$10 Million Gift from Daniel and Brett Sundheim to Support International Undergraduate Students in SAS
The University of Pennsylvania has announced a gift of $10 million from Daniel and Brett Sundheim to create the Sundheim International Scholars Fund and the Sundheim Penn First Plus International Opportunity Fund at Penn Arts & Sciences.
The largest portion of this remarkable gift, $9 million, will establish the Sundheim International Scholars Fund to provide scholarship aid for international students at Penn Arts & Sciences with demonstrated financial need. The first cohort of Sundheim Scholars will be selected for matriculation in the fall 2023 semester.
The $1 million balance of the gift will create the Sundheim Penn First Plus International Opportunity Fund. This fund will complement the scholars program by providing additional resources for international students in the College who are also in the Penn First Plus community. Penn First Plus (P1P) provides comprehensive support for students who are the first generation to attend college and/or come from households with modest family incomes. The fund will provide eligible students with resources for experiences including summer internships, research programs, and academic courses.
“Attracting the most talented students from around the globe and providing the resources for them to thrive, regardless of their financial situations, is a key priority for Penn,” said Penn President Liz Magill. “We are extraordinarily grateful to Brett and Dan Sundheim for their shared commitment to increasing educational access and the impact they will have on generations of students.”
Throughout Penn’s history, undergraduates from around the world have added immeasurably to life on campus. “International students bring a wealth of experiences that enrich interactions and learning in and out of the classroom,” said Steven J. Fluharty, Penn Arts & Sciences dean and Thomas S. Gates, Jr. Professor of Psychology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience. “By bringing this new cohort of international students to the College, the Sundheims are widening the lens through which we all view the world and, as a result, furthering global understanding.”
The Sundheims have previously supported student financial aid at Penn. In 2009, they established the Sundheim Family Scholarship.
“Dan and I have always recognized the power of scholarships to change lives, as well as the wonderful diversity that international students bring to the Penn community, and we are thrilled to make this gift,” said Brett Sundheim. “We are delighted that, starting in September, the first international Sundheim Scholars will receive student financial aid that will make their Penn education not only possible, but also less stressful and therefore even more rewarding.”
“Brett and I recognize that even with significant financial aid, certain elements of the Penn undergraduate experience still remain out of reach for aided international students,” continued Daniel Sundheim. “That’s why we established the Sundheim P1P International Opportunity Fund to help eligible students afford to participate in the kinds of important out-of-the-classroom experiences that so meaningfully augment a Penn education.”
Beyond their support for undergraduate financial aid, the Sundheims have been actively engaged alumni for more than a decade. Reflecting their keen interest in art, Mrs. Sundheim currently serves on the board of advisors at Penn’s Institute of Contemporary Art (ICA), a position Mr. Sundheim also held from 2012 to 2018. The couple has also endowed the Daniel and Brett Sundheim Chief Curator position, in addition to supporting promotion of the ICA’s year-round exhibitions, which are free for all.
Previously, Mrs. Sundheim held positions at Morgan Stanley and Corbin Capital Partners. She is secretary of the Sundheim Family Foundation and a board member at the Ransom Everglades School in Coconut Grove, Florida. Mrs. Sundheim holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations from Penn Arts & Sciences.
Mr. Sundheim is the founder and chief investment officer of D1 Capital, a global investment firm that operates across public and private markets. Before founding D1 in 2018, he was the chief investment officer at Viking Global Investors, a global investment firm where he worked for 16 years. Mr. Sundheim started his career at Bear Stearns in 1999 after graduating from the Wharton School.
2023 Penn Veterinary Medicine Teaching Awards
The Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award
This year’s Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award was presented to Koranda Walsh. The Zoetis Distinguished Veterinary Teacher Award is the most prestigious teaching award in veterinary medicine. It is presented annually to a faculty member at every college of veterinary medicine in the United States by Zoetis Animal Health. Its purpose is “to improve veterinary medicine education by recognizing outstanding instructors who, through their ability, dedication, character and leadership, contribute significantly to the advancement of the profession.” The entire Penn Vet student body votes on the recipient.
Dr. Walsh graduated magna cum laude from Duke University and earned a BS with distinction in biology. She then graduated summa cum laude from Penn Vet. Her small animal rotating internship at the University of Minnesota was followed by a small animal internal medicine residency and then a clinical pathology residency, both at Penn Vet. After becoming double boarded in her specialties, she worked for several years in a diagnostic lab before joining the Penn Vet faculty. She is currently an assistant professor of clinical pathology in the department of pathobiology. Her interests include diagnostic cytopathology and hematopathology (with a special interest in hematopoietic diseases) as well as the implementation of innovative teaching methods.
One student remarked, “Every day in her class, I feel like a detective, trying to figure out cases. Sometimes it can be frustrating, but somehow, by the end of the day, she helps you understand in a way that is never condescending or makes you feel bad for not knowing. Her passion for veterinary medicine, especially clinical pathology, and for teaching shines through.”
The William B. Boucher Award for Outstanding Teaching, the Class of 2023 Lecture Teaching Award, and the Class of 2023 NBC Instructor Award
The Boucher Award for Outstanding Teaching honors a house officer at New Bolton Center for excellent teaching, as was exemplified by William Boucher over four decades at Penn Vet. The graduating class votes on the recipient. The selection criteria include teaching skills, knowledge in the candidate’s area of expertise, responsiveness to the needs of students, willingness to participate in off-hour seminars and discussions, and dedication to New Bolton Center and to the veterinary profession.
The winner of the Boucher Award and the two Class of 2023 awards is Sarah Colmer, a fellow in large animal neurology, who exhibits excellence in these areas and more. Students comment that Dr. Colmer presents an amazing combination of expertise in her field, teaching skills, and kindness and understanding. After graduating from Penn Vet in 2017 and completing internships at the Mid-Atlantic Equine Medical Center in New Jersey and at New Bolton Center, she completed a residency in large animal internal medicine at New Bolton Center in 2022. She has particular interest in equine neurodegenerative disease and a passion for teaching.
One student remarked, “Dr. Colmer is very approachable as a clinician. She is willing to take the time to go over the material with students and wants them to continuously do their best and learn. She is such a kind and supportive person!”
Another student said, “Dr. Colmer is excellent at teaching and able to make challenging neuro topics more understandable and less intimidating. She is always a pleasure to work with and seems to truly care about student education.”
Class of 2023 Ryan Instructor Award
The winner of this award is Kathryn McGonigle, an assistant professor of clinical small animal internal medicine at the Penn Vet’s Ryan Hospital. She completed her DVM at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2002, participated in field work with sea turtles in Long Island post-graduation, then practiced as a small animal and exotics general practitioner in New Jersey for four years. She completed an internship at Garden State Veterinary Specialists in 2008 and a residency at the Cornell University Hospital for Animals in 2011. She worked at BluePearl Veterinary Partners, a private practice in Brooklyn, until 2015, when she returned to academia. After a year as a clinical instructor at Cornell in 2016, she began her appointment at Penn Vet. Her special research interests include feline medicine, geriatric care, and infectious diseases.
One student remarked, “Dr. McGonigle is great to work with. She is very approachable and wants students to do their best. She never makes you feel bad for not knowing something, and instead encourages you to work out whatever problem you are struggling with.”
Class of 2023 Laboratory Teaching Award
The winner of this award, Heather Rudolph, is a certified veterinary technician who received her training from Harcum College. As the teaching lab coordinator, Ms. Rudolph has developed and manages the Clinical Skills Lab for students at Penn Vet. Through the lab, students have access to models to practice such skills as restraint, venipuncture, gowning and gloving, clinical pathology, and suturing. Before coming to Penn Vet, Ms. Rudolph worked in emergency and critical care at Crown Veterinary Specialists and Quakertown Veterinary Clinic.
One student remarked, “Heather Rudolph is an amazing woman. She is so responsive and helpful. I remember when she took the time to go over gowning and gloving with me again before the second year practical when I was super nervous for it. She does so much for the students and deserves so much credit for the Herculean effort that takes.”
Class of 2024 Lecture Teaching Award
The winner of this award is Patricia L. Sertich, an associate professor-clinician educator in reproduction and behavior at Penn Vet. Based at the Georgia and Philip Hofmann Research Center for Animal Reproduction at New Bolton Center since 1983, Dr. Sertich evaluates large animals for breeding soundness and develops treatment plans to optimize their fertility. Dr. Sertich consults on reproductive issues of patients in the George Widener Hospital for Large Animals and is a critical member of its high-risk pregnancy management team. As a diplomate of the American College of Theriogenologists (ACT), she currently serves as its secretary and is on the ACT Examination Committee which determines board certification for veterinarians specializing in animal reproduction. Dr. Sertich has mentored many ACT diplomates and received numerous teaching awards, including three Carl J. Norden Distinguished Teaching Awards and the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation Award (Almanac April 17, 2001). As the faculty liaison for the student chapter of the Society for Theriogenology, she trains students to develop excellent clinical skills, provides opportunities to gain clinical experience, and connects them with practices that will direct them to a satisfying and productive career in veterinary medicine.
One student remarked, “Dr. Sertich cares deeply about getting to know her students as more than just a name, but by personality and passions. When she lectures, you can tell she loves what she does and is passionate about teaching others. A pioneer in her field, she inspired me to take large animal block, and I will never forget how wonderful she is.”
Class of 2024 Laboratory Teaching Award
The winner of this award is Tamara Dobbie, who graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph in 1995. She completed a residency program in large animal clinical reproduction at New Bolton Center and became board certified in theriogenology in 2000. After completing her residency, Dr. Dobbie spent several years in equine private practice before returning to New Bolton Center in 2011. Dr. Dobbie currently serves as an associate professor of clinical reproduction at New Bolton Center. She has broad clinical experience working with mares that are presented for routine, referral, and emergent reproductive issues. Her clinical and collaborative research interests are focused on assisted reproduction in the mare.
One student remarked, “Dr. Dobbie is a great instructor and her passion for repro is contagious. The practical and realistic skills of palpation, uterine torsion manipulation, and ART’s that she teaches are so fun and she takes time to truly make sure everyone understands the material. She has helped visual learners like me through her labs.”
Class of 2025 Lecture Teaching Award
The winner of this award is Stephen Cole, an assistant professor of clinical microbiology at Penn Vet. His research seeks to understand and mitigate the extensive spread of drug-resistant bacteria in companion animals and to establish best educational practices in antimicrobial stewardship to promote proper use of critical drugs. He is a dedicated educator who directs the core courses at Penn Vet—in particular, a novel course focused on evidenced-based, bench-to-bedside veterinary medicine. Dr. Cole’s primary clinical specialties include clinical bacteriology and mycology, antimicrobial therapy and selection, and infectious diseases. Dr. Cole is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists (bacteriology/mycology, immunology, virology), a recipient of the Peggy Cotter Travel Award from the American Society for Microbiology, and a One Health Scholar of the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges.
One student remarked, “Dr. Cole brings enthusiasm and humor into the classroom every single day, making learning enjoyable for all of us. His commitment to our understanding of material and its clinical applications not only helps us learn better but helps us feel like the future doctors we are.”
Class of 2025 Laboratory Teaching Award
The winner of this award, Deborah Gillette, attended Purdue University as an undergraduate, then completed veterinary school at Cornell University. After completing a pathology residency at Penn Vet, she earned a PhD in comparative pathology at University of California, Davis, and became board certified. Dr. Gillette joined the faculty at the University of Wisconsin for one year before joining the pathology faculty at New Bolton Center. During this time, she received a master’s degree in health professions education from Penn’s Graduate School of Education. Dr. Gillette left Penn Vet to become a pathologist in the toxicology department of Rohm and Haas Company (now part of Dow Chemical). After retiring from the industry, she returned to Penn Vet in 2018, working for the pathology department on the Philadelphia campus. Dr. Gillette also serves as photo editor of the journal Veterinary Pathology.
Recalled one student, “I remember, my first day of pathology lab, being kind of apprehensive about what was to come. There were several of us standing around a cow hoof wondering, what the heck was going on and how do we write a morphologic diagnosis? Then Dr. Gillette appeared and started calling us all ‘doctor’ and engaged us with the specimen to create a diagnosis. Over my time in that class, she was always there and always so willing to not just help but get us to think and use what we’ve learned to put all the pieces of the pathology puzzle together. Her commitment to our learning is so apparent.”
Class of 2026 Lecture Teaching Award
The winner of this award is Rose Nolen-Walston, who was a professional dressage rider and riding teacher before she earned her DVM from the University of Georgia in 2001. She completed an internship and residency in large animal internal medicine at Tufts University. Dr. Nolen-Walston spent a year there researching adult stem cell biology in mice, then joined the faculty at Penn Vet, where she has since taught and practiced internal medicine at New Bolton Center. She is currently an associate professor of large animal internal medicine. Dr. Nolen-Walston received the Zoetis Distinguished Teacher Award in 2017 (Almanac May 23, 2017) and the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Award in 2014 (Almanac April 15, 2014).
One student remarked, “Dr. Nolen-Walston is literally a saving grace. She always comes in when I’m struggling most with material and not only makes it make sense but also re-engages me in the topics. She makes me excited about learning and feel like an actual doctor.”
Another student said that Dr. Nolen Watson is “the professor who changed my entire outlook on learning. Dr. Nolen-Walston turned some of the most difficult concepts into the most fun, comprehensible, and applicable ones, all while being our cheerleader the whole time. “
Class of 2026 Laboratory Teaching Award
The winner of this award is Paul Orsini, who has served as director or co-director of the course Veterinary Gross Anatomy at Penn Vet since 1995 and has taught the course since 1987. He received his veterinary degree from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine and completed specialty training programs in veterinary surgery and dentistry at Penn Vet, obtaining diplomate status in both disciplines. His passion for veterinary anatomy started as a first-year student in Cornell’s department of anatomy. Dr. Orsini has authored scientific articles, abstracts, and book chapters in the fields of veterinary surgery, dentistry, and anatomy, and books in both equine and ruminant anatomy. He continues to teach anatomy and perform veterinary dentistry and oral surgery.
One student remarked, “Dr. Orsini’s enthusiasm is contagious, and his love of teaching is palpable. When asked a question, he goes above and beyond to make sure that not only that information is understood, but also supplies more information to tie it back in to lectures.”
Ibn Sina Foundation: Gift to SAS for Humanities Programs and Initiatives
The Ibn Sina Foundation, a British philanthropic institution, has made a gift to the School of Arts & Sciences to support various humanities initiatives critical to the school’s key priorities, including funding for research, scholarship, and programming in the Huntsman Program in International Studies & Business, Penn World Scholars, Islamic studies, and the Marks Family Writing Center. The gift also provides support to the College Dean’s Innovation Fund.
“This gift from the Ibn Sina Foundation will have a lasting impact on a wide range of humanities programs,” said Steven J. Fluharty, dean and Thomas S. Gates, Jr. Professor of Psychology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience. “This type of support has a ripple effect that benefits future scholars from diverse pathways of study.”
“It is a privilege for both of us to play a small part in pushing forward Penn’s mission to invest in the area of humanities,” said Sufia Ansari and Javed Khan, ENG’91, W’91, founding trustees of the Ibn Sina Foundation. “It is also gratifying to know that a portion of our gift will help prepare students from modest economic backgrounds for a complex future that clearly requires cultural awareness in both for-profit and non-profit settings. We are also delighted to support initiatives that foster core writing and critical thinking skills—both hallmarks of a great humanities education.”
The gift provides scholarship support and funds for various learning opportunities in the Huntsman Program, a coordinated dual degree program focused on language, the liberal arts, and business, and fosters the development of ethical leadership skills.
“The funds from the Ibn Sina Foundation will help us enhance and expand student activities that promote a deeper understanding of the Middle East region and its extremely important role in the world,” said Rudra Sil, School of Arts & Sciences faculty director of the Huntsman Program and a professor of political science. “These activities can encompass further research, internships, and language training, as well as immersive experiences focused on the region.”
“The Huntsman Program is grateful for the Ibn Sina Foundation’s transformative gift, supporting Huntsman students’ educational experiences as they deepen their understanding of global business and policy issues, particularly those related to the Middle East,” said Harbir Singh, Wharton School faculty director of the Huntsman Program and a professor of management. “Looking ahead, students will seek to find solutions to the most challenging problems using a multi-disciplinary approach that truly leverages the business, liberal arts, and cultural elements of their curriculum.”
In addition, the gift creates an endowed scholarship fund for Penn World Scholars, a four-year program that provides students with the necessary skills to become global leaders throughout their lives and connects them with international alumni, Penn leaders, and distinguished visitors.
“Undergraduate financial aid for initiatives like the Penn World Scholars program is critical to the University’s mission,” said Ezekiel Emanuel, Vice Provost for Global Initiatives. “Such support allows Penn to attract the best and brightest students from around the world and provide enriching, impactful experiences that extend well beyond the classroom. Support from the Ibn Sina Foundation is foundational to the development of Penn World Scholars as future global leaders.”
The gift also supports students whose research is focused on Islamic thought and civilization, including student travel, research and language study, and student-related events and activities.
“The Ibn Sina Islamic Studies Student Support Fund provides invaluable support and encouragement for undergraduate as well as graduate students studying topics related to the Islamic world,” said Jamal J. Elias, director of the Wolf Humanities Center, director of the Penn Forum for Global Islamic Studies, and the Walter H. Annenberg Professor in the Humanities and a professor of religious studies. “In addition to providing two prizes for outstanding research papers, the Ibn Sina Fund assists students in essential academic activities, such as traveling for research and intensive language programs, giving their own papers at conferences, and organizing student-led symposia at Penn.”
In addition, the gift will establish a writing internship fund for the Marks Family Writing Center, which provides writing support to Penn students and faculty across the disciplines. The center presents writing workshops across campus, consults with faculty and assists them with designing and responding to writing assignments, and engages in community outreach.
“We are grateful to the Ibn Sina Foundation for providing this transformative opportunity to students who are otherwise unable to pursue unpaid internships due to financial constraints,” said Valerie Ross, the Marks Family Senior Director of the Marks Family Center. “Research has shown that internships help to level the playing field for minoritized students, enhancing their sense of belonging and academic outcomes, and leading to increased employment opportunities after graduation. We are especially delighted that this gift will provide our students with the chance to share and advance their writing skills in real-world settings, including nonprofits that often cannot afford to offer paid internships.”
Jie Deng: Evan C Thompson Term Chair for Excellence in Teaching
Interim Provost Beth A. Winkelstein and Vice Provost for Education Karen Detlefsen announced the appointment of Jie Deng to the Evan C Thompson Term Chair for Excellence in Teaching, beginning July 1, 2023.
Dr. Deng is an associate professor of nursing, faculty director of the Laboratory of Innovative and Translational Nursing Research, and a senior fellow of the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics. Her research focuses on long-term cancer survival, especially related to secondary lymphedema, which can cause swelling and hard tissue in the head and neck area following cancer treatment. Secondary lymphedema impacts 75% of U.S. head and neck cancer survivors and profoundly affects physical functions like speech, breathing, and swallowing. Dr. Deng has led pioneering research projects—supported by the National Institutes of Health, the National Cancer Institute, and the American Cancer Society, among others—to define, measure, and improve patient outcomes for this critical yet understudied area of cancer survivorship.
At Penn Nursing, Dr. Deng is renowned for her strong commitment to teaching and mentoring students at every level of nursing training, including leading the core courses in both the MSN and PhD programs. Before her doctoral studies, she spent four years as associate chief nursing officer at Peking University Third Hospital, following earlier positions there as supervisor of the medical department and emergency room head nurse. A fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, she received a PhD from the School of Nursing at Vanderbilt University and an MS and BS from the School of Nursing at Peking University.
Evan C Thompson, W’64, endowed the Thompson Professorship in 2003 to recognize teaching excellence. The current Evan C Thompson Professor is Daeyeon Lee in the School of Engineering and Applied Science.
Cheryl Logan: Executive Director of the McGraw Center for Educational Leadership
Cheryl Logan has been named the inaugural executive director of the new McGraw Center for Educational Leadership at the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education (Penn GSE). The announcement was made today by Penn GSE Dean Pam Grossman, with Dr. Logan expected to officially start in July.
The launch of the center was announced last fall as part of a record-setting gift by the Harold W. McGraw, Jr. Family Foundation, Inc. (Almanac November 15, 2022). It will focus on creating next-level education leaders across all sectors of learning. The center’s launch will be one of the final events for outgoing dean Pam Grossman, who has made the preparation of future education leaders who are flexible, innovative, and open to change an important part of her legacy.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Cheryl Logan as the founding executive director of the McGraw Center for Educational Leadership,” said Dean Grossman. “With her wealth of experience and expertise in the field of education, Dr. Logan is poised to play an instrumental role in the development of the next generation of education leaders. We believe that her innovative and visionary approach will help shape the direction of our center and ensure that the center becomes a driving force for positive change in the field of education. We are excited to have her on board and look forward to the impact she will make in this new role.”
Dr. Logan, who earned her EdD in 2017 from Penn GSE’s mid-career doctoral program in educational leadership, is a former chief academic officer at the School District of Philadelphia and has maintained close ties to Philadelphia and Penn over the years. She is currently the superintendent of Omaha Public Schools—the largest district in Nebraska—where she rose to national prominence for leading the 50,000-plus student district during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, Omaha was one of the first large urban school districts in the nation to return to in-person learning in 2020. This leadership was one of the defining factors cited when Dr. Logan won a McGraw Prize in 2022. Dr. Logan announced in December 2022 that she would step down to return to the east coast.
The McGraw Center for Educational Leadership, a newly endowed initiative, will build on Penn GSE’s outstanding legacy of preparing leaders in pre-K–12, higher education, and workplace learning to cultivate leaders who understand pressing problems in education from multiple perspectives and can develop innovative solutions. The McGraw Center will position GSE at the forefront of thought leadership. As executive director, Dr. Logan will develop programs and convene gatherings that benefit multiple constituents—students and alumni, scholars and practitioners, and local, national, and global thought leaders. In this role, Dr. Logan will work with the directors and faculty of GSE’s leadership programs in K-12, higher education and corporate and adult learning, building bridges across sectors and equipping leaders to develop visionary approaches to complex challenges in education.
José A. Bauermeister, the Albert M. Greenfield Professor of Human Relations, the chair of Penn Nursing’s department of family & community health, and founding director of the Eidos Faculty LGBTQ+ Health Initiative, has been named one of the top 50 in Digital Health for 2022 in the category of equity advocacy.
In addition, Penn Dental Medicine alumnus Craig McKenzie, GED’20, D’21, was recognized with the award. “I think the PDA 10 Under 10 award recognizes the increased access to care my specialty provides for pediatric and special needs patients,” said Dr. McKenzie. “I look forward to continuing my lifelong involvement in organized dentistry to advocate for our profession and the patients we serve.” Dr. McKenzie earned his DMD from Penn Dental Medicine in 2021 and a master’s degree in education from Penn’s Graduate School of Education in 2020. He is now a resident in dental anesthesiology at the University of Pittsburgh.
Daeyeon Lee, a professor in the department of chemical and biomolecular engineering at Penn Engineering, has received the 2022 Outstanding Achievement Award in Nanoscience from the American Chemical Society (ACS).
The American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) honors Therese Richmond with its 2023 Marguerite Rodgers Kinney Award for a Distinguished Career.
Shu Yang, the Joseph Bordogna Professor in the departments of materials science & engineering and chemical & biomolecular engineering in Penn Engineering, is the 2023 recipient of the Langmuir Lectureship Award.