to the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the US Senate in Boston to develop a program to train teachers in leading civil conversations. The goal is to help teachers lead productive classroom discussions on contentious and important current public policy issues such as immigration and gun violence.

There will be a pilot program in Massachusetts this fall, followed by a rollout to schools in a dozen markets next year.

The Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowships (previously called the Postdoctoral Fellowships for Academic Diversity) seek to attract promising researchers and educators from different backgrounds, races, ethnic groups and other diverse populations whose life experience, research experience and employment background will contribute significantly to the University’s academic mission. Fellowships are available for postdoctoral training in all areas of study at Penn.

The Provost and the Vice Provost for Research, in partnership with the deans, established the Postdoctoral Fellowships for Academic Diversity 10 years ago to encourage a broad spectrum of candidates to pursue research careers in academia. As the program has matured, and after benchmarking it against similar programs at peer institutions, the program has been renamed the Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellowships, consistent with titles of similar programs at peer institutions.

Fellows receive a stipend of $54,000 in year one, with $2,000 increments in years two and three, as well as annual allowances for travel ($2,000) and research ($5,000) and a one-time relocation allowance of $5,000. The University also provides a medical, vision, dental and life insurance benefits package. Successful candidates will receive highly mentored scholarly and research training, as well as courses and workshops to enhance their research success skills.

The application deadline is November 1, 2019. Complete details about the program can be found at https://research.upenn.edu/postdocs-and-students/postdoctoral-fellowships/

Two large-scale sculptures on loan for 99 years from the Association for Public Art (aPA) moved from the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) to Penn’s campus this summer.

The geometric, steel Atmosphere and Environment XII, created in 1970 by Louise Nevelson, was installed on Shoemaker Green between Franklin Field and The Palestra. It consists of 30 open, rectangular cubes, each weighing 500 pounds, stacked and bolted together. One of a series, Atmosphere and Environment XII was originally exhibited in France and New York before it was purchased by the Association in 1971. (The other sculptures in the series are located at Princeton and Yale.) It now sits on a grassy curve on Shoemaker Green, making it possible to walk around the sculpture.

Social Consciousness, a 12-foot-high bronze of five figures by Jacob Epstein, was installed along the Memorial Garden Walkway next to the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center. Created in 1954, it was originally commissioned for the Ellen Phillips Samuel Memorial on terraces along Kelly Drive on the Schuylkill River. As it took shape, it became clear the site could not accommodate the massive work. It was installed at the Art Museum in 1955. 

The central figure is the “Eternal Mother,” seated with outstretched arms and a solemn, sorrowful countenance. Flanking her are two standing female figures: One represents Compassion, reaching down to comfort a stricken youth collapsed at her feet, and the other personifies Death, supporting a young man who bends backward to embrace her shoulders. The location chosen at Penn for Social Consciousness, while along a well-used path, is also a contemplative setting.

“They are in major locations that will have a resonance and relationship with the other outdoor sculptures at Penn,” said University Curator Lynn Marsden-Atlass, who is also director of the Arthur Ross Gallery, noting that much thought went into the settings, taking into consideration the artists’ intent.  

Bringing the sculptures to Penn was a two-year effort that included an extensive site research and selection process. Ms. Marsden-Atlass and her team worked with the Art Advisory Committee and the On-Campus Art Subcommittee, along with Facilities and Real Estate Services. 

Both sculptures are owned by the aPA. Each was temporarily placed at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, though they ended up spending decades there. The artworks needed a new, long-term home due to the extensive renovations at the PMA. The aPA says it took the opportunity to reconsider the placement and context of the sculptures so they could be seen to their best advantage and remain accessible to the public. Penn emerged as the best place for both. 

“We are thrilled to have worked with Penn to add to the collection of public art on campus, where the sculptures can be viewed and appreciated by new audiences and revisited by their existing fans in a different setting,” said Penny Balkin Bach, aPA executive director and chief curator.

Although Penn is responsible for daily care of the sculptures and grounds, the aPA is responsible for major ongoing conservation, starting with removal of surface grime and adding a protective wax coating on “Social Consciousness.” 

Crews have been working to complete the landscaping and paving; work is expected to be completed by September 10.

The Bibliophile as Bookbinder: The Angling Bindings of S. A. Neff, Jr., is on exhibit now through December 20 at Van Pelt Library.

This exhibition explores one man’s passion for the natural world and the world of books. Over five decades ago, Mr. Neff began a serious pursuit of both trout and books on the art of angling. His travels have taken him to some of the most picturesque and challenging trout rivers in this country and abroad. His collection of angling books has grown into a proper library of 3,000 volumes dating from 1554, with a focus on fly-fishing for trout and salmon.

In the early 1980s, Mr. Neff transitioned from a career in graphic design to fine bookbinding. For over two decades he has focused his binding efforts exclusively on work for his angling library. Mr. Neff creates sets of bindings with multiple volumes contained in drop-back boxes. The work ranges from bindings with intricate pictorial panels of Japanese dyed paper to decorative leather bindings (goat skin) with multiple on-lays, and elaborate gold tooling. The design on the box serves as an introduction to its contents and even single volumes are housed in decorative boxes.

In bridging the span of centuries of binding design, Mr. Neff has often focused on modern interpretations of 17th- and 18th-century panel designs. His collection of angling books, unique in its genre, will remain intact in perpetuity in the Penn Libraries (Almanac November 1, 2016).

A fully-illustrated catalogue accompanies this exhibition. The catalogue includes essays by Mr. Neff, Lynne Farrington and Cara Schlesinger, and it features 230 full-color images, a glossary of terms, and a bibliography. The catalogue is 11” x 8.5”, 184 pages, full color, stiff paper cover with french flaps, embossed, and Smythe sewn. It is available for purchase on the symposium registration page for pick-up at the time of the symposium.

This exhibit is located in the Goldstein Family Gallery, sixth floor, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library. Gallery hours are Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Free and open to the public (please show photo ID at entrance). For further information: (215) 898-7088 or kislak@pobox.upenn.edu

Bound to Conserve: The Art of Angling and the Future of Rivers

This September 14 symposium, in conjunction with the exhibition, The Bibliophile as Bookbinder: The Angling Bindings of S. A. Neff, Jr., will explore conservation on rivers, bookselling, collecting and binding, all with a focus on their impact on and relationship with angling.

A one-day pop-up exhibit of historic rods, reels, flies, and books from the S.A. Neff, Jr., collection will be on display in the Henry Charles Lea Library on  the sixth floor of Van Pelt Library.

The symposium will  take place 1-7 p.m.  in the Class of 1978 Orrery Pavilion, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, also on the sixth floor of the Van Pelt Library. See schedule: https://www.library.upenn.edu/about/exhibits-events/neff Please bring photo ID for admittance to the building.

The Morris Arboretum invites participation in their 12th annual Scarecrow Design Contest. This year participants may create a scarecrow for the theme: Famous Musicians. These scarecrows may be a singer or play an instrument, such as Elvis Presley, Dizzy Gillespie, Lady Gaga or Elton John. All entries will be on display on Scarecrow Walk at Morris Arboretum for almost four weeks, October 5 through Halloween, Thursday, October 31. Frame, straw, burlap and twine are provided, the rest is up to the participants. Space is limited to 35 scarecrows.

This popular contest fills quickly, get your entry in early! Registration Deadline: Wednesday, September 25. 

Material Pick-up: Saturday/Sunday, September 21 & 22 and Saturday/Sunday, September 28 & 29, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., self-serve.

Scarecrow Delivery Date (delivered to Bloomfield Farm at Morris Arboretum): Tuesday, October 1, 5-6:30 p.m. with staff and Thursday, October 3, 9-10 a.m. or 5-6:30 p.m. with staff.

Register: https://tinyurl.com/y8dtyu4e

Entry Fee: Members: $25, Non-Members: $30

Reuse your wood frame from past years: $5 off, use promo code FRAME at checkout

Prizes

1st Prize: $150 Cash
2nd Prize: $75 Morris Arboretum gift card
3rd Prize: $50 Morris Arboretum gift card
4th Prize: $35 Morris Arboretum gift card
5th Prize: $25 Morris Arboretum gift card

Now in its sixth year and hosted by WXPN midday host Helen Leicht, the WXPN 5K Run is an annual community fundraising event for WXPN Musicians On Call, which brings musicians to the bedsides of patients in the Delaware Valley. Participate by running, walking or donating and you’ll be helping to deliver the healing power of music to those who need it most.

On Sunday, October 6, The WXPN 5K Run for Musicians On Call will begin at the Penn Park entrance at 3100 Lower Walnut Street (just across from World Cafe Live). The USATF-certified 5K Run will follow a scenic course through Penn Park. Some steps are in the course. Baby strollers and dogs are not permitted on the 5K course.

There is also the family-friendly Funky Miler for walkers. Strollers are permitted on the Walking Course only.

• 8 a.m. Pre-event yoga warm-up
• 8:30 a.m. 5K Run
• 8:40 a.m. Funky Miler 

Registration includes:

• Soft tri-blend race shirt
• 80s Dance Party with DJ Robert Drake
• Pre-race yoga warm-up
• Post-race snacks
• All the feels you get from knowing that your support helps bring a few minutes of joy to hundreds of hospitalized patients each week.

Sign up at https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/Philadelphia/WXPN5krun

The Early Bird registration rate ends September 13; the discounted fee is $40 for runners or walkers.

Students pay $25 registration fee. Discount is automatically applied for registrants age 18 and under. College/University students will be prompted to select discount, and enter student ID, and are required to show ID at packet pickup.

Please note that registrants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian while on the course.

5K Training Plan for Beginners: Start your training in September with this gradual, weekly plan to get you race ready by October 6. Download at http://xpn.org/images/pdfs/XPN_5k_6_Week_Plan_2019.pdf

Individual & Team Fundraising: Every registered participant will be set up with the ability to fundraise for WXPN Musicians On Call.

When you register you can choose to fundraise individually or as part of a team that you form or one that already exists (such as Team Rave On).

Customize and promote your individual or team fundraising page to encourage others to help deliver the healing power of music.

Top fundraisers will be recognized during our post-race celebration.

If you have any questions about this race,  visit https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/Philadelphia/WXPN5krun

The 2019-2020 Wolf Humanities Forum will focus on Kinship. The following events have been planned to consider how current sectarianisms challenge us to remember and reimagine other, more progressive forms of kinship and community.

September 25: Jason De León: Hostile Terrain 94 (Pop-Up Exhibition at Penn Museum); “Work Is Work” Kinship, Race, and Violence on the Human Smuggling Trail (Lecture); Border South (Film Screening)

October 16: Dr. S.T. Lee Distinguished Lecture in the Humanities: Kamila Shamsie with Emily Wilson, Who Belongs at Home?

October 23: Dorothee Brantz: Kinship Reloaded, Humans, Animals, and the Urban

October 30: Deboleena Roy: Molecular Feminisms and Biophilosophies of Becoming

November 13: Su Friedrich: I Cannot Tell You How I Feel

November 20: Erin Moriarty Harrelson: #Deaftravel: An Ethnography of Deaf Tourist Mobilities

Ball Culture Film and Discussion Series: Kiki Kinship

October 7: Paris Is Burning

October 14: How Do I Look?

October 21: Kiki

October 28: Kiki Kinship Panel Discussion

Penn Museum Second Sunday Culture Film Series: The Family Tree

October 13: Dede, I Brought You Back

November 10: We Don’t Need a Map

Visit www.wolfhumanities.upenn.edu for more information and registration information.

The annual Supplier Show—hosted by Penn Purchasing Services—will be held on Tuesday, September 24 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts. Come see data- driven supplier offerings and solutions from the approximately 50 exhibitors and sponsoring organizations that will be onsite. Attendees will discover what’s new in procurement categories such as office supplies, print and design, computers and AV, travel, computer peripherals, furniture and stationery. New this year, attendees can visit the Office Ergonomics 101 Demo, where staff can try out and test office furniture. Plus, you can “go green” at the show if want to exchange your surplus office supplies at the Ben’s Attic Office Supplies Pop-Up Store. At 12:15 p.m., the University’s 2019 Green Purchasing Award will be recognized at the event.

Attendees are encouraged to register in advance at https://cms.business-services.upenn.edu/purchasing/special-event Continue to check the event website to receive timely updates about the exhibitors who will be in attendance.  Lunch will be served. Remember—bring your PennCard to be eligible for door prizes.

The University of Pennsylvania Police Department Community Crime Report

Below are the Crimes Against Persons, Crimes Against Society and Crimes Against Property from the campus report for August 26-September 1, 2019. View prior weeks' reports. —Ed.

This summary is prepared by the Division of Public Safety and includes all criminal incidents reported and made known to the University Police Department for the dates of August 26-September 1, 2019. The University Police actively patrol from Market St to Baltimore and from the Schuylkill River to 43rd St 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 the Division of Public Safety at (215) 898-4482.

08/27/19         8:12 AM          100 S 40th St                          Secured bike taken

08/27/19         2:03 PM          3730 Walnut St                        Unknown males attempted to leave with unpaid merchandise

08/27/19         2:06 PM          3744 Spruce St                       Wallet and contents taken by unknown male

08/27/19         5:05 PM          3409 Walnut St                        Merchandise taken without payment/Arrest

08/27/19         6:50 PM          4100 Ludlow St                       Items removed from delivered package

08/27/19         8:57 PM          3900 Chestnut St                    Bag taken from security desk

08/27/19         9:43 PM          3231 Walnut St                       Wallet taken from vehicle

08/28/19         8:43 AM          200 S 33rd St                          Various tools taken

08/28/19         9:53 AM          3400 Civic Center Blvd           Male spit on complainant

08/28/19         11:54 PM        3000 Chestnut St                    Complainant assaulted by unknown males

08/29/19         10:21 AM        3701 Chestnut St                   Wallet and currency taken

08/29/19         2:16 PM          3800 Spruce St                      Cameras and camera equipment taken

09/01/19         2:07 PM          3601 Walnut St                      Unsecured wallet taken from bag

09/01/19         2:14 PM          219 St Marks St                    Offender entered house without permission/Arrest

09/01/19         2:14 PM          4106 Locust St                      Unauthorized person in residence/Arrest

18th District

Below are the Crimes Against Persons from the 18th District: 6 incidents (3 assaults, 2 robberies and 1 aggravated assault) with 1 arrest was reported from August 26-September 1, 2019 by the 18th District covering the Schuylkill River to 49th Street & Market Street to Woodland Avenue.

08/26/19         3:08 AM          3400 Spruce St                     Assault/Arrest

08/26/19         9:23 PM           4517 Locust St                     Robbery

08/27/19         5:40 PM           40th/Market Sts                    Aggravated Assault

08/27/19         6:51 PM           3900 Woodland Ave              Robbery

08/28/19         10:43 AM        3400 Civic Center Blvd          Assault

08/28/19         11:54 PM         3000 Chestnut St                  Assault

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

Passwords are the first line of defense when it comes to securing our various accounts. Passwords are also being stolen and comprised by the millions. We all have many, too many, passwords, with differing requirements, for both personal and work accounts. It’s very hard to keep track of them all. To keep track of them, we often do things that make us less secure like reusing passwords or writing them down somewhere.

So how can you keep track of your passwords in a more secure manner? How can you create really secure passwords? Use a password manager. A password manager has various features to help you manage your myriad passwords. It keeps track of passwords, helps you to create more complex and secure passwords, and secures those passwords.

The University has a partnership with LastPass to offer LastPass Premium accounts to eligible members of the University community, including active faculty, staff, and students. LastPass has many features in addition to securing and encrypting passwords.

LastPass Enterprise is also available to eligible Penn affiliates so they can manage their work-related accounts and passwords. If you would like to use LastPass for work accounts in this manner, or are otherwise interested in LastPass Enterprise, please consult with your local computing support to determine if it’s right for you.

For more information and downloads and LastPass, please see: https://www.isc.upenn.edu/how-to/lastpass

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

Penn Dental Medicine is giving students throughout the University of Pennsylvania something to smile about with the introduction of discounted dental-care fees for those students without dental insurance. The discounted fees were effective September 1.

“Oral health is an essential component of general health,” noted Penn Dental Medicine’s Morton Amsterdam Dean Mark Wolff. “We are pleased to offer this resource to students across the University to ensure their continued good health.”

The discounted fee schedule is for dental care within the School’s teaching clinics and is available to all uninsured Penn undergraduate and graduate students. Routine preventive and restorative services are discounted 30% and all specialty services, including oral surgery, orthodontics, periodontics, endodontics and prosthodontics, are discounted 20% for self-pay students with a valid University ID.  Payment plans are also available.

Care is provided within the School’s teaching clinics at 240 S. 40th Street. Regular hours  are Monday-Wednesday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. and Thursday and Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information or to schedule an appointment, students can call (215) 898-8965.