New Center for Soft and Living Matter
Deans Steven J. Fluharty of the School of Arts and Sciences and Vijay Kumar of the School of Engineering and Applied Science announced the opening of a new Center for Soft and Living Matter that will be a joint endeavor between the two Schools. The center will be led by Director Andrea J. Liu, Hepburn Professor of Physics, and Associate Director Douglas J. Durian, professor of physics.
Soft matter research concerns collective phenomena that emerge in systems with many interacting components, where quantum mechanics does not play an explicit role. Some of the biggest challenges in the sciences—to understand systems that are far from equilibrium, possess complex structures, and/or are designed either by humans or evolutionary processes to have special properties—are confronted in their purest forms in soft matter. These challenges also arise in understanding the physical phenomena of life, leading to a natural intertwining of the fields of soft and living matter, and underlie areas of engineering ranging from nanomaterials, biomaterials, and bioengineering to energy applications, robotics, and data science.
The center brings together more than 60 faculty from across more than 10 departments in Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and the Perelman School of Medicine.
“Penn was among the first universities to invest in soft and living matter research and has been at the forefront of the field for over a decade,” said Dean Fluharty. Dean Kumar added, “The center will foster a strong, cohesive, highly collaborative community in soft and living matter across Arts and Sciences and Engineering and will help make Penn the most exciting, visible university in the world in the field.”
Huey Copeland: BFC Presidential Associate Professor of History of Art
Huey Copeland has joined Penn as the BFC Presidential Associate Professor of History of Art. Previously, Dr. Copeland was the Arthur Andersen Teaching and Research Professor and associate professor of art history at Northwestern University. A leading historian of modern and contemporary art of the US, Europe, and the African diaspora, with a special focus on Black cultural production and the Black presence in American and European art of the last two hundred years, Dr. Copeland is the author of Bound to Appear: Art, Slavery, and the Site of Blackness in Multicultural America and more than forty scholarly articles and book chapters. He currently holds editorial positions with Artforum, October, and Art History. Dr. Copeland’s numerous fellowships and awards include the prestigious Andrew W. Mellon Professorship at the Center for Advanced Study in the Visual Arts (CASVA) at the National Gallery of Art, a Cohen Fellowship from the W. E. B. DuBois Research Institute at Harvard, an American Council of Learned Societies fellowship, the David Driskell Prize from the High Museum, the Absolut Art Writing Award, and fellowships from the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and the Andy Warhol Foundation.
The BFC Presidential Professorship was established anonymously in 2019.
Statement on Anti-Asian Violence and Racism
February 25, 2021
Nearly one year ago, in the first stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, we came together as members of the University of Pennsylvania community to respond to a surge in stigma, bias, discrimination, and violence against people of Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander backgrounds. It is heartbreaking that even as many in our community celebrate the Lunar New Year, multiple cases of anti-Asian racism and violence have taken place across the United States, adding to a long and horrific history.
The pain that people of Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander backgrounds continue to experience shows that our work is far from complete, at Penn and beyond.
We condemn and denounce the despicable anti-Asian violence that has recently taken place in the United States, and redouble our efforts to create meaningful, lasting change.
For members of the Penn community who may have been affected by anti-Asian behavior or if you know someone who could use support, please take advantage of the resources the University provides:
If you are affected by violence, or aren’t sure where to turn, the Special Services team is available to assist you 24 hours a day by calling (215) 898-6600 or by email at specialservices@publicsafety.upenn.edu.
Penn’s HELP Line is also available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, at (215) 898-HELP.
Finally, we encourage you to visit the TAASS website, where you can report hate and bias incidents, learn how to become upstanders in responding to anti-Asian behavior, join our #FlattenTheHate campaign, and engage in our community discussion series.
—Task Force on Support to Asian and Asian American Students and Scholars (TAASS) at Penn
From the Provost and EVP: Return to Work Update
March 1, 2021
When the pandemic began last year, many faculty and staff members started working from home as the nation learned to navigate life during this challenging time. We deeply appreciate the commitment and dedication of every member of the Penn community in carrying out your roles and responsibilities, whether you are performing your job from home or on campus.
As we move into the second year of the pandemic, we are continuing to formulate plans for the return of those faculty and staff who have not been required to work on campus during this challenging period. These plans, as always, are guided by the best science and what is permissible by city, state and federal guidelines. Circumstances surrounding COVID-19 transmission and the ongoing distribution of vaccines are changing rapidly, so it is still too early to decide on a date when faculty and staff will be expected to return to campus. However, we believe that the successes of Penn Cares, PennOpen Pass, and our collective efforts to adhere to health and safety guidelines have given the University a pathway to restore an in-person work environment.
To help with your planning, please know that we do not anticipate a full return to work on campus before July 2021, at the earliest. Some of you are already working on campus, and we expect to welcome more of you back over the next few months. We will continue to update you as the situation evolves, including updates for faculty members about the status of in-person classes, lab research, and summer PURM projects.
We are also developing remote work location guidelines for staff, so individual decisions about long-term continuing remote work will not be made until those University-wide plans are finalized. Please continue to refer to the Return to Campus Guide for Penn Faculty and Staff if you have any questions about current guidelines.
We are proud of Penn’s beautiful and vibrant campus in the City of Philadelphia. This beauty and excitement stems in large part from our people – the students, faculty, and staff who make Penn an institution where so many people from around the world want to work and learn. To that end, we intend to bring back faculty and staff safely so that we can continue advancing the principles that make Penn a stellar institution of higher education and one of the best large employers nationwide.
We thank you again for your extraordinary work in sustaining our campus mission. We look forward to providing more details in the months ahead about our shared return to life on campus.
–Wendell Pritchett, Provost
–Craig Carnaroli, Executive Vice President
Nicole McCoy: New DPS Commanding Officer of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
University of Pennsylvania Police Department Captain Nicole McCoy has been named the Commanding Officer of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Division of Public Safety (DPS), effective January 1. The new position is dedicated to working with the campus and Philadelphia communities on issues of diversity.
Vice President for Public Safety and Superintendent of Penn Police Maureen S. Rush said one reason the position was created was because the Division of Public Safety listened to the concerns of students, faculty, and members of the West Philadelphia community.
“We need to be sure that we have a representative, a person who is going to take the whole mission of Penn Police Department and the Division of Public Safety and make sure that message is amplified and explained throughout to the different sectors,” she said. “We make great efforts and succeed in hiring a diverse workforce that reflects the diversity of the community we serve.”
Ms. McCoy, a former lieutenant, applied for the rank of captain last year as DPS was creating the new position. Ms. Rush said she immediately knew Ms. McCoy was the right fit for the job.
Ms. McCoy, who has worked at Penn since 2002, is a member of the 457th class of officers to graduate from the Northwestern University Center for Public Safety’s School of Police Staff and Command. As one of the most challenging law enforcement management programs in the nation, the Center provides comprehensive training for senior law enforcement leadership. Ms. McCoy was one of only 49 graduates in her class.
In her new role, Ms. McCoy said her job is to make sure the community knows about UPPD’s work and its contributions to the community.
“I have, in the past few years, worked with our community associations in West Philadelphia, but now as the commanding officer, I attend all of the community meetings for the University City associations,” said Ms. McCoy. “Even though they’re just outside of our boundaries, it’s still important that they have someone that they can reach out to and discuss prime issues. So I’m a liaison between them and the Philadelphia Police Department. I meet with them monthly.”
In the University, Ms. McCoy communicates with the cultural resource centers, such as Makuu: The Black Cultural Center, as well as the African-American Resource Center, and the Office of Social Equity and Community.
“It will be a big part of my job to interact with the students so they know we’re here for them, and especially for the minority population,” said Ms. McCoy, who is African American. “It’s important for them to see that there’s somebody who looks like them in the position of authority. This is a position that, if you want future change with equality and inclusion, it starts by having a seat at the table. It starts with minorities joining the department.”
Ms. McCoy said being able to talk to people and share the “wonderful things” that UPPD offers people excites her most about the new role.
“To help you feel seen—that’s what makes me feel so good,” she said. “To be able to talk to people. When you have a random conversation with someone in the 7-Eleven or CVS about things that we do and how we reach out, it just really makes me feel good.”
Ms. Rush explains that UPPD’s mission is simple, but one the entire department takes very seriously.
“Our mission is to provide safety and security to the members of University City, West Philadelphia community, and Penn community, and also visitors,” she said. “There are many people traversing our campus, so our mission is to make everyone feel safe and be safe. While we expect all of our officers to be community-oriented, Captain McCoy will help the Division to also put an accent on the emotional security that people feel.”
Adapted from a Penn Today article by Dee Patel, February 16, 2021.
Fiscal Year 2021 Performance and Staff Development Program
Open and effective communication is essential when it comes to enhancing performance and achieving goals. The Performance and Staff Development Program (the annual performance appraisal program) provides staff and supervisors with a formal process to enhance communication and promote a productive work environment.
The performance appraisal process provides benefits for both the staff member and the supervisor, such as:
- Providing documented feedback on job expectations, performance, and accomplishments from the past year
- Offering positive reinforcement as well as developmental feedback
- Allowing staff members to participate in goal setting
- Setting performance expectations and goals for the upcoming year
- Encouraging open communication between staff and supervisors
- Promoting discussion of professional development opportunities and the competencies required to be successful in a person’s job
- Ensuring that job performance and accomplishment information is recorded in each staff member’s official personnel file
Beginning March 15, 2021, staff and supervisors for participating schools and centers may use the Online Performance Appraisal System to complete self-appraisals and annual performance appraisals. Performance appraisals for all eligible regular staff should be completed and entered into the Online Performance Appraisal System by June 1. The Online Performance Appraisal System can be accessed at https://portal.hr.upenn.edu/.
If you are new to Penn’s Performance and Staff Development Program or if you would like to refresh your knowledge, select the links below to register for a virtual workshop in March.
Participating in Performance Appraisals for Staff: March 24, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Join this workshop to understand the performance appraisal process and learn how you can prepare to have a productive review session.
Conducting Performance Appraisals for Supervisors: March 25, 12:30-1:30 p.m. If you are supervising or managing other employees and feel the need to learn more about how to prepare for and conduct performance appraisals, this is the course you’ve been looking for! Join us to find out best practices for this important annual procedure.
Valuable information on the performance appraisal process can be found on the Human Resources website at https://www.hr.upenn.edu/performance-management. These resources will guide you in completing quality appraisals and providing effective performance and professional development feedback.
For more information on the Performance and Staff Development Program, contact your school or center Human Resources professional or the Division of Human Resources at (215) 898-6093.
—Division of Human Resources
Speaking Out: Standing In Solidarity Against Racism and Anti-Semitism
“My heart weeps this morning.” This was the subject line of an email to the WE-CARE (White Educators Committed to Anti-Racism and Equity) leadership team when we learned of the Zoom bombing during Penn’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr Symposium on Social Change. In his book, Strength to Love (1963), Dr. King noted, “The ultimate measure of a [person] is not where [they] stand in moments of comfort and convenience, but where [they] stand at times of challenge and controversy.” We stand in solidarity with our siblings at AARC, on the MLK Symposium planning committee, and those attending the event; we condemn the racist, violent and hateful acts. We pledge to continue our work as white people and with other white people in the quest for social justice, equity, and the end of racism. White supremacy has poisoned our country, our city, and yes, our University, for too long.
We must also name the anti-Semitism infecting the world. As Dr. King stated about the relationship between Blacks and Jews, “our unity is born of our common struggle for centuries, not only to rid ourselves of bondage, but to make oppression of any people by others an impossibility” (National Biennial Convention of the American Jewish Congress, 1958). We agree, and stand in support of Penn’s Jewish community in wake of Professor Robert Schuyler directing a Nazi phrase and hand gesture towards a colleague during a recent academic conference. While Dr. Schuyler retired in the wake of this revelation, as a group of white-identified allies we must interrogate our response to his actions alongside that of the racist Zoom bombing. No matter how intent is characterized, both actions invoke the same sense of privilege and cause damage to our community.
When Dr. King spoke at Oberlin College shortly after winning the Nobel Peace Prize, he urged listeners to take action because “the time is always right to do what is right” (1964). So we implore you, no matter your race or creed, to join the MLK Symposium planners, Penn’s Jewish communities, and WE-CARE in doing right, in creating a beloved community. It will not be easy, but it is right.
—WE-CARE Leadership team:
Katie Bonner, Elizabeth Cannon, Sara Cohen, Erin Cross, Danielle Fike, Lia Howard, Steve Kocher, Laurie McCall, Julie Nettleton, Lauren Sapita, Adam Sherr, Mary Smith
ABCS Course Development Grants: April 16
The Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships has announced course development grants for Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 to promote Academically Based Community Service (ABCS) courses that integrate research, teaching, learning, and service. Over 150 courses from a wide range of disciplines and Penn schools have linked Penn undergraduate and graduate students to work in the community. The grants support University faculty to develop new courses or adapt existing courses that combine research with school and community projects.
To see a list of the ABCS courses, visit https://www.nettercenter.upenn.edu/what-we-do/courses.
Grants will be for no more than $10,000 over two years per project. These funds can be used to provide graduate and undergraduate support, course support, and/or summer salary ($10,000 is inclusive of employee benefits if taken as summer salary).
Funded by the Netter Center, course development grants are designed to assist faculty with developing new and substantially restructured undergraduate and graduate level courses that engage students in real-world problem-solving projects in partnership with schools and community organizations located in West Philadelphia.
The Netter Center will support the course beyond the duration of the grant by providing undergraduate work-study teaching assistants, transportation, and ongoing facilitation of community partnerships.
The following criteria will be used to evaluate proposals:
- Academic excellence
- Integration of research, teaching, and service
- Partnership with schools, community groups, service agencies, etc.
- Focus on Philadelphia, especially West Philadelphia
- Course activity that will involve participation or interaction with the community as well as contribute to improving the community
- Course activity that will engage undergraduate and/or graduate students in real-world problem-solving research opportunities
- Potential for sustainability
Please format proposals as follows:
- Cover page
- Name, title, department, school, mailing address
- Title of the proposal
- Total amount of funding you would like
- 100-word abstract of the proposal (include a description of how the course will involve interaction with the community and benefit the community)
- A one-page biographical sketch of applicant
- A two-to-four-page mini-proposal
- Budget detailing how you intend to use the requested funding
The Netter Center would be pleased to provide feedback on draft proposals before final submission. Proposals for fall 2021 and spring 2022 courses should be submitted to the Netter Center for Community Partnerships by April 16, 2021.
Please contact the Netter Center’s ABCS Coordinator at abcscoordinator@sas.upenn.edu for more information or to submit proposals.
—Dennis DeTurck, Robert A. Fox Leadership Professor; Professor and Undergraduate Chair of Mathematics, SAS; Netter Center Faculty Advisory Board Co-Chair; Provost’s Senior Faculty Fellow at the Netter Center
—John Jackson Jr., Walter H. Annenberg Dean of the Annenberg School for Communication; Richard Perry University Professor; Netter Center Faculty Advisory Board Co-Chair
—Terri H. Lipman, Assistant Dean for Community Engagement, School of Nursing; Miriam Stirl Endowed Term Professor of Nutrition; Professor of Nursing of Children, School of Nursing; Netter Center Faculty Advisory Board Co-Chair
—Loretta Flanagan-Cato, Associate Professor of Psychology, SAS; Co-Director, Biological Basis of Behavior Program; Provost’s Faculty Fellow at the Netter Center
—Ira Harkavy, Associate Vice President; Founding Director, Barbara and Edward Netter Center for Community Partnerships