January 19, 2021 Volume 67 Issue 23

In September 2018, we announced the Power of Penn Campaign, foreseeing an opportunity to transform lives, spark solutions, and change the world. When we launched the Campaign, I declared that “Penn is made for these times.” Those words turned out to be prophetic.

For a year now, we have grappled with the greatest public health crisis of our generation. It has cut short or impaired many millions of lives worldwide and has deprived us all of the simple everyday joys of in-person community and spontaneity, removed the reassurance of handshakes and hugs, and upended the ways we learn, teach, and work. 

In the face of all this, my words have been affirmed by our Penn community with an exclamation point: From the start of the crisis to this day, the people of Penn have risen magnificently to this enormous and unprecedented challenge. All of us feel this. Never have we been prouder to be part of, and to do our part for, Penn. From our frontline responders providing care and comfort to the residents of Philadelphia and beyond; to world-renowned clinical researchers racing to control and cure COVID; to the Penn faculty and staff from across the entire University who all pulled together and almost overnight created a phenomenal online educational environment for our students; to the many different ways our students and staff have devised unique programs and projects in support of our community: Penn truly was made for these times.

Equally remarkable and uplifting has been the unwavering commitment of Penn alumni, friends, and family around the world. In December, more than 1,500 households devoted a Saturday afternoon to joining me, Provost Wendell Pritchett, and Professors Daniel Gillion, Amy Castro Baker, and Zeke Emanuel online for a fascinating series of discussions on subjects ranging from protests in American democracy, to economic justice, to fair and equitable vaccine distribution as part of our first virtual Engaging Minds program. Only one month prior, more than 6,000 alumni and friends participated in our all-online Homecoming celebration, which we called 2020 Homecoming @ Home. The overwhelming success of these two events and others like them underscores the nature of this University’s centuries-long resilience: Penn connections run deep. Penn alumni, friends and family remain steadfast and true, all the more so in the face of a prolonged global disconnect.

Vaccines that protect against COVID-19 offer enormous hope, thanks to the basic and applied research discoveries pioneered at Penn. In the winter months ahead, before we achieve “herd immunity,” we must remain as united in our commitment, care, and vigilance as ever. My most fervent 2021 wish—which we all can share—is that this will be a year filled with hope, renewal, and bright new beginnings. Let us never forget the unique and cherished role research universities such as Penn play in facing down doubt, in revealing knowledge, and in generating solutions to the world’s most challenging problems. Penn propels important science, heals the sick and suffering, fosters great minds who propose new solutions, and helps tomorrow’s brightest, most dedicated leaders learn the near limitless capacity of the human mind. Our mission is not only inspirational. Especially in times such as these, it is essential.

When we originally planned the arc and conclusion of the Power of Penn Campaign, we had no way of knowing that 2020 would unfold as it has; that we would endure through a year unlike any other. In this new year, nobody can predict what will come. But come what may, we will lead the way in rebuilding what has been broken, comforting those who suffer, and mending what has been torn. That is the true power of Penn, and I am so very proud, and most of all grateful, for everything our incredible people do to realize that power to make our world a better place for everyone. We have much to do, but thanks to the Penn family, my unwavering hope for a brighter year ahead is stronger than ever. 

And to one Penn person in particular, who has devoted more than 40 years to our University and Almanac, I want to extend very special congratulations and profound gratitude. On behalf of countless Penn friends and colleagues, students and alumni, thank you, Marguerite. Your many years as editor and champion of Almanac are as remarkable for their superb quality as for their sheer quantity. We will miss you, though we trust that we will see you often!

—Amy Gutmann, President

Penn President Amy Gutmann announced that the term of J. Larry Jameson as executive vice president of the University of Pennsylvania for the Health System and dean of Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) has been extended until June 30, 2025.

“As we continue confronting a global pandemic and envisioning our future as a University and a society, Larry’s leadership of Penn Medicine and the Perelman School coupled with his consummate university citizenship are universally praised and admired,” President Gutmann said. “He has done a superb job in leading our integrated academic medical center in its tripartite mission of education, research and clinical care.”

In deciding to extend Dr. Jameson’s term, President Gutmann consulted with leaders across the University, including the elected chairs of the Perelman School of Medicine and Penn faculty senates, the basic science and clinical department chairs in PSOM, the senior leadership teams at both PSOM and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, senior officers of the University, and the executive committees of both the Penn Medicine Board of Trustees and the University’s Board of Trustees.

Among the many markers of Dr. Jameson’s service as executive vice president and dean that President Gutmann cited are the growth in both quality and diversity of PSOM’s faculty, staff and students; the strength of both educational and research programs; strong financial performance and fundraising; improvements to facilities and infrastructure; and important and measured growth of the health system. President Gutmann also specifically lauded Dr. Jameson’s efforts to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion across Penn Medicine and the University.

Penn Provost Wendell Pritchett praised Dr. Jameson’s accomplishments as Dean: “Larry has done an exceptional job leading the Perelman School of Medicine. He is deeply committed to the success of our students, and he has been tireless in working across the University to ensure a synergy in all that we do in the health fields.”

“We are supremely confident that Larry Jameson will continue to lead Penn Medicine to new and impressive heights, working with a spectacularly talented, dedicated, and collaborative team,” President Gutmann said. “Larry will continue to be a major contributor to the senior Penn leadership at Penn. Under his tireless and value-based leadership, Penn Medicine will continue to thrive as a national and international model for the performance, potential and promise of an integrated and aligned medical school, academic medical center and health system.”

January 14, 2021

This past year has been fraught with many challenges – from a global pandemic that has forced unprecedented life changes, to the civil, political and racial unrest that is continuing to unfold. Despite all of this, we have been working collectively with our partners in Penn Medicine and the Philadelphia Department of Public Health to create an environment to bring the Penn community back together safely. We invite you to read this letter from Dr. Thomas Farley, Philadelphia Health Commissioner, about stopping the spread of COVID-19 on college campuses. 

While life on campus will look much different than in years past, our collective commitment to inclusion, innovation and impact has not faltered. To help protect the Penn community and our neighbors across Philadelphia, the University has launched Penn Cares, our COVID-19 response program established to help thwart the spread of the disease. Please take a moment to watch this Welcome Video with more information about Penn Cares.

We all have a responsibility to do our part to ensure the success of Penn Cares and to think about the impact our decisions have on others, especially in our surrounding communities. We can help create a safe environment to live, learn and work by following the strict public health guidance we’ve instituted for those on and off campus, including masking, washing hands, remaining physically distant, staying home when sick, taking part in our robust screening testing program, and completing your daily PennOpen Pass symptom and exposure tracker. 

The following are critical components of the Penn Cares program for students, faculty, postdocs and staff:

Penn Cares: Mask, Distance, Wash

Quiet Period

The University will observe a Quiet Period until February 1. All graduate and undergraduate students must abide by certain limitations on movement and activity for the collective good of our community.

PennOpen Pass

This is a daily symptom tracker and exposure reporting system designed to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading within the Penn community. Daily symptom checks and exposure reporting on PennOpen Pass are required for those on campus. 

Public Health Guidance

These are actions the entire university community can take to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Working together and thinking about your behaviors and activities, and their effects on others, are critical to following these important steps. 

Campus Compact and Principles of Responsible Conduct

The University has set behavioral expectations for activities while living, learning and working on campus.

Penn Cares: Test, Trace, Isolate

Student Testing and Faculty/Postdocs/Staff Testing

The Penn Cares comprehensive testing strategy, developed in partnership with Penn Medicine, uses three distinct channels: gateway (arrival to campus) testing for students living on and off campus; screening testing for students, faculty, postdocs and staff; and symptomatic and exposure-related testing for the Penn community. Comprehensive information about testing criteria, scheduling and results can be found at https://coronavirus.upenn.edu/.

Contact Tracing, Isolation and Quarantine Protocols for Students and for Faculty/Postdocs/Staff

If you test positive, contact tracing, quarantine and isolation are some of the many ways the University is helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19 within the Penn community.

Penn’s COVID-19 Dashboard

This is a report of the University’s collective COVID-19 testing results from across the Penn community.

Penn Cares: Connect, Reflect, Support

Wellness Resources

The COVID-19 pandemic and the recent civil unrest in our country have been stressful for all – physically, mentally, and emotionally. It's important to make sure you are taking care of yourself while coping during these challenging times.

As we look to the future with an optimistic lens, we hope to have more information to share regarding vaccination. Vaccine distribution in Philadelphia is managed by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health in accordance with prioritization guidance from the National Academy of Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For now, we've created a Student FAQ and a Faculty/Postdocs/Staff FAQ that will be updated with vaccine information as it is made available.

We wish you all a very happy, healthy 2021. Thank you for your continued partnership in and dedication to keeping our community healthy. 

January 7, 2021

Nothing is more foundational to American democracy than respect for the peaceful transfer of power. Fueled by the dangerous propagation of falsehoods and disproven allegations, a mob on Wednesday assaulted this bedrock value of American democracy, storming our nation’s Capitol in an attempt to block the constitutionally mandated counting of certified electoral votes in our 2020 presidential election. As citizens, scholars, teachers, and university leaders dedicated to understanding, defending and strengthening American constitutional democracy, we join together with everyone who raises their voices and condemns threatening incitements and assaults on the political freedom of all citizens. We also join with our fellow Americans in praising those leaders of all parties who worked through the night to carry on the constitutional mission of recognizing the peaceful transfer of presidential power. May we now continue to work across divides to strengthen and secure our constitutional democracy.

—Amy Gutmann, President
—Wendell Pritchett, Provost

Lisa Lewis, an Associate Professor of Nursing, the inaugural Calvin Bland Fellow, and the former Assistant Dean for Diversity and Inclusivity, has been appointed the Associate Dean for Equity and Inclusion. 

Dr. Lewis’s commitment to social justice is deeply rooted in her lived experience, teaching, and program of research. In her new senior leadership role, she will work to advance the social justice mission as it affects the school and develop and evaluate metrics that demonstrate our impact in addressing important diversity and inclusivity goals.

“A core value of the School is social justice. Now more than ever, there is a need and opportunity to make our commitment even more clear. Dr. Lewis will continue to work with senior leadership in developing and leading strategic goals in diversity and inclusivity across the research, education, and practice missions,” said Penn Nursing Dean Antonia Villarruel. “She will advance the work to eliminate structural racism, enhance diversity competencies in the School, and champion the social justice commitments made by the School this past fall.”

In her role as Assistant Dean since 2015, Dr. Lewis has led the Nursing School’s efforts to create a diverse and inclusive environment for all. Her leadership and work with the Diversity and Inclusivity Advisory Committee has led to impactful community-building events such as the very popular Lottery Lunches and well-received Book Club to MLK Jr. lecture series. Together with the Offices of Student Services and Human Resources, Dr. Lewis has led Penn’s wellness initiative, which has coordinated mental health preservation with social justice issues. During the unrest of the summer of 2020, Dr. Lewis’s desire to create safety and understanding for people of color at Nursing led to the Juneteenth event and Holding Space. She serves as the Diversity Search Advisor for the School and provides guidance to the Faculty Search Committee.

Since 2005, Dr. Lewis has been working with other nursing faculty leaders on health disparities research. Her research program focuses on reducing cardiovascular racial disparities among Black men by examining factors associated with their behavioral management of hypertension. Her most recent work with Calvin Bland Fellows in SP2 and GSE is focusing on upstream interventions (developing and testing a diversion program for first-time offenders, which includes a health component) to improve the health and well-being of Black men. 

Through her teaching and other activities, Dr. Lewis has focused on preparing nurses to care for the nation’s ever-increasing diverse populations. She has mentored numerous undergraduate and graduate students in health disparities research. In recognition of her dedication to teaching, she received the Undergraduate Award for Teaching, the Dean’s Award for Exemplary Teaching and the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Lewis was appointed a Penn Fellow in 2015.

Deborah J. Culley, a neuroanesthesiologist and nationally recognized leader in geriatric anesthesia, has been named chair of the department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care at Penn Medicine. Dr. Culley will join Penn in the spring of 2021. She previously held roles as an associate professor at Harvard Medical School as well as the Executive Vice Chair for the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Dr. Culley has focused her clinical work on the care of severely ill patients undergoing a wide variety of intracranial, endovascular, and spinal procedures, and she has assumed major institutional and national leadership roles over the course of her career.

“Dr. Culley is an internationally recognized physician-scientist whose seminal work on the impact of anesthesia on cognition has changed clinical practice, even sparking a movement to routinely cognitively screen older surgical patients before surgeries,” said J. Larry Jameson, dean of the Perelman School of Medicine and executive vice president of the University of Pennsylvania for the Health System. 

Dr. Culley has a long track of funding from the National Institutes of Health and other influential funders for her research on the effects of anesthesia and surgery on the aged brain, which have demonstrated that these interventions can produce lasting changes in cognition and brain function. She received her medical degree from the University of Washington School of Medicine and completed her residency training at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

The Offices of the Provost and the College Houses and Academic Services (CHAS) invite applications for service as a College House Fellow and College House Faculty Director. These are residentially-based service opportunities that carry a two-year term for Fellow and four-year term for Faculty Director.

Faculty applicants from all 12 of Penn’s schools are welcome to apply. The most important qualification is an enthusiastic interest in mentoring and engaging undergraduate students within the residential setting. Members of the University’s faculty and full-time administrative staff in academic or student affairs who will be in their positions for at least two years are welcome to apply.

College House Faculty play a key role in connecting the houses and their residents to the larger academic community at Penn. Faculty are responsible for collaborating with House staff to develop each College House as an educational resource that encourages intellectual inquiry, promotes academic programs in residence, fosters faculty and student interaction and builds strong, supportive House and CHAS communities. Specific approaches will differ from house to house, but the general time commitment is approximately 10 hours per week. 

With the opening of Penn’s 13th College House in Fall 2021, there are at least 5 openings for Fellows and 2 House Faculty Director positions (New College House West and Fisher Hassenfeld). Applicants are reviewed by the undergraduate deans, CHAS, and the individual house community members, including the House Faculty Director, House Director and student residents.

Information about each college house, the fellow positions and application process may be found at www.collegehouses.upenn.edu. Please explore the “join us” section of the website for position information. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Lisa Lewis, faculty director of CHAS (lisaml@nursing.upenn.edu) or Dr. Beth A. Winkelstein, Deputy Provost (provost-ed@upenn.edu). The application deadline is February 1, 2021.

The Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty requests nominations for the thirteenth cohort of Penn Fellows and for a new faculty development program, the Provost’s Arts and Humanities Project. 

The Penn Fellows program provides select mid-career faculty (newly tenured to early full professors) with opportunities to develop leadership skills, build networks, think strategically, and interact with campus leaders. It also strives to promote a cross-University network of support for participants as they move through their careers. Previous Penn Fellows have subsequently served as deans, vice provosts, and department chairs. 

This year, we are offering a parallel program to the Penn Fellows program, the Provost’s Arts and Humanities Leadership Project. Funded by the Mellon Foundation, this project seeks to support mid-career faculty (newly tenured to early full professors) from core humanities and arts disciplines and from departments that are strongly inflected by the humanities and/or scholars whose work is strongly based on cultural/historical analysis. The program is intended to orient arts and humanities faculty to the fundamentals of leadership roles, encourage collaboration and community across departments and disciplines, and build the next generation of higher education leaders inflected with humanistic culture and values. 

Participants are expected to participate in the leadership development sessions created for each program, which will be scheduled over the course of the 2021-2022 academic year, and will also be invited to participate in the Provost’s Leadership Academy.

Candidates for both programs should be mid-career faculty (newly tenured to early full professors) with interest in higher education leadership, administrative leadership potential, and a demonstrated record of academic excellence. Of particular interest are faculty who have not yet held senior higher education leadership positions, faculty from groups that are historically underrepresented in higher education leadership, and faculty who can further contribute to the excellence and diversity of our campus leadership. 

The Mellon Fellows program is limited to faculty in core humanities and arts disciplines, from departments that are strongly inflected by the humanities, and/or whose work is strongly based on cultural/historical analysis are eligible. 

Approximately 15 faculty members will be selected for each of these two programs. Nominations should be submitted to provost-fac@upenn.edu by Sunday, January 31, 2021. Nominations should identify the preferred program and include a letter of support from the dean or department chair and the candidate’s CV. Previously nominated candidates may be re-nominated. Questions can be addressed to Lubna Mian at: mian@upenn.edu.

The Division of Public Safety is pleased to announce several UPPD officers have received promotions and reassignments effective January 1st. They were sworn in by Superintendent Maureen Rush and have begun to fill their new roles. Please join us in congratulating them:

Promotion of Lieutenant to the Rank of Police Captain:

• Lieutenant Nicole McCoy to Captain, Commanding Officer of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
• Lieutenant Gary Williams to Captain, Commanding Officer of Patrol Operations

Promotion of Sergeant to the Rank of Police Lieutenant:

• Sergeant CaseyAnn Busch to Lieutenant, Commanding Officer of Logistics and Special Events
• Sergeant Joseph Ferdman to Lieutenant, Commanding Officer of 1500- 0100 Shift

Promotion of Police Officer to the Rank of Police Sergeant:

• Officer Marc Laing to Sergeant 1500-0100 Shift

—Division of Public Safety

David Roland Anstine, an employee in the Network Operations branch of Penn’s Information Services and Computing (ISC) department, died on December 29, 2020. He was 53.

Mr. Anstine was born in Harrisburg, PA, and graduated from Cedar Cliff High School in Camp Hill in 1985, after which he earned a BS in mechanical engineering from Temple University. Mr. Anstine joined the School of Arts and Sciences’ computing staff in 1990, doing tech support work. A year later, Mr. Anstine joined the department of Micro Computer Services, working as an audio visual tech, a coordinator, and a systems specialist. In 1999, he joined Penn’s ISC department as a program analyst. In 2012, he was promoted to an application developer, and in 2018, he was promoted to a project leader. Mr. Anstine became a member of Penn’s 25-year club in 2015. 

Mr. Anstine is survived by his parents, Roland and Carol; and his sisters, Lynne Rietheimer and Deborah Anstine. A public visitation was held on January 4. 

Maria K. Caran, an accountant at Penn’s department of Facilities and Real Estate Services (FRES), died on December 10, 2020. She was 52. 

Ms. Caran was born in Queens, NY and attended Cardinal Dougherty High School there. After obtaining a college degree, she joined Penn’s FRES department in 2008 as an accountant. While at FRES, she helped organize several holiday parties and summer picnics, and won an award for “above and beyond” service to the department in 2015. 

“Maria Caran was a valued member of the Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Accounting team in Facilities and Real Estate Services,” says Karen DiMaria, Ms. Caran’s colleague in FRES. “Maria managed O&M contract accounting with great attention to detail and a commitment to providing outstanding customer service. Maria was always willing to investigate issues and assist others, even when a question was not related to her area of expertise. Maria went above and beyond in every way and strived to be an outstanding performer. She enjoyed participating in FRES engagement committees by decorating the office for Halloween and purchasing treats for the Penn Children Center’s costumed visitors and facilitating the ordering of gifts for a sponsored family at the holidays. Maria had a larger-than-life personality and her presence will be greatly missed by all who were proud to know and work with her.”

Ms. Caran is survived by her parents, Vasa Caran and Dachia; her brother Joseph; her sister-in-law Anita; her nieces, Adriana and Isabella; her fiancé Patrick Connors; and her fiancé’s daughters, Kellie, Katherine and Patricia. 

The memorial service was private because of COVID-19. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ms. Caran’s memory may be made to the American Diabetes Association at http://main.diabetes.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Main_memorial. 

Elias Surut Cohen, Pennsylvania’s first commissioner on aging, a lifelong advocate for the elderly and disabled, and a former member of the faculty of Penn’s College of Medicine and College of General Studies (CGS), died on November 24, 2020 of an intestinal ailment. He was 93. 

Mr. Cohen was first appointed the state commissioner for aging issues in the Department of Public Welfare in 1959. He held the position until 1968, then served as Pennsylvania’s commissioner of family services. Even outside of these positions, he passionately spoke out to defend the elderly, such as in a prominent 1979 case when nine elderly people died in a fire at an unlicensed nursing home in Connellsville, PA. He testified in several cases related to elderly care, and after receiving a law degree in 1975 from the Temple University Beasley School of Law, specialized in cases in which zoning was used as a weapon to prevent an elderly care facility from opening.

Mr. Cohen joined the faculty of Penn’s College of Medicine in 1970 as an associate professor in Community Medicine and as Penn’s Human Services Project’s director of delivery. The next year he became an assistant professor. After Mr. Cohen received his law degree, his specialty expanded to include law, and in 1979 he became a lecturer in Penn’s College of General Studies, the continuing education division of the College of Arts and Sciences (similar to today’s College of Liberal and Professional Sciences). He lectured at Penn until retiring in 1996; in addition, he also taught at Temple University and the University of Maryland. During his time at Penn, Mr. Cohen served as editor-in-chief of The Gerontologist from 1976 to 1981. 

Services and interment are private. Mr. Cohen is survived by his wife, Marcia Rosen; his sons Barry and Peter; and four grandchildren. 

Judith (Judy) A. Toff Gensib, an employee in Penn’s department of Dining Services, died on October 11, 2020. She was 86.

Born in Philadelphia in 1934, Ms. Gensib joined Penn’s staff in 1985 as a part-time employee in Hospitality/Dining Services (today known as Penn Dining). She rose through the ranks until retiring from Penn in 1999. While at Penn, Ms. Gensib left an indelible mark on her coworkers. “Judy, quite frankly, was one of the nicest human beings ever to grace planet Earth,” says Adam Sherr, Penn’s lead financial analyst and a former colleague of Ms. Gensib’s in Dining Services. “She was the Assistant Manager in the Dining Services Office when I started working there, as a 17-year old freshman, in 1986. And throughout the next 12+ years, she was a formative person in my growth and development as a person and as a professional. I cannot count the number of life lessons she graced me with, in her kind and caring way.”

In 1999, Ms. Gensib survived a battle with leukemia thanks to a bone marrow transplant from her twin sister. Later in her life, she continued to nurture her family and to be an active member of her synagogue, Temple Emanuel of Cherry Hill, New Jersey. 

Ms. Gensib is survived by her husband Jack, children Carl (Gayle), Janet (John Osborne), and Riva (Michael Johnson), twin sister Phyllis Mondress, younger sister Zelda Kresloff, daughter-in-law JoAnn Gensib, and grandchildren Denali, Johnny, Rachel, Julia, Elyssa, Ellis, and Max. A graveside service was held on October 13, 2020. Contributions in Ms. Gensib’s memory can be made to any leukemia research fund. 

Trevor Reitz Hadley, professor emeritus CE (clinician-educator) of psychiatry in the Perelman School of Medicine and the founder and founding director of Penn’s Center for Mental Health, died on October 29, 2020 due to complications from post-polio syndrome. He was 74.

Despite his bout with polio, Dr. Hadley saw the disabilities he incurred as a challenge to be conquered. He attended Oberlin University, then finished his BA at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 1968. He received an MS in 1971 and a PhD in psychology in 1973, both from the University of Pittsburgh. Afterwards, he served as State Mental Health Deputy Commissioner for Pennsylvania, then as Commissioner of Mental Health for Maryland. In these positions, he gained a unique perspective on the relationship between policy and services research and made strides towards crossing the boundaries between public mental policy and research environments. He served as a consultant to many state and national organizations and worked on many federally-funded projects that studied implementation of mental health programs. 

In 1986, Dr. Hadley joined Penn’s faculty as a lecturer in the School of Medicine’s department of psychiatry. In 1988, he was promoted to associate professor, and a year later, he became an associate professor CE. He became a full professor in 1997. At Penn, Dr. Hadley’s research focused on the impact of financing mechanisms like managed care on the quality of care delivered in the public mental health system, as well as the issues of homelessness and mental health. In 2000, his project Primary Care Physicians as Mental Health Providers: A Survey in Three Countries won a University Research Foundation (URF) research award.

Dr. Hadley founded the Penn Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research, today known as the Penn Center for Mental Health. The Center fostered collaboration between public mental health systems managing mental health services research programs. In his capacity as founding director, Dr. Hadley collaborated with mental health programs in England, Canada, Japan, and Turkey and with the World Health Organization. In the Philadelphia community, he launched a Fellowship Community Psychiatry program that trained young psychiatrists for future leadership roles in public mental health systems.

In 2007, Dr. Hadley co-founded Kids Integrated Data System (KIDS) with John Fantuzzo from GSE and Dennis Culhane from SP2 (Almanac April 10, 2007). KIDS was a groundbreaking collaboration between Penn, the City of Philadelphia, and the School District of Philadelphia that linked data about Philadelphia children from various sources to form a coherent archive that helped researchers tailor services to fit the children’s needs. Dr. Hadley’s research was widely published and earned him a secondary appointment at Penn’s School of Social Policy and Practice and a Senior Fellowship of the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics (LDI). Dr. Hadley was a member of Penn’s 25-year club; in 2014, he retired and took emeritus status. 

Dr. Hadley is survived by his wife Cheryl Borck-Hadley, his daughter Jennifer Borck-Hadley (Chris Williams), his grandsons Daniel and Samuel, and a large extended family. A memorial service will be planned later in 2021.

Tommy Lasorda, Baseball Hall of Fame inductee from Norristown, PA, who won two World Series titles while managing the Los Angeles Dodgers, died on January 7 of a heart attack. He was 93.

In August, Penn Athletics announced that a $2 million Transformational Gift from Warren Lichtenstein, C’87, to help fund capital upgrades at the home of Penn Baseball would result in the playing surface being known as Tommy Lasorda Field at Meiklejohn Stadium once Phase I of the renovation was complete (Almanac August 25, 2020).

Anthony (Tony) Rudolfos Tomazinis, Professor Emeritus of City and Regional Planning in Penn’s Weitzman School of Design, died on December 11, 2020. He was 91. 

Born in Larissa, Greece in 1929, Dr. Tomazinis lived through the Nazi occupation of Greece, working for the resistance as a teenager. After the death of his father, killed by Nazis on D-Day, Dr. Tomazinis took care of his mother and sister. When he turned 18, he served the Greek Army in the Corps of Engineers. He earned a BCE in Civil Engineering at the National Technical University of Greece, then worked as an engineer in Athens. In the mid-1950s, Dr. Tomazinis came to the US and earned a master’s degree in city planning (MCP) from the Georgia Institute of Technology. In 1963, he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Design with a PhD in Urban Planning. 

While a student at Penn Design, Dr. Tomazinis worked as a teaching assistant. He joined the faculty of Penn’s School of Design in 1961 as an assistant professor. He was promoted to an associate professor in 1967, and a full professor ten years later. At Penn, Dr. Tomazinis taught courses in transportation planning, infrastructure systems, strategic planning, evaluation, and international planning; at various times in the 1970s and 1980s, he also held secondary appointments in Penn's School of Engineering, in the departments of civil engineering and systems engineering.  Dr. Tomazinis served as the chair of Penn’s department of city and regional planning, and in 1998 he led the department to win the President’s Award of the American Institute of Certified Planners (Almanac April 14, 1998). 

In 1999, Dr. Tomazinis himself received the G. Holmes Perkins Award for Distinguished Teaching from the School of Design for his teaching and activism on campus (Almanac May 18/25, 1999). “He recognizes the strengths of his students, and in a thoughtful and deliberate manner acknowledges the contributions a student has made,” said the School in its announcement of the award. "The success of his former students is the real testimonial of Dr. Tomazinis’ credentials.” Dr. Tomazinis was the director of Penn’s Transportation Planning Studies Laboratory (TRANSLAB) for more than two decades.

Eugenie L. Birch, Lawrence C. Nussdorf Professor of Urban Research & Education, said Dr. Tomazinis inspired generations of city planning students. "He not only taught them about the technical aspects of the field—how to develop transportation models—but also showed them the relationships between land use, housing, environment," she said. 

Dr. Tomazinis was active in University life, serving as the chair of the Faculty Senate in 1985-86 and on several Senate and University Council committees (including on the Almanac Advisory Board and as chair of Council’s Committee of Facilities/Campus Planning). In 1983, Dr. Tomazinis wrote an impassioned letter, published in Almanac, arguing that activist causes on campus were causing harm to other marginalized groups, arguing for greater sensitivity among activist groups on campus (a concept today known as intersectionality). For several years in the early 2000s, Dr. Tomazinis was active in planning the annual Penn’s Way campaign, and he served on the board of the University Club. He retired from Penn in 2006. 

Outside of Penn, Dr. Tomazinis served as an advisor to the White House Office of Urban Affairs and a member of the Camp David Technical Mission on Energy to Egypt during the Carter Administration. He received a United Nations appointment to advise the Beijing Design Planning Institute on transportation planning and was a consultant in the design of airports in Athens and Lisbon. From 1991 to 1993, he served as the chairman of a task force appointed by the Pennsylvania Joint Commission for Efficiency of State Government Services to investigate and report on increasing efficiency and privatization in state government operations. 

An internationally acknowledged expert on transportation, Dr. Tomazinis advised the governments of Iran, India, and Taiwan on transportation and development issues. He was active in the Philadelphia Greek community and worked towards designing Technopolis, a model city of science located in Thrace, Greece, towards the end of his life.

Dr. Tomazinis is survived by his wife, JoAnn; his children Christina (Jamie), Marina (David), and Alexis; and four grandchildren. The memorial service and burial will be private. 

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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. Email almanac@upenn.edu.

The following agenda is published in accordance with the Faculty Senate Rules. Any member of the standing faculty may attend SEC meetings and observe. Questions may be directed 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 Agenda
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
3–3:50 p.m. EST

1. Finalize the Minutes of December 9, 2020, SEC Meeting
2. Chair’s Report
3. Past Chair’s Report
4. Update from the Office of the Provost 
   • Discussion with Provost Wendell Pritchett
5. New Business
6. Adjourn and transition to all-faculty workshop:
   • Interrogating and Re-Imagining Expressive Public Space on the Penn Campus (4-5 p.m.)
   • Registration: https://provost.upenn.edu/senate/faculty-senate-seminar-series

Wednesday, January 27, 2021 
4 p.m.
BlueJeans Events

I. Approval of the Minutes of December 2, 2020. 1 minute 
II. Follow-up Questions on Status Reports. 4 minutes
III. The Engagement and Support of Penn’s International Students and Scholars. 30 minutes
IV. New Business. 5 minutes
V. Adjournment

Section IV.3(c) of the Council bylaws provides that a University Council meeting “shall incorporate an open forum to which all members of the University community are invited and during which any member of the University community can direct questions to the Council.”

All members of the University community are invited to bring issues for discussion to the 

University Council Open Forum 
Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 4 p.m. 
Meeting Platform: BlueJeans Events

Individuals who want to be assured of speaking at Open Forum must inform the Office of the University Secretary (ucouncil@pobox.upenn.edu) by 10 a.m. on Monday, February 1, 2021. Please indicate the topic you would like to discuss. 

Those who have not so informed the Office of the University Secretary will be permitted to speak only at the discretion of the moderator of University Council and in the event that time remains after the scheduled speakers.

Meeting access links will be posted to the University Council website on Monday, February 15, 2021 (https://secretary.upenn.edu/univ-council/open-forum).

Please see the meeting format provided below. Questions may be directed to the Office of the University Secretary at (215) 898-7005 or ucouncil@pobox.upenn.edu.

—Office of the University Secretary 

Format for University Council’s Open Forum
February 17, 2021

The University Council will devote a substantial portion of its February 17, 2021 meeting to a public forum. The purpose of the Open Forum is to inform Council of issues important to the University’s general welfare and of the range of views held by members of the University. The forum is open to all members of the University community under the conditions set by the bylaws, following guidelines established by the Steering Committee of University Council: 

1. Any member of the University who wishes to do so may attend the Council meeting.  Individuals who want to be assured of speaking at Council, however, must inform the Office of the University Secretary (ucouncil@pobox.upenn.edu) by 10 a.m. on Monday, February 1, 2021, indicating briefly the subject of their remarks. Those who have not so informed the Office of the University Secretary will be permitted to speak only at the discretion of the moderator of University Council and in the event that time remains after the scheduled speakers.
2. Speakers should expect to be limited to three minutes. The moderator may restrict repetition of views.
3. Following the deadline for speakers to sign up with the Office of the University Secretary, the chair of the Steering Committee and the moderator of University Council will structure the subject matter themes, speakers, and times for the Open Forum session. In the event that there is not enough time available at the meeting to provide for all those who have requested to speak, the two officers may make selections which accommodate the broadest array of issues having important implications for Council’s work and represent the breadth of Council’s constituencies. The resulting order of Open Forum topics will be made available no later than the Tuesday before the meeting, to be published on the Office of the University Secretary website (https://secretary.upenn.edu/univ-council/open-forum) and, if deadline constraints allow, in Almanac.
4. Speakers’ statements should be framed to present policy issues and be directed to University Council as a body through the moderator. The moderator will have discretion to interrupt statements that are directed against persons and otherwise to maintain the decorum of the meeting, as provided for in the bylaws. 

The next meeting of the WXPN Policy Board will take place on Thursday, January 28, 2021. For more information contact tess@xpn.org.

Angela Duckworth, Rosa Lee and Egbert Chang Professor at the Wharton School and the School of Arts and Sciences' department of psychology with a secondary appointment at Penn GSE, topped Education Week’s 2021 Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings list.

The author of the best-selling Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance and the founder of Character Lab, Dr. Duckworth’s work has help shift the dialogue on supporting children’s development.

Ed Week’s list, created by Rick Hess, the Director of Education Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, recognizes scholars whose work shapes public discussion around education.

The Social & Affective Neuroscience Society (SANS) announced that Annenberg School for Communication Professor Emily Falk has been awarded its 2020 Early Career Award.

Founded in 2008, SANS is committed to research investigating the neural basis of social and affective processes. The SANS Early Career Award recognizes an early-stage investigator — within 10 years of receiving their PhD at the time of nomination — who has made significant contributions to social and affective neuroscience through outstanding scholarship and service to the field. Winners receive a cash prize and are invited to give a short talk at the SANS annual meeting. Due to the cancellation of the 2020 conference, Dr. Falk will present her work at the 2021 virtual conference.

Dr. Falk is a Professor of Communication, Psychology, and Marketing at Penn’s Annenberg School, Director of Penn’s Communication Neuroscience Lab, and a Distinguished Research Fellow of the Annenberg Public Policy Center. She is an expert in the science of behavior change. Her research uses tools from psychology, neuroscience, and communication to examine what makes messages persuasive, why and how ideas spread, and what makes people effective communicators. Her team’s work ranges from basic science investigations of how the brain makes decisions to links between mind, body, and community, to applied questions about health, civic engagement, and social justice.

Jesús Fernández-Villaverde, Professor and Graduate Chair of Economics, and Dirk Krueger, Walter H. and Leonore C. Annenberg Professor in the Social Sciences and Professor of Economics, have been elected 2020 fellows of the Econometric Society. They are among 46 new fellows from around the world named by the society, which is dedicated to the advancement of economic theory in its relation to statistics and mathematics.

Dr. Fernández-Villaverde specializes in macroeconomics and econometrics, with a focus on the computation and estimation of dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) models, the standard tool of modern quantitative macroeconomics. He is a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) and Penn’s Population Studies Center, and a research affiliate for the Centre for Economic Policy Research.

Dr. Krueger is an internationally recognized macroeconomist who has made important contributions to the understanding of aggregate consumption dynamics, the impact of recessions on the income distribution, and heterogeneous agent macroeconomics more broadly. He is a research associate at NBER, a research fellow of the Centre for Economic Policy Research, London, and of Netspar, in Tilburg, Netherlands, and currently serves as managing editor of the Review of Economic Studies.

In December, Penn President Amy Gutmann virtually accepted an Inclusive Leader Award from GlobalMindED, a national nonprofit that aims to close the equity gap by creating a diverse talent pipeline through networking, mentorships, internships, and more. She earned the award alongside 14 other leaders across the nation.

President Gutmann was the only leader from the higher education sector to be awarded the GlobalMindED recognition this year. “What separated her from other nominees,” said Carol Carter, GlobalMindED founder, “is her ability to hold her colleagues—even those outside of Penn—to higher standards when it comes to inclusion.”

GlobalMindED is a nonprofit closing the equity gap by creating a capable, diverse talent pipeline with programs, content and courses for students from the least resourced backgrounds through connections to role models, mentors, internships, experiences and jobs that make them employment worthy, promotion ready and financially fit to navigate a hierarchical world.

The American Association of Equine Practitioners has presented the 2020 AAEP Research Award to Katrin Hinrichs, whose pioneering research in the field of equine assisted reproductive techniques (ART) has transformed the state of equine reproductive practice around the world.

The AAEP Research Award recognizes an individual who has completed research that has or will make a significant impact on the diagnosis, treatment or prevention of equine disease. Dr. Hinrichs was recognized on December 9 during the AAEP’s 2020 Annual Convention & Trade Show, held virtually.

Dr. Hinrichs is the chair of the Department of Clinical Studies at New Bolton Center and the Harry Werner Endowed Professor of Equine Medicine at Penn’s School of Veterinary Medicine. She joined Penn Vet in March 2020 after 22 years at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences.

As a leading international authority in equine ART, Dr. Hinrichs has significantly advanced understanding of equine oocyte development, fertilization and early embryonic development. This foundational knowledge led her lab to develop and report on major advances that have revolutionized equine assisted reproduction, including oocyte retrieval, in vitro oocyte maturation, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, in vitro embryo development, preimplantation diagnosis and somatic cell nuclear transfer.

“Over a career distinguished by hundreds of scientific publications and awards, Dr. Hinrichs has revolutionized the field of equine theriogenology through her work with equine gametes and embryos,” said nominator Dr. Lisa Metcalf of AAEP. “Her research has preserved a world of valuable genetic lines in horses for veterinarians and horse owners alike.”

Penn Dental Medicine’s Hyun (Michel) Koo, Professor of Orthodontics and Community Oral Health in the division of Pediatric Dentistry, has been named Emerging Inventor of the Year by the Penn Center for Innovation (PCI), recognized for his groundbreaking work on developing novel approaches to eradicate biofilms. Dr. Koo’s work on biofilms led to a US patent awarded in 2020, with additional patent applications pending in collaboration with Penn Medicine and Penn Engineering based on this first patent family.

“When Michel came to Penn in 2013, he brought a robust research program directed at understanding, controlling, and eradicating biofilm, particularly the biofilm which occurs in our mouths and leads to cavities,” said PCI Director of Licensing Melissa Kelly while presenting Dr. Koo’s award as part of PCI’s Celebration of Innovation, held virtually on December 2, 2020. “Since his arrival, he has built an extensive portfolio of technologies, the first of which has led to the issued patent that is the subject of this award. The first, I expect, of many more to come.”

Dr. Koo’s patented work, in collaboration with Penn Medicine’s Dr. David Cormode, involved the development of a novel nanoparticle technology to effectively control highly virulent dental biofilms (known as plaque) that cause severe childhood tooth decay, a major public health problem both in the US and worldwide.

In addition, Dr. Koo — working in collaboration with Penn Engineering’s Dr. Kathleen J. Stebe, Dr. Edward Steager, and Dr. Vijay Kumar, as well as Penn Health Tech — is now developing portable biofilm cleaning devices the same nanotechnology for disinfection and biofilm removal like that used in dental and medical implants.

“Michel exemplifies the spirit of collaboration at Penn by actively collaborating with talented individuals from across various disciplines,” says John Swartley, PCI’s Managing Director. “As a result, we thought he was an ideal recipient of the Emerging Inventor of the Year award and we look forward to seeing Michel revolutionize the field of oral healthcare.”

Marc Miskin, assistant professor in Penn Engineering’s department of Electrical and Systems Engineering, has been awarded two young investigator projects in support of his research on microscopic robots.

This includes a three-year, $360,000 award from the Army Research Office Young Investigator Program (ARO YIP) and a three-year, $450,000 award from the Air Force’s Young Investigator Research Program (AFOSR YIP).

Dr. Miskin’s research involves the design of microscopic robots that can be mass produced using the technology involved in the manufacture of computer chips. Each robot is ten times smaller than a period at the end of a sentence and equipped with a power supply, silicon microelectronics for sensing and computation, and nanoscale strips of platinum metal that serve as legs. These strips curl up when a voltage is applied, so by strategically placing rigid plates on top of them, Dr. Miskin and his colleagues can make them flex like the articulated legs of an insect.

Dr. Miskin’s research will be further explored in a project funded by the ARO YIP, which will investigate what is possible with swarms containing tens of thousands of tiny machines. Each robot will be able to move, sense a chemical signal, change their local chemical environment, and transmit information about their current state. Moreover, Dr. Miskin and his team will be able to program these swarms of microrobots to organize, form patterns, and store and transmit information within the collective.

In his AFOSR YIP project, Dr. Miskin and his team will use these microscopic robots to create adaptive, programmable, and multifunctional materials.  The material will consist of swarms of tiny robots and passive particles that the robots can bond together. Collectively, they can be used for various applications, ranging from sensing to self-healing. Dr. Miskin believes these microscopic robots will have a role in the design of unmanned aircraft.

University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School student Erik Nickels (L’21) has been awarded a Skadden Fellowship, joining a long line of 30 Law School graduates who have previously served as fellows.

Established in 1988, these highly competitive two-year fellowships fund recent law graduates who want to pursue work in the public interest, particularly in service of the poor, elderly, homeless, and disabled. The 2021 class includes 29 fellows, who will work in 18 cities across 14 states in the United States.

Mr. Nickels will work with Mental Health Advocacy Services in Los Angeles with the goal of establishing a medical-legal partnership for transition age youth with mental health needs through direct legal services and impact litigation cases. He is a 2018 graduate of the University of Oklahoma and has worked as a law clerk with Mental Health Advocacy Services and the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law in Washington, DC.

The album Carthage, with music composed by James Primosch, Dr. Robert Weiss Professor of Music, has received a Grammy nomination for Best Choral Performance. Carthage was recorded by The Crossing, with Donald Nally conducting.

Carthage, which was released in May 2020, sprang from a series of pieces Dr. Primosch had written for The Crossing. The centerpiece is a setting for the Mass for the Day of St. Thomas Didymus, which combines the Catholic mass text with poems by Denise Levertov. Another piece is a setting of text by Marilynne Robinson; her novel Housekeeping gave the album its title. The album was recorded before COVID-19-related shutdowns.

“It’s an amazing group of virtuoso singers and the recording sessions were thrilling,” says Dr. Primosch. “I would hear a take and think, oh that was great. Donald would say, ‘Let’s do that one more time.’ So it’s a really wonderful, wonderful project. I’m very happy and honored to be associated with them.”

In 2020, Dr. Primosch received the Virgil Thomson Award for Vocal Music, administered by the American Academy of Arts and Letters (Almanac June 23, 2020). His instrumental, vocal, and electronic compositions range from lyrical to religious to jazz-inspired. His music has been reviewed in The New Yorker, The New York Times, and numerous other publications, and has been performed throughout the US, Europe, and Asia. His previous honors include a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and a Guggenheim Fellowship. As a pianist, he was a prizewinner at the Gaudeamus Interpreters Competition in Rotterdam.

Lisa Walke, chief of Geriatric Medicine in the Perelman School of Medicine, has been selected for the 2021 Carol Emmott Fellowship class. The fellowship is a signature program of The Carol Emmott Foundation, established in 2016 to address the underrepresentation of women in the highest levels of healthcare leadership and governance.

During the prestigious, 14-month program for 21 exceptional women leaders from across the country, Dr. Walke will be paired with a mentor and will implement an impact project of her choosing, designed to accelerate equity within Penn Medicine and beyond.

Dr. Walke’s project will aim to expand geriatric medicine expertise within the health system by establishing a virtual consultation service for surgical patients at Pennsylvania Hospital and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Her long-term goal is to address the widening gap between healthcare professionals trained in geriatrics and the number of older adults living in the US.

Dr. Walke joined Penn Medicine in 2018 as chief of the Division of Geriatrics, which is ranked in the top 20 by US News and World Report.

Simone White, Assistant Professor of English, and Marc Anthony Richardson, lecturer in Creative Writing, have been chosen for a 2021 Creative Capital Award and will each receive as much as $50,000 in funding for their creative writing projects.

Dr. White and Mr. Richardson are among 42 artists working on 35 projects to receive the award, “each of which exemplifies the risk-taking, adventurous art-making” Creative Capital says it seeks to sustain.

Creative Capital is a New York City-based nonprofit founded in 1999 to support innovative artists, “providing infusions of funding at key moments in an artist’s project,” with a particular eye toward “forward-thinking and boundary-blurring work,” according to the organization.

“The Creative Capital Award is one of the most prestigious honors for creative practitioners around, and unique in that it focuses on the exceptional promise of a project, not just on past accomplishments of the artist,” said Julia Bloch, Director of Penn’s Creative Writing Program. “The new projects that the Creative Capital grants will nourish will be incredible and vibrant contributions to our literary landscape. “It’s so exciting whenever the faculty who mentor Penn undergrad creative writers show what can be achieved.”

Spotlight on University City: World-class universities and hospitals. Millions of square feet of real estate development. Cherished small businesses and cultural organizations. University City is continually setting the pace for development and scientific discoveries in the region, functions as a major employment hub, is a transportation nucleus with some of the best arteries in Philadelphia for walking and biking, and serves as a destination for food lovers and culture seekers. With luxury apartments and beautiful Victorian homes, family-run restaurants and anchor institutions, and a tight-knit community of residents, University City is a neighborhood of growth and possibility where the quality of life matches the quality of opportunity.

Real Estate Development: Despite disruptions brought on by COVID-19, progress in University City’s real estate sector continued to reshape Philadelphia’s second skyline. Since the end of 2019, 29 major real estate projects were completed, made significant progress, or moved closer to breaking ground, representing new inventory for residential, institutional, public space, medical, commercial, and mixed-use projects. Significant progress has been made on three major long-term developments: uCity Square; Schuylkill Yards; and the 30th Street Master Plan. Other key developments, including the new Pavilion at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, the reimagining of the Bulletin Building, and the Lab at Pennovation Works, made significant strides toward completion. All told, these investments, totaling nearly 7.5 million square feet in space, further cement University City’s status as a major regional hub for employment, research, and places to live.

Amtrak’s 30th Street Station: When the world stopped due to the spread of the coronavirus, Amtrak kept moving, providing an essential service to those who needed it most. With a full-time medical director and public health and safety team who have been on the front lines throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, Amtrak studied, analyzed, and made improvements to the travel experience – from beginning to end – for the safety and health of its workers and travelers. During this challenging time, Amtrak remained committed to advancing a core set of essential projects that are critical to its long-term strategy and success. In June of 2020, Amtrak announced the selection of Plenary Infrastructure Philadelphia (PIP), a team with international expertise, to form a master development partnership via ground lease for the renovation of William H. Gray III 30th Street Station. The key team members who will design, build, finance, operate, and maintain the station include Plenary Americas USA Ltd., one of the largest dedicated, public-private partnership developers in North America, who has partnered with Gilbane Building Company, Johnson Controls Inc., and Vantage Airport Group Ltd. The team was selected in part due to its dedication to engaging Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (“DBE”), community hiring, and workforce development strategies. The master development partnership will restore and highlight the historic fabric of the majestic station, while heightening the customer experience by introducing new amenities, reinvigorating the structure’s retail and commercial potential, improving and expanding existing office space, and enhancing transit and pedestrian traffic flows.

Schuylkill Yards: Currently rising in University City, Schuylkill Yards is the $3.5 billion, master-planned neighborhood being developed by Brandywine Realty Trust that began with the development of Cira Centre in 2005, and continues today following nine successful phases of development totaling over $1 billion of investment along the Schuylkill riverfront so far. A 14-acre neighborhood that embodies striking architecture, 6.5 acres of public greenspace, 132,000 square feet of dynamic retail and entertainment options, 4.8 million square feet of world-class workspace, and 1.9 million square feet of living space, Schuylkill Yards is Philadelphia’s new nexus of knowledge and innovation in one of the world’s leading life science hubs.

Drexel Square, the first of Schuylkill Yard’s 6.5 acres of planned green spaces, opened to the public in June of 2019. The 1.3 acre park features a 12,000 square foot elliptical lawn, 23 Dawn Redwood trees, and an array of shrubs and perennials in over 9,000 square feet of raised planted beds. In August of 2019, Brandywine unveiled architectural designs for the East and West Towers at Schuylkill Yards. Designed to complement each other, the Towers artfully merge inspiration from historic building materials with modern architecture, and are linked by The Highline Park, a welcoming, publicly-accessible destination for intimate programmed events, relaxation, collaboration, and community enjoyment.

As Philadelphia continues to grow into one of the nation’s leading life science hubs, Schuylkill Yards solidifies its place as the ecosystem’s heart. Here, directly adjacent to Amtrak’s 30th Street Station, Drexel University, and the University of Pennsylvania, Brandywine is building a connection point to world-class healthcare and academic institutions, top-tier talent, and readily-available investment capital. In 2020, Brandywine completed the reimagination of the historic Bulletin Building, and broke ground on a redevelopment of 3000 Market Street—both of which are fully leased to leading gene therapy company Spark Therapeutics. Looking ahead, Brandywine is actively leasing both the East and West Towers, alongside a newly-unveiled dedicated life science building at 3151 Market Street.

uCity Square: UCity Square is the 7 million square foot mixed-use Knowledge Community, with borders along Market Street from 34th through 39th Street, Powelton Avenue, and Lancaster Avenue. The community is being developed by Wexford Science & Technology in partnership with the University City Science Center and Ventas. Physically located at the intersection of the campuses of Drexel, Penn, Penn Medicine, Children’s Hospital, and Wistar and adjacent to the neighborhoods of Powelton Village, West Powelton, and Mantua, uCity Square is the central place where research, commercialization, and talent meet to produce dynamic and inclusive growth in our region. The community currently boasts over 3 million square feet of office, lab, residential, and retail space, and is comprised of over 200 companies and 10,000 employees, students, faculty, and entrepreneurs.

Office Space: University City is home to nearly 5 million square feet of office space, with another 300,000 square feet currently under construction. Major long-term projects including Schuylkill Yards, 3.0 and now 4.0 University Place, and additional buildings at uCity Square will add to this robust total. In Q2 of 2020, University City commercial real estate was leased at a percentage of 92.9%, good for the second highest occupancy rate out of all Philadelphia submarkets, and its asking gross rent of $39.99 per square foot is the highest in the region, displaying the continued desirability of doing business in University City. When companies, labs, and businesses fully return to in-person workplaces, University City will be ready with plenty of state-of-the art offerings designed to provide safe working places with pandemic-proof features.

Higher Education: With five institutions of higher education in the district, University City is renowned worldwide for its exceptional colleges and universities. Whether they come from around the block, country, or world, over 53,000 undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate students enrolled in programs at the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, the University of the Sciences, Community College of Philadelphia West Campus, and the Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College. Although most schools sent students home when the pandemic hit, local institutions found ways to pivot and keep students engaged through virtual learning and innovative approaches to extracurricular activities during an extremely challenging time. When it’s safe to return, students at the major local institutions of higher learning will once again be drawn to our neighborhood’s global dining scene, beautiful campuses, and prime location within the city and on the eastern seaboard.

Life in the Neighborhood: As a place to live, University City offers something for everyone. Options for housing are as varied as the residents, with historic homes, walk-up apartments, stylish high-rises, dormitories, and more. Over 100 acres of public space and parks offer respite from the city streets and places for people to relax, recharge, and spread out. An eclectic dining scene caters to every appetite, featuring a blend of longstanding mom-and-pop restaurants, cuisine from around the globe, and outposts for local and national chains. University City boasts a robust arts and culture scene, including theaters, art galleries, and local dance and performance groups. The streets, sidewalks, and transit stations combine to offer excellent options for traveling within the neighborhood or to points beyond, and our neighborhood again earned a “paradise” distinction from Walkscore.com for walking, biking, and transit. Local schools earn annual accolades, and construction on a new $38 million K-8 school called the Powel-Science Leadership Academy Middle School (PSLAMS) will be completed by the end of 2020 at 3610 Warren Street. Active neighborhood associations and community groups inject unique character and civic pride in smaller sub-neighborhoods, and have proven a valuable resource for the community in times of need.

Employment in University City: In the years leading up to the pandemic, job growth in University City was on a steady upward trajectory. We logged gains in employment numbers for four consecutive years, and in 2019 topped 85,000 jobs for the first time, with education and healthcare making up nearly 79% of all jobs in our neighborhood. We anticipate the consistent job growth in these fields will help speed up the recovery in hard hit sectors such as retail and hospitality that have seen the steepest job losses. Overall, we’re optimistic about our neighborhood’s chances for accelerated recovery, as more office space is completed and leased, more labs and research facilities open, more companies move into the neighborhood, and University City’s tens of thousands of students return to in-person learning.

Innovation: University City is considered the region’s leader in science and innovation. Discoveries initiated in University City spark billions of dollars in economic growth and attract international attention in fields like biotech, robotics, and medicine. In 2019, a record number of patents was issued to University City businesses and institutions, while R&D investment reached $1.85 billion. 43% of the $1.43 billion in total Pennsylvania National Institutes of Health funding was awarded to University City institutions. University City’s robust life science offerings led to an October CRBE report ranking Philadelphia as the 7th top and 5th fastest-growing life science cluster in the country. And when the pandemic hit, local institutions sprang into action, working on initiatives ranging from potential vaccines to ventilators to unique fabrics for masks. And now, the two most promising COVID-19 vaccines in development from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna each rely on messenger RNA delivery, a process developed in 2005 by Penn professors, meaning a scientific discovery initiated in University City may play a key role in ending the global pandemic.

Road to Recovery: Reverberations from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic were felt throughout our country, region, and neighborhood. Considered by some to be the sharpest economic shock since the Great Depression, the pandemic impacted all aspects of our daily lives, including how we work, travel, and gather with others. Despite major impacts to our small businesses, our colleges and universities, and across our local economy, there are many reasons to feel optimistic about University City’s ability to recover.

For the full report, visit https://issuu.com/universitycity/docs/the_state_of_university_city_2021?fr=sODlmNTIzNzAwMjE

—University City District

University City by the Numbers

• 22-24 median age
• 55,845 residents
• 5 colleges and universities
• 4 hospitals
• 64% of residents ages 25 or older have a bachelor’s degree or higher
• $395,000 median home sale price in 2019
• 179 homes sold in 2019
• 23 days average time residential property remained on market
• $1,495 average monthly rent
• 232 patents
• $1.85 billion in R&D funding
• $842,897,858 in NIH funding to UCD organizations
• 15% tree cover
• 20 mural arts projects
• $337 million value of real estate projects completed in 2019
• 931,000 square feet of development under construction
• 4,918,615 square feet of office space

A Successful Season For the University City District

January 6, 2021

Happy New Year! Before we turn our attention to 2021 and a hopeful return to signature UCD events, public space interventions, and much more, we’d like to take a moment and thank each and every person who helped support local small businesses, non-profits, and cultural institutions over the past few months.

Thanks to the generosity of our community and with the help of our West Philly Forward fundraising campaign, 27 businesses and organizations raised over $125,000 through individual GoFundMe pages and our neighborhood-wide fund. Starting this week, we will be sending out 100% of the funds we collected from the neighborhood fund to the participating businesses. Although our community fund has concluded, you may still donate to individual campaigns by clicking here.

Thank you, too, to everyone who supported small businesses by purchasing gift cards over the holiday season. We will announce the winners of our holiday promotion and send out gift card prizes by the end of the month. In the meantime, feel free to show additional support for participating businesses by purchasing gift cards or see who is open for takeout and delivery at www.ucdiningdays.com.

—University City District

This month marks 314 years since the birth of Benjamin Franklin, a multitalented American polymath and Penn’s founder. In the past, Almanac has celebrated Mr. Franklin’s birthday with a variety of features, ranging from buildings named after him on campus to a list of his inventions. This year, Almanac looks back on some of our Benjamin Franklin stories from across the years.

Benjamin Franklin’s 1749 pamphlet Proposals Relating to the Education of Youth in Pensilvania laid out a plan for the University of Pennsylvania’s values and principles and cemented Mr. Franklin’s reputation as an educational visionary. In 2018, Penn President Amy Gutmann, a modern educational visionary, drew parallels between her career and Mr. Franklin’s while receiving the Philadelphia Inquirer Industry Icon Award (Almanac January 15, 2019). Shown here is another of Mr. Franklin’s famous publications, the 1754 “Join Or Die” political cartoon.

Besides his proposal and political cartoon, Benjamin Franklin was a prolific printer, publishing many books and periodicals, including Poor Richard’s Almanack, from which Almanac takes its name. In 2015, Penn Libraries acquired a copy of Jacques Barbeu-Dubourg’s Petit Code de la raison humaine, which Benjamin Franklin printed in 1782. Only three other copies of Mr. Franklin’s printing of the book survive (Almanac May 26, 2015).

Since laying the groundwork for Penn, Benjamin Franklin has become a part of Penn lore in a role almost akin to that of a mascot, as shown on this 1958 program from a Penn/Princeton football game (Almanac January 16, 2018).

Several buildings on campus feature some variation of Benjamin Franklin’s name (Almanac January 17, 2017). Probably the most prominent is Franklin Field, Penn’s football arena. Built in 1895, the stadium has several claims to fame, including the first scoreboard (1895) and the first radio broadcast (1922) and television broadcast (1939) of a football game. The stadium, shown here during a 1910 Army/Navy game, was expanded with an upper tier twelve years later.

In addition to buildings, several sculptures, busts and paintings of Benjamin Franklin can be found around Penn’s campus, some displayed publicly, others not (Almanac January 10, 2012). This 1899 sculpture of Benjamin Franklin by John J. Boyle famously sits in front of Penn’s College Hall; the sculpture is on long-term loan to Penn from Philadelphia’s City Hall!

Monuments have been constructed throughout history—but why, how, and to what end? Join acclaimed Penn faculty and invited special guests of our acclaimed lecture series as they examine the definition of a monument, what monuments of the past mean to the world today, whether they hold deeper or changed significance than when they were first created, if their purposes have shifted over time, and many more questions. Lecture topics range from ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, and Rome, to contemporary themes and monuments.

The annual “Greats Lectures” series offers visitors opportunities dig into the past through vivid details and incredible insights into humanity over time and space. While the Museum has limited capacity due to public health concerns, the Great Monuments series will be delivered virtually: enjoy these lectures from the comfort of your own home. Lectures are $5 each and held at 6 p.m.

To register, visit www.penn.museum/events/adult-programs/great-lecture-series. If you have registered for the lecture(s), you will receive an email on the Monday before the lecture with a link and instructions on how to connect. We use the BlueJeans platform, which is comparable to Zoom and one of the most secure platforms available. Attendees do not have to download an application and will even be able to ask the speaker a question, just as if we were still in the Harrison Auditorium.

Upcoming Spring Lectures

February 3: Slave Dwellings, Monuments, and the United Daughters of the Confederacy
March 3: Commemoration and Monument in Medieval India
April 7: The War Memorials of Imperial Rome
May 5: Building Monuments, Monumentalizing Buildings
June 2: Then and Now: Monuments, Memorials and Public Art

—Penn Museum

Exhibits

Upcoming
22         Virtual Global Guide Tour: Middle East Galleries; 2:30 p.m.; online event; register: https://tinyurl.com/global-guide-jan-22 (Penn Museum).

Fitness & Learning

19        Garden Design for Homeowners 101; six-session online course that explores how to plan your outdoor living upgrades strategically with Valerie Solitrin, landscape designer; 7 p.m.; registration: $135/non-members; $120/members: https://tinyurl.com/morris-arb-classes-jan-19 (Morris Arboretum). Weekly through February 23.

20        Supporting Patients with OUD through Peer Outreach & Telehealth; seminar exploring how to treat various substance abuse disorders remotely; 9 a.m.; Microsoft Teams meeting; info: https://events.med.upenn.edu/view/event/event_id/722706 (PSOM).

           Breath of Self-Care: Yoga and Meditation for Penn Nursing Alumni; 7 p.m.; Zoom meeting; register: https://tinyurl.com/nursing-sc-jan-20 (Penn Nursing).

24        Coffee & Conversation: Spirituality and Healing Practices in Milford Graves: A Mind-Body Deal; discussion about how Milford Graves uses West African influences in his work; 3 p.m.; Zoom meeting; register: https://tinyurl.com/ica-coffee-convo-jan-24 (ICA).

Graduate School of Education
Online events. Info and to register: www.gse.upenn.edu/news/events-calendar

21        Education Entrepreneurship Program Virtual Info Session; 7 p.m.
22        Guided Mindful Meditation; 12:30 p.m.
25        International Educational Development Program Virtual Info Session; 8:30 a.m.
           A Healthier You—How Mental Health Affects Physical Health; 12:30 p.m.

Penn Libraries
Online events. Info and to register: https://guides.library.upenn.edu/workshops

19        Getting Started with Data Management; 2 p.m.
20        Excel Basics: Get Started in Excel; noon.
           Digital Mappa Workshop; 3 p.m.
21        Excel Basics: Skills for Business Consulting and Industry; noon.
22        Overview of the Provisional Press—A Portable Letterpress Machine; noon.
25        R Basics: Get Started in RStudio; noon.

Readings & Signings

21        Faking Liberties: Religious Freedom in American-Occupied Japan; Jolyon Baraka Thomas; 3 p.m.; online event; info: https://rels.sas.upenn.edu/events (Religious Studies).

22        Histories of the Transgender Child; Jules Gill-Peterson; 3 p.m.; Zoom meeting; info: jamyers@sas.upenn.edu (English).

Talks

19        Hash Tables Lecture; Franceska Xhakaj, Carnegie Mellon; 11 a.m.; online event; info: cis-info@cis.upenn.edu (CIS).

20        Animating Authorities: Natural Language Processing and the Development of National Markets; Carly Knight, NYU; noon; online event; info: https://sociology.sas.upenn.edu/events (Sociology).

           Should There Be Vertical Choice in Health Insurance Markets?; Victoria Marone, University of Texas; 3:30 p.m.; Zoom meeting; info: https://economics.sas.upenn.edu/events (Economics).

21        Adherence Interventions: “Call Me, Maybe?”; Robert Gross, PSOM; 9 a.m.; BlueJeans meeting; join: https://bluejeans.com/368827150 (CCEB).

           The Basic Biology of an African Savanna in Rehab; Robert Pringle, Princeton; 4 p.m.; Zoom meeting; join: https://tinyurl.com/pringle-talk-jan-21 (Biology).

           Writings, Woodblocks, and Winged Lions: Recent Research; Adam Smith, curator of Asian section, Penn Museum; 5:30 p.m.; online event; info: https://www.penn.museum/calendar/640/living-room-lecture (Penn Museum).

22        Machine Learning for Fluid Mechanics; Steven Brunton, University of Washington; 2 p.m.; online event; info: kathom@seas.upenn.edu (PICS).

25        Digitizing Bodies: The Politics of Evidence and Avenues for Sociotechnical Change; Britt Paris, Rutgers; noon; Zoom meeting; register: https://tinyurl.com/paris-talk-jan-25 (Annenberg School).

           Advances in the Establishment of Administrative Data Linkage Centers for Population and Policy Research; Dennis Culhane, SP2; noon; Zoom meeting; info: https://tinyurl.com/culhane-talk-jan-25 (Population Studies Center).

           Combinatorial Creatures:  Cortical Plasticity Within and Across Lifetimes; Leah Krubitzer, UC Davis; 3:30 p.m.; Zoom meeting; info: https://psychology.sas.upenn.edu/calendar/month/ (Psychology).

Penn Dental
Online events. Info and register: https://www.dental.upenn.edu/news-events/events/

19        Advocacy, Policy and Treatment of Children and Adults with Disabilities; Steven Perlman, Boston University; 5:30 p.m.
20        Positive Exposure: Seeing Beyond the Diagnosis; Rick Guidotti, photojournalist; 5:30 p.m.
21        Therapeutic Oral Care Considerations for Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities; Lyubov Slashcheva, Apple Tree Dental, Rochester, MN; 5:30 p.m.
25        Defining Disabilities: Disabilities Across a Lifetime; Miriam Robbins, NYU; 5:30 p.m.

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AT PENN Deadlines

The January AT PENN calendar is online. The deadline for the February AT PENN is today, January 12. Submit events and other information at almanac@upenn.edu.

University of Pennsylvania Police Department Crime Report

Below are the Crimes Against Persons, Crimes Against Society and Crimes Against Property from the campus report for January 4-10, 2021. 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 January 4-10, 2021. 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.

18th District

Below are the Crimes Against Persons from the 18th District: 14 crimes against persons (11 robberies, 1 aggravated assault, 1 assault, 1 domestic assault) with 4 arrests were reported for January 4-10, 2021 by the 18th District, covering the Schuylkill River to 49th Street & Market Street to Woodland Avenue.

PennOpen Pass has evolved into a multi-purpose platform to help support prevention, detection, containment, and other aspects of Penn’s COVID-19 pandemic response. Read the updated privacy statement to see how this affects how the program uses, and protects, information.

Almanac publishes an annual supplement featuring the camps and programs taking place at Penn over the summer. Offerings listed are camps for children, teens and young adults for an array of activities, from academics and enrichment—including anthropology, business, law, veterinary medicine and music—to recreation and numerous sports camps.

To submit a 2021 summer camp or program, email almanac@upenn.edu with the following information: name of camp/ program; dates held (if multiple sessions, indicate dates for each); age range; summary of 35 words or less; cost (note any discounts); link to enrollment/application forms; deadline, if applicable, to apply/enroll; link, email and/or phone number for more information.