October 24, 2023 Volume 70 Issue 11

October 18, 2023

Dear members of the Penn community,

The escalating violence in Israel and Gaza has no clear end in sight and reverberates around the world, including on our campus. I have condemned the Hamas terrorist attacks that set these tragic events in motion. We mourn the loss of innocent lives across the region.

I am also responsible, as the President of this University, for ensuring the safety and security of our entire community while also safeguarding our ability to carry out our academic mission.

This week’s campus demonstrations come at a time when many members of our community are fearful and experiencing tremendous pain. Peaceful protest – and all that comes with it – is a feature of campus life. As a university, we support free expression, along with a commitment to the safety and security of our community and the values we share and work to advance. The deeply held and disparate views of the Israel-Palestinian conflict often put these sacred values in tension, and this crisis is testing and will test our community in many ways.

Penn will not tolerate and will take immediate action against any incitement to violence or, of course, actual violence. The safety and well-being of all our students, faculty, and staff comes first. Penn Public Safety is working (outlined in a message yesterday) to ensure all students, faculty, and staff feel safe, with clear guidance on what to do if you feel threatened or at risk. I want to assure you that we are monitoring upcoming events closely through Penn Public Safety and are exercising extreme vigilance to prevent violence on our campus. If there is an immediate threat to your physical safety, call our 24/7 PennComm Emergency Call Center: (215) 573-3333.

We are all members of the Penn community, and we all deserve to be heard and respected. But hateful speech has no place at Penn. No place. I categorically condemn hateful speech that denigrates others as contrary to our values. In this tragic moment, we must respect the pain of our classmates and colleagues and recognize that our speech and actions have the power to both harm and heal our community. We must choose healing, resisting those who would divide us and instead respect and care for one another.

There are more difficult days ahead, with more casualties and loss to come in this war. Please be kind to yourselves, approach each other from a place of compassion and understanding, and seek support when you need it. The Penn community is here for you.

—M. Elizabeth Magill, President, Trustees University Professor, and Professor of Law

Provost John L. Jackson, Jr. has announced the formation of an ad hoc consultative committee to advise him on the selection of the H. Carton Rogers III Vice Provost and Director of Libraries. Constantia Constantinou resigned from this position in September, and Brigitte Weinsteiger, Gershwind & Bennett Family Senior Associate Vice Provost for Collections and Scholarly Communications in the Penn Libraries, currently serves as interim director.

The committee welcomes nominations and input from all members of the Penn community, which can be sent to Isaacson, Miller by December 15, 2023 at: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/penn-libraries/vice-provost-director.

The members of the committee are:

Chair

• Beth A. Winkelstein, Deputy Provost; Eduardo D. Glandt President’s Distinguished Professor, School of Engineering and Applied Science

Faculty

• Vivian Gadsden, William T. Carter Professor of Child Development and Education, Graduate School of Education
• Jeffrey Kallberg, Associate Dean for Arts and Letters and William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Music, School of Arts and Sciences
• Shannon Mattern, Presidential Penn Compact Professor of Cinema and Media Studies, School of Arts and Sciences
• Lynn Meskell, Richard D. Green University Professor, School of Arts and Sciences and Weitzman School of Design
• Christopher Woods, Avalon Professor in the Humanities, School of Arts and Sciences; Williams Director, Penn Museum

Staff

• Joshua Beeman, Associate Vice President of Information Technology and Associate Chief Information Officer
• Manuel de la Cruz Gutierrez, Director of Data and Innovation Services and Interim Director, Holman Biotech Commons
• Andrew Sarno, Head of Management Information Services and Project Support, Penn Libraries

Students

• Michael Krone, PCL/WG’24, CAS’19, President, Graduate and Professional Student Assembly
• Rawan Wadi, CAS’24, Co-Chair, Student Committee on Undergraduate Education

Board of Advisors

• Erik Gershwind, W’93, Chair, Board of Advisors
• Wendy Holman, W’97, Member, Board of Advisors

Staff to the Committee

• Jennifer Canose, Associate Director for Education, Office of the Provost

Consultant to the Committee

• Anita Tien, Partner, Isaacson, Miller

Thomas Mallouk, the Vagelos Professor in Energy Research and chair of the department of chemistry in the School of Arts and Sciences, and colleagues have been awarded $5 million over three years from the U.S. Department of Energy as part of its Energy Earthshots program. Dr. Mallouk’s team—which includes Karen I. Winey and Aleksandra Vojvodic from Penn’s School of Engineering and Applied Science, as well as collaborators from three other academic institutions and one national lab—makes up one of the program’s 18 funded academic research centers.

“We’re focusing on the science of bipolar membranes, which have been used for decades for chemical separations, but only recently in renewable energy applications,” Dr. Mallouk explained.

Two of the new applications involve electrolyzers that split water into hydrogen and oxygen or convert carbon dioxide into carbon-containing fuels. But it can be challenging to control pH and ion balance in these devices. In 2014, Dr. Mallouk’s lab and another at Caltech that happened to be working on a similar problem discovered that bipolar membranes—paper-thin sponges that conduct positively charged ions on one side and negatively charged ions on the other—could help. It was the first realization of their potential.

“Since then, our group and others have expanded the range of applications of bipolar membranes in renewable energy conversion,” Dr. Mallouk said. For example, they are being studied for possible use in making green hydrogen from water, liquid fuels from carbon dioxide, fuel cells for making electricity from hydrogen, and redox flow batteries for long-duration electrical energy storage, as well as for direct carbon dioxide capture from the ocean.

“By combining new kinds of membrane components with theory and physical characterization on all the relevant length scales, we hope to understand more about how bipolar membranes work,” Dr. Mallouk said. “We can exploit that knowledge to make electrochemical energy conversion more efficient and cost effective, and to invent new kinds of electrochemical devices based on novel membrane concepts.”

The work fits well within the aim of the Energy Earthshots, which brings together researchers from a variety of institutions to work on basic science that can accelerate the transition from fossil fuels to a renewable energy economy. Projects focus on one of seven different areas: going carbon negative, geothermal, floating offshore wind, hydrogen, industrial heat, long-duration storage, and clean fuels and products. Funding for all projects totals $264 million.

Associate professor of clinical dairy production Joseph S. Bender and dairy production fellow Sarah Rassler at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine have received a $248,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture to establish a comprehensive program designed to train recent veterinary graduates and prospective veterinarians in advanced production techniques. The program represents a vital step towards improving the sustainability of rural animal agriculture communities.

Food animal veterinary service providers are integral to the success of livestock producer and animal production systems, and their symbiotic relationship directly impacts each other’s survival. Unfortunately, counteractive pressures have developed over time, leading to producer failures and the dilution of livestock availability, which in turn increases the time and cost of providing veterinary services. This cycle contributes to veterinary shortages, veterinarian burnout, and a daunting environment for students interested in rural veterinary medicine.

“The primary goal of this project is to enhance the economic viability of dairy producers, recognizing that their success is intertwined with the economic health of rural communities and industry partners,” said Dr. Bender, who is co-leading the project. “By equipping recent veterinary graduates with advanced production medicine skills, connecting current veterinary students with experienced mentors, and engaging rising high school students, Penn Vet seeks to break the adverse chain of circumstances and create a positive impact on rural veterinary medicine.”

The grant is awarded through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Veterinary Services Grant Program (VSGP) Awards. The VSGP, authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, is designed to help mitigate food animal veterinary service shortages in the U.S. It funds education and extension activities that will enable veterinarians and veterinary students to gain specialized food animal skills and to enhance practices.

Effective in 2024 and made possible by the generous support of the Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies (SIMS) at the University of Pennsylvania Libraries, all current and back content of the journal Manuscript Studies will become fully open access (OA) under the Diamond OA model, which allows readers and authors to access journal content free of charge.

Manuscript Studies joins the University of Pennsylvania Press’s growing open access journals program which also includes the Journal of Disaster Studies, Observational Studies, and Pasados: Recovering History, Imagining Latinidad. Content for Penn Press’s Open Access journals is available on Project MUSE.

Since its first issue in 2016, Manuscript Studies has embraced the full complexity of global manuscript studies in the digital age. It was conceived with four main goals: to bridge the gaps between material and digital manuscript research; to break down the walls which often separate print and digital publication and serve as barriers between academics, professionals in the cultural heritage field, and citizen scholars; to serve as a forum for scholarship encompassing many pre-modern manuscripts cultures, not just those of Europe; and to showcase methods and techniques of analysis in manuscript studies that can be applied across different subject areas. The journal is edited by Nicholas Herman, the Lawrence J. Schoenberg Curator at the Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies and Medieval Studies at the Penn Libraries; Lynn Ransom, curator of SIMS Programs, Schoenberg database manager, and a founding member of the Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies; and Amey Hutchins, Penn Libraries’ manuscripts cataloging librarian and reviews editor.

“Free and open access has been central to the vision of the Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies since its founding,” said Sean Quimby, associate university librarian & director of the Jay I. Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, and director of the Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. “This new agreement, an expansion of our longstanding partnership with Penn Press, strengthens and supports a robust exchange of knowledge among a global community of manuscript scholars and students.”

SIMS is home to the Lawrence J. Schoenberg collection of manuscripts, donated to the Penn Libraries by Mr. Schoenberg in 2011 and the Schoenberg Database of Manuscripts—which is a free, open-access resource that enables researchers to trace the provenance of manuscripts from their origins to present times. In addition to publishing the journal Manuscript Studies, SIMS engages scholars from around the world through the annual Schoenberg Symposium on Manuscript Studies in the Digital Age, held in partnership with the Free Library of Philadelphia.

Print volumes of the journal will remain available for purchase.

For questions and more information about the Penn Press journals program, please contact Jocelyn Dawson, director of journals at Penn Press, at jmdawson@upenn.edu.

Michael Gavin, a sophomore in the School of Arts and Sciences, died on October 14 from complications of a rare form of brain cancer.

Mr. Gavin grew up in West Chester, Pennsylvania. He attended St. Aloysius School, St. Agnes School, the Haverford School, then The Hun School of Princeton in the hopes of playing Division I football. In 2020 he earned recognition as First Team, All Area New Jersey  Defensive Tackle, and an invitation to the 2021 Under Armour All-America Football Camp Series in Baltimore, Maryland.

Mr. Gavin played an impressive 2021 season, which earned him All-MAPL, All-League, and All-Prep recognition, and saw his team crowned MAPL Champions. After being admitted to Penn, he was a member of the Class of 2026 in the College of Arts and Sciences, where he was a defensive lineman for the Penn football team. As a football player at Penn, he received the Coach Lake award for demonstrating leadership and Penn pride. In June of 2022, he learned that he had glioblastoma, a rare form of brain cancer for which there is no cure.

“Michael accepted the devastating news and decided that he wanted to fight the disease as a Penn student-athlete,” said Mr. Gavin’s family. “The entire Penn community that came into contact with Michael demonstrated that kindness is everywhere, meeting him where he was throughout his battle and fueling his will to live.”

“He will forever be one of the toughest and bravest men I have ever met. His legacy will live on in all our hearts, and he will forever be a part of the Penn football family. On behalf of the staff and team, I offer my deepest condolences to the Gavin family and to all of those who had the honor to know and love Michael,” said Ray Priore, the George A. Munger Head Coach of Penn Football.

He is survived by his parents; his sister, Annabel; his brother, Gabriel; grandparents; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to advance research in neuro-oncology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. A memorial to Mr. Gavin will take place at Penn Football’s next home game vs. Brown on October 27.

Morton Melman, C’43 D’44, a former associate clinical professor of restorative dentistry in Penn Dental Medicine, died on August 6. He was 100.

Dr. Melman attended the College of Arts and Sciences as an undergraduate, then completed a dental degree at Penn Dental Medicine. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, Dr. Melman opened a dental practice in Philadelphia. In 1964, he joined the faculty of his alma mater as an associate in dental restoration. After spending a decade as an associate in crown and bridge prosthesis, in 1974 he became an assistant professor in restorative dentistry. He eventually advanced to clinical associate professor in the same department before retiring from Penn in 1992.

Dr. Melman is survived by his wife, Roberta; his sons, Drew and Barry (Leslie); his grandchildren, Jake Melman (Antoinette Lee), Olivia Davis (Ben), Ben Melman (Jaime), and Mackenzie Melman; his great-grandchildren, Malakai Graham Melman and Eli Franklin Davis; his stepchildren, Ted (Sarah) Lodge, Terri Lodge (Steve), and Henry Lodge (Marit); and his step-grandchildren, Evan Lodge, Elspeth Lodge, Zachary (Gabriela) Ginsberg, and Garth Ginsberg. He was predeceased by his first wife and mother of his children, Elaine; his sister, Ethel Seltzer; and his daughter-in-law, Maria. Contributions in Dr. Melman’s memory may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.

Paul W. Meyer, the retired F. Otto Haas Executive Director of the Morris Arboretum and Gardens, died on October 10. He was 71.

Mr. Meyer had an interest in plants since his childhood, which he cultivated by studying horticulture at Ohio State University and working at the University’s botanical garden and arboretum. After graduating from Ohio State, Mr. Meyer was interested in venturing abroad, so he took a position at the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens in the town of Romsey in Hampshire, England. After a year in England, Mr. Meyer returned to the United States, undertaking the Longwood Graduate Program at Longwood Gardens in the Philadelphia suburbs. After graduating in 1976, Mr. Meyer was recruited by the Morris Arboretum and Gardens as curator and director of horticulture.

As curator of Morris Arboretum and Gardens, Mr. Meyer oversaw the clearing of overgrown sections of the garden and the renewal of the living collections through expeditions to China and Korea. He exhibited “vision, talent, leadership, and charisma to inspire staff and donors to raise the Morris Arboretum to the level of beauty and inclusion that its founders, John and Lydia Morris envisioned,” said an online tribute by the arboretum. In 1991, following a national search, Mr. Meyer was appointed director of the Morris Arboretum.

Under Mr. Meyers’s direction, the arboretum built its botanical staff and its reputation for regional floristic studies. Mr. Meyer traveled on twelve expeditions to China, Korea, Taiwan, Armenia, and the Republic of Georgia, and other places, where he collected plants to help increase the arboretum’s genetic diversity, including plants that grow in stressful urban conditions. This unique diversity of plant life helped make the Morris Arboretum & Gardens a leader in its field. “It would be no overstatement to say that during Paul’s 43-year tenure at the Morris, 28 years as its leader, he transformed a quiet garden on the edge of the city into a vibrant, world-class public institution that now welcomes more than 170,000 visitors per year,” said current F. Otto Haas Executive Director Bill Cullina in a tribute.

Mr. Meyer and his wife, Debra (Debbie) Rodgers, personally endowed two funds at the arboretum that have been supplemented by contributions from other individuals in their honor: the Paul Meyer and Debra L. Rodgers Study-Travel Endowment and the Paul Meyer and Debra L. Rodgers Historic Preservation Endowment Fund. In 2022, Mr. Meyer received the Veitch Memorial Medal, an international prize given annually by the Royal Horticultural Society in Great Britain to “persons of any nationality who have made an outstanding contribution to the advancement and improvement of the science and practice of horticulture.”

“Paul put his stamp on every inch of the Morris Arboretum & Gardens,” said Mr. Cullina. “From the carefully preserved historic features to the iconic visitor experiences and the curated and meticulously tended living collections, Paul’s love and commitment to Morris is felt in every acre. We give Paul our deepest thanks for leaving us this beautiful, irreplaceable public garden.”

He is survived by his wife, Debra (Debbie) Rodgers; his brother, Gary Meyer (Susan); his niece, Katie Alimov (Davron); his nephew, John Meyer (Chelsea); his brothers-in-law Bob Rodgers (Pattie) and Gary Rodgers (Deb) and their families; and a host of other family members and friends. A celebration of life is planned for a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Meyer-Rodgers Study Travel Endowment at the Morris Arboretum and Gardens (http://givingpages.upenn.edu/PaulMeyer) or the Friends of Pastorius Park (https://www.friendsofpastorius.org/), where Mr. Meyer was an active volunteer in retirement.

Ellen (Bailey) Witsch, DH’79, a former clinical associate in community oral health in Penn Dental Medicine, died on May 30 after a battle with breast cancer. She was 65.

Ms. Witsch grew up in Meriden, Connecticut, where she attended the St. Rose, Mercy, and Maloney High Schools before studying at St. Elizabeth University. She then received a certificate in oral hygiene from Penn’s School of Dental Medicine, graduating in 1979. While a student at Penn, she worked in dining services. In 2007, she returned to Penn Dental Medicine as a clinical associate in the department of community oral health, mentoring students and teaching courses. She left Penn in 2020.

Ms. Witsch lent her skill to diverse social causes, sending care packages to civilians affected by tragedies in Ukraine and Haiti, cooking dinners for refugees, and donating her skills as a dental hygienist.

She is survived by her husband, Michael; her children, Michael (Aimee), Stephanie, Jeffrey, Jennifer (Scott); her grandchildren, Laila and Emmett; her mother, Mary; her siblings, Mike (Sue), Ann, Chris, Beth (Charlie), Ned (Meg), and Tom (Karla); and nieces, nephews, and cousins. She was predeceased by her father, Robert Bailey. Donations in her memory can be made to the Haitian Health Foundation (https://www.haitianhealthfoundation.org).

All members of the University community are invited to bring topics for consideration to the

University Council Open Forum

Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 4 p.m.
Hall of Flags, Houston Hall

A PennCard is required to attend University Council meetings

PennCard holders who want to be assured of speaking at an Open Forum must submit a request to the Office of the University Secretary (ucouncil@pobox.upenn.edu) by 10 a.m. on Friday, November 3, 2023, briefly indicating the subject of the intended remarks. Speakers’ statements are limited to three minutes and should be framed to present topics of general University interest and be directed to University Council as a body through the moderator, and not to an individual.

Those who have not submitted a timely request to the Office of the University Secretary will be permitted to speak at the discretion of the moderator of University Council if time remains after the registered speakers.

For the meeting format and guidelines for remarks, please consult the University Council website at https://secretary.upenn.edu/univ-council/open-forum.

The Office of the University Secretary can be contacted at ucouncil@pobox.upenn.edu or (215) 898-7005.

—Office of the University Secretary

During the University Council meeting on October 18, held in the Hall of Flags in Houston Hall, Penn President Liz Magill opened the meeting by acknowledging the intense loss, hurt, and worry being experienced by members of the Penn community with family members in Israel and Gaza. She led a moment of silence to honor the innocent lives lost during the conflict.

Lizann Boyle Rode, associate vice president in the Office of the University Secretary, addressed a question about disability studies raised during the September Council meeting. She said that disability studies courses are currently integrated into several programs in the School of Arts and Sciences, including the gender, sexuality and women’s studies major and the American Sign Language minor. She suggested that students interested in a dedicated disability studies major talk to faculty in SAS, with whom proposals for new majors originate.

President Magill gave the President’s Report. She acknowledged that Jewish, Palestinian, Arab, and Muslim members of the Penn community are hurting and reaffirmed the need members of the Penn community to be respectful and compassionate to one another. She stated that Penn would not tolerate hate speech and threats of violence. President Magill noted that peaceful protest is a feature of campus life and central to open expression.

President Magill called on Provost John Jackson, Vice Provost for University Life Karu Kozuma, University Chaplain and Vice President for Social Equity & Community Charles Howard, and Vice President for Public Safety Kathleen Shields Anderson then elaborated on ways their respective offices have been leading, advising, providing support to, and ensuring the safety of the Penn community.

During the Provost’s Report, Provost Jackson introduced Vice Provost for Education Karen Detlefsen and Senior Vice President for Institutional Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer Joann Mitchell to discuss Penn’s reaccreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, a process that now happens every eight years. Ms. Mitchell and Dr. Detlefsen discussed the stages of the reaccreditation process, which is organized around the theme, “Inclusively and Effectively Educating the Whole Person for the 21st Century.” They noted that the chair of the external evaluating team will make a preliminary visit to campus on  November 6, which will include open meetings during which faculty, staff and students would be invited. The full review team will visit campus in March 2024.

Vice President Kathleen Shields Anderson and Penn Police Chief Gary Williams gave the first focus issue presentation of the year about Penn’s Division of Public Safety. Vice President Shields Anderson discussed the seven offices that are part of public safety and their functions (PennComm Emergency Communications Center, Special Services, Penn Police, Fire & Emergency Services, Security Services, Information Systems & Computing, and Finance & Administration). She indicated that Penn Police is a fully accredited police department and that the Division of Public Safety’s service to the Penn community ranges from walking and riding escorts to emergency response. Police Chief Williams provided an overview of the Penn Police patrol are and noted that, as Penn transitions out of the pandemic, retail thefts, assaults, car thefts, and bike/scooter thefts have risen. A recent pilot program, TOGETHER, pairs Penn police officers with mental health professionals when responding to those in crisis, and the results thus far are promising. In the near future, Public Safety will also pilot an outreach program for people who are unhoused.

Topics raised during the new business portion of the meeting included a call by the Muslim Students Association for Penn to recognize the grief of Palestinians; a request for Penn to provide financial support to graduate students affected by the Israel-Palestine conflict; a call for increased security on campus for affinity spaces; and the need for all campus buildings to be  physically accessible.

Hemodialysis is a life-saving treatment for people experiencing end stage kidney disease. Treatments typically take place three times a week and each session lasts three to four hours. The experience can be isolating and so uncomfortable that patients often skip future sessions, which can rapidly worsen their condition.

The Rita and Alex Hillman Foundation has awarded a $50,000 grant from the Hillman Emergent Innovation: Serious Illness and End of Life program to researchers from Penn Nursing, New York University, and the Annenberg School for Communication’s Annenberg Virtual Reality ColLABorative (VRCoLAB) for a pilot study testing social VR during hemodialysis uses low cost, off-the-shelf solutions to remove the environment that patients find dull and replace it with a more stimulating one.

Led by Penn Nursing’s Lea Ann Matura, an associate professor of nursing and vice chair of the department of biobehavioral health sciences, the study will connect dialysis patients in outpatient centers across Philadelphia in an immersive, realistic VR film theater. The project will explore a new nurse-moderated, social VR experience to decrease isolation and increase health literacy and adherence to treatment in marginalized communities. The study will begin in 2024 and run for 18 months.

“Social VR is a contrast to depersonalized care,” said Dr. Matura. “It can remove the environment that patients find dull and replace it with a more stimulating one. VR may promote self-care agency by offering choices in how they spend their time during treatment sessions. VR compels an understanding of the needs and preferences of patients and lends itself to multidisciplinary integration providing enhanced holistic care. It also focuses on caring for the patient rather than treating a disease.”

Co-investigators include Penn Nursing’s Subhash Aryal, director of the BECCA Lab and a research associate professor; Linda Ruggiero, a clinical nurse at Penn Medicine; Maya Clark-Cutaia, an assistant professor at NYU College of Nursing; and Kyle Cassidy, a digital design specialist at the Annenberg School for Communication.

Jared Farmer, the Walter H. Annenberg Professor of History in the School of Arts and Sciences, has received the 2023 Jacques Barzun Prize in Cultural History from the American Philosophical Society for his book Elderflora: A Modern History of Ancient Trees, about “the planet’s oldest trees and the making of the modern world.”

The Jacques Barzun Prize in Cultural History is awarded annually to the author whose book exhibits “distinguished work in American or European cultural history.” The prize is named for historian and cultural critic Jacques Barzun; it was established by one of his former students.

Dr. Farmer studies the histories of built and unbuilt environments from the hyperlocal to the planetary. His temporal expertise is the long 19th century; his regional expertise is the North American West. His 2008 book On Zion’s Mount: Mormons, Indians, and the American Landscape won the Francis Parkman Prize from the Society of American Historians, and his 2013 book Trees in Paradise: A California History won the Ray Allen Billington Prize from the Organization of American Historians.

Rashida Ng, a 2001 graduate of Penn’s master of architecture program, has been recognized as a 2023 Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania. Ms. Ng is the Presidential Associate Professor of Architecture in the Weitzman School of Design, where she is also the chair of the undergraduate architecture program.

A licensed architect and award-winning educator, Ms. Ng studies the confluence of climate change and racial equity, specifically emphasizing housing insecurity. Engaging researchers, practitioners, and community stakeholders, she organized the spring 2023 Housing Justice Futures symposium aimed at tackling housing inequities in Philadelphia and other U.S. cities. She served as the 2019-2020 president of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, the first Black woman to hold this position.

In addition, Marsha Perelman, a 1974 graduate of Penn’s Master of City Planning program, has been recognized. She is the chair of Calder Philadelphia, which is responsible for Calder Gardens, set to open in 2025 and highlighting the work of world-famous artist Alexander Calder.

Bibiana Boerio, the 25th President of the Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania, announced the 10 new inductees for the Distinguished Daughters Class of 2023. Governor Josh Shapiro recognized the women at this year’s Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania annual luncheon in Harrisburg on October 11, 2023.

“For 75 years, the Distinguished Daughters have recognized the achievements of Pennsylvania women—leaders who make a difference in our communities every day,” said Governor Shapiro. “This new class of inductees builds upon that long tradition, and Lori and I are pleased to welcome an incredible group of women—leaders in public service, health care, business, and education—into the ranks of Pennsylvania’s Distinguished Daughters.”

Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania was organized in 1949 to honor women who had given distinguished service through their careers to their communities, the commonwealth and the nation. In the 75 years since then, a total of 555 extraordinary women of Pennsylvania have been recognized for their professional and volunteer accomplishments.

For the 19th time, Penn Medicine has been named to CHIME (College of Healthcare Information Management Executives) Healthcare’s “Most Wired” list for its use of information technology in supporting care delivery. And this year, the health system has achieved its highest score ever, a Level 9 (of 10) in both ambulatory and acute services.
Penn Medicine has been honored by CHIME’s “Most Wired” designation for 11 consecutive years. Last year, Penn Medicine achieved a Level 8 designation for both Ambulatory and Acute services on the CHIME list.

“Attaining this Level 9 status for both environments signifies Penn Medicine’s exemplary utilization of technology to support enhanced patient care and patient engagement services throughout the institution,” said Michael Restuccia, senior vice president and chief information officer and head of Penn Medicine Information Services. “Only through tireless collaboration between operational leaders and our corporate Information Services can such a high level of achievement be recognized. Ultimately, this is about patient care value and the quality we are providing throughout our community.”

Each year, the CHIME list recognizes health care organizations that have made strides in deploying technologies and strategies to analyze data and make meaningful improvements in care delivery and efficiency, according to the official designation.
In addition to the enterprise-wide scores that Penn Medicine achieved, Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health achieved Level 9 for ambulatory services and Level 8 for acute.

Among the items that elevated Penn Medicine this year were improvements in technological infrastructure and clinical quality and safety, as well as efforts to continue improving telemedicine and assist in the transition out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yong Chen, a professor of biostatistics and founding director of the Computer, Inference, and Learning Lab at the University of Pennsylvania (PENNCIL) and the Center for Health Analytics and Synthesis of Evidence (CHASE), and Kenrick Cato, a professor of informatics, have been elected fellows of the American College of Medical Informatics. Drs. Chen and Cato join 21 other new fellows who will be inducted at the organization’s annual symposium, joining 473 others from across the world representing excellence in biomedical and health informatics. The organization’s current president is Penn’s Kevin B. Johnson, the David L. Cohen University Professor of Biomedical Informatics, Computer and Information Science, Pediatrics, and Science Communication.

Lauren Anne Eberly, an assistant professor of cardiovascular medicine, and Nosheen Reza, an assistant professor of cardiovascular medicine and director of the Penn Women in Cardiology Program, has received the prestigious K23 Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Awards from the National Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH/NHLBI). The K Awards—competitive career development awards—are granted to the most promising clinical applicants and provide infrastructure, mentoring, funds, and faculty career protection to support five years of highly dedicated research and development.

A Penn-led group was recently awarded a $12.5 million award from the National Institutes of Health to study new approaches for identifying, diagnosing, and treating obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Led by Allan Pack, the John Miclot Professor in the division of sleep medicine, the five-year project will seek to identify genetic factors to identify those at risk for OSA, study causal genes for tongue fat as a modifiable risk factor, and develop personalized treatments. Project partners include Geisinger, Ohio State University, and the University of Iceland.

The Pennsylvania Hospital (PAH) Abramson Cancer Center (ACC) Supportive Care Team has been honored with a recognition award from Bringing Hope Home (BHH). BHH directly pays household bills for families who are struggling financially due to a cancer diagnosis and relies on hospital social workers to connect them with families in need. The PAH ACC team has connected nearly 200 families with BHH for financial support.

Weitzman School: New McHarg Fellow & New Postdoctoral Fellows in Architecture and City & Regional Planning
The Weitzman School welcomes Emma Mendel as the 2023-2024 McHarg Fellow in the department of landscape architecture, and Stanley Jamal Collins as a Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellow in the department of city and regional planning. In addition, Xiang (Jason) Zhang and Maximilian Ororbia have joined the department of architecture as postdoctoral fellows. They are working with Weitzman faculty to design carbon-negative, medium-sized building structures by developing a high-performance structural system for carbon absorption and storage over a buildings’ lifespan.

Emma Mendel is a landscape designer, educator, and researcher focused on the critical role water plays in the built environment. As the McHarg Fellow, she will study how forms of folklore and local myths act as mitigation strategies for a changing environment alongside engineering-based approaches. She is interested in the importance of water in the growth of contemporary human settlements, predicated on hydrological planning and engineering. Previously, Ms. Mendel was a lecturer in the department of landscape architecture at the University of Virginia. Her research at UVA’s Global South Humanities Lab was funded by grants from the Graham Foundation and the Mellon Foundation. She holds a master in design studies in urbanism, landscape, and ecology from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design; a master of landscape architecture from the University of Toronto; and a bachelor of fine arts from the Rhode Island School of Design.

The McHarg Fellowship provides $75,000 to support an emerging voice in landscape architecture and its related fields, and is awarded annually, on a competitive basis, by the Ian L. McHarg Center for Urbanism and Ecology—the department of landscape architecture’s platform for interdisciplinary, applied research. Through its Designing a Green New Deal and Green New Deal Superstudio initiatives, the McHarg Center has become a central hub for national and international climate and infrastructure policy and design research. It also supports long-term research projects connected to global conservation policy and nature-based solutions.

Philadelphia native Stanley Jamal Collins is a Provost’s Postdoctoral Fellow in the department of city and regional planning. He is working with Lance Freeman, the James W. Effron University Professor, to understand neighborhood change. At a time when music venues are becoming central features of cities and urban nightlife, Dr. Collins is interested in how such institutions have the capacity to change, and at times, exploit urban landscapes, and the people who inhabit such places. His work builds on scholarship in urban sociology, city and regional planning, music and sound studies, urban policy, and critical geography. He earned his PhD in sociology from Temple University, MS in sociology from Oklahoma State University, and BS in economics from Morehouse College.

Maximilian Ororbia is a postdoctoral fellow at the department of architecture’s Polyhedral Structures Lab, which is led by assistant professor Masoud Akbarzadeh. Dr. Ororbia holds a PhD in civil engineering from Pennsylvania State University, where he developed a framework that mathematically models the optimization of structures with discrete elements and discrete design variables as a sequential decision process solved using deep reinforcement learning. He is interested in developing structural engineering and architectural design decision-making and optimization processes, and creating computational tools aided by machine learning for generating and exploring design spaces. His current research is focused on the development of an innovative design and fabrication strategy for a 3D-printed, carbon-absorbing, high-performance building structure.

Xiang (Jason) Zhang is a postdoctoral fellow in the department of architecture’s Thermal Architecture Lab, which is led by assistant professor Dorit Aviv. He holds a PhD from KU Leuven, where he worked on the International Energy Agency (IEA) EBC Annex-71 project. Previously, he conducted research at the National University of Singapore and Tokyo Institute of Technology. His work contributes to reducing uncertainties in solar gain estimation, which is valuable for applications such as Model Predictive Control (MPC) and Fault Detection and Diagnostics (FDD). In addition to data-driven building energy modeling, his research also looks at building energy and Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) simulation, as well as green building rating systems. His work has been published in Applied Energy, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Journal of Cleaner Production, and Building and Environment, among other journals.

Exhibits

28        Penn Family Weekend: Guided Tour of ICA’s Fall 2023 Exhibitions; learn more about ICA’s fall 2023 exhibitions, Moveables and David Antonio Cruz: When the Children Come Home; 1 p.m.; ICA; register: https://tinyurl.com/ica-tour-oct-28 (Institute of Contemporary Art).

30        Virtual Tour of the New Eastern Mediterranean Gallery; Lauren Ristvet, curator, will lead guests on a tour of the Penn Museum exhibit; noon; online webinar; register: https://tinyurl.com/pm-tour-oct-30 (Penn Museum).

31        Global Discovery Series Tour: Planning for a Pharaoh's Palace; two of curators offer insights into the process behind the planning for Penn Museum’s upcoming Ancient Egypt and Nubia Galleries; noon; online webinar; register: https://tinyurl.com/pm-tour-oct-31 (Penn Museum).

Films

26        MAKA; offers a poignant exploration of displacement, identity, and belonging by presenting Geneviève Makaping’s life in Italy and perilous migration journey; includes discussion with director Elia Moutamid and screenplayer Simone Brioni; 4 p.m.; room 329A, 3401 Walnut Street (Italian Studies).

29        The Rocky Horror Picture Show; snacks provided and costumes encouraged; 7:30 p.m.; lobby, Platt House (LGBT Center, Platt Performing Arts House).

30        Shaken; following a flawed medical diagnosis, a couple faces a staggering twenty years in prison and state removal of their children; an intimate portrait of a family torn apart by injustice; 5:30 p.m.; room 147, Silverman Hall; register: https://tinyurl.com/public-interest-week-2023 (Carey Law Public Interest Week).

            Bad Things; a group of friends go to a hotel for a weekend getaway and soon discover that women do bad things here; includes Q&A with director Stewart Thorndike; 6 p.m.; room 401, Fisher-Bennett Hall (Cinema & Media Studies).

Fitness & Learning

25        Bioinformatics: Learn How to Use NCBI Databases to Boost Your Research; learn how to use databases such as the GenBank nucleic acid sequence database and the PubMed database of citations and abstracts published in life science journals; 3 p.m.; room 202, CURF/Penn Global Building; register: https://libcal.library.upenn.edu/event/11416983 (Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships).

26        Penn History Open House; learn about studying history at Penn, especially the spring 2024 history courses and the history major and minor; 12:30-2 p.m.; room 209, College Hall (History).

            Truman Scholarship Application Workshop; get tips and feedback on applications for the Truman Scholarship, which awards merit-based scholarships supporting graduate study to “change agents” who plan to pursue public service careers; 3:30 p.m.; room 242, Van Pelt Library; register: https://tinyurl.com/curf-workshop-oct-26 (Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships).

            Teacher Talk: We Are What We Eat; a guided tour and hands-on workshop; unwrap prehistoric leftovers of food and plant remains that reveal the diets and traditions of communities who lived up to 6,000 years ago; 4:30 p.m.; Penn Museum; register: https://upenn.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_511zgn8Hr5mF9mm (Penn Museum).

28        Teen Workshop: Hands-on History: Botanical Bundle Dyeing; teens will discover the art of botany by selecting botanical materials to craft a bucket hat and a pair of socks; 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Penn Museum; register: https://tinyurl.com/museum-workshop-oct-28 (Penn Museum).

Graduate School of Education

Online webinars. Info and to register: https://www.gse.upenn.edu/news/events-calendar?date=2023-10.

25        Executive Doctorate in Higher Education Management Virtual Information Session; noon.

26        Diversity in Ed Virtual Teacher Recruitment Fair; 1-4 p.m.

31        Education Entrepreneurship Virtual Information Session; noon.

On Stage

26        Quadramics Theatre Company Presents: The Children's Hour; set in a fictional New England town in the 1930s, The Children’s Hour tells the story of two women, Martha and Karen, who are unjustly accused of homosexual activity by one of their students; 7:30 p.m.; Class of 1949 Auditorium, Houston Hall; tickets: $10; register: https://quadramics-theatre-company.ticketleap.com/the-childrens-hour/ (Quadramics Theatre Company). Also October 27, 7:30 p.m.; October 28, 1 p.m.

            Bloomers Presents: Back to the Bloomer; Bloomers will explore time and space and everything in between with the funniest and most well read minds on campus; 8 p.m.; Prince Theater, Annenberg Center; tickets: $15/general, $10/Penn students, $8/groups of 10+; register: https://www.bloomerscomedy.org/tickets (Bloomers). Also October 27, 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.; October 28, 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

            Glee Club and Penn Dance Present: En Route; join Penn Dance and Penn Glee Club in their motion-inspired annual collaboration; 8 p.m.; Iron Gate Theater; tickets: https://tinyurl.com/en-route-oct-26  (Glee Club and Penn Dance). Also October 27, 6 p.m.; October 28, 5 p.m.

27        Penn Dhamaka Presents; Back to the Future; will feature a variety of dance styles, including Bhangra, Hip-Hop, Bollywood, Raas, Kuthu, Contemporary, and more, in a futuristic 90 minute; 7 p.m.; Zellerbach Theater, Annenberg Center; tickets: $8-14; register: https://tinyurl.com/dhamaka-oct-27 (Penn Dharmanka). Also October 28, 7 p.m.

28        Family Performing Arts Night; a sampling of performances from some of Penn’s 60+ student-run performing arts clubs; 4 p.m.; Irvine Auditorium; tickets: $7/general, $5/children; register: https://tinyurl.com/fpan-oct-28 (Performing Arts Council).

Special Events

27        Memorial for Robert Kraft; a celebration of the life of a beloved faculty member of the department of religious studies; 2-5 p.m.; Widener Lecture Room, Penn Museum; RSVP: maevema@sas.upenn.edu (Religious Studies).

Talks

24        Birmingham and the Voice of Al Hibbler; Brian Kane, Yale University; 5:15 p.m.; room 102, Lerner Building, and Zoom webinar; register: https://tinyurl.com/kane-talk-oct-24 (Music).

25        Fines, Fees, and Community Service: Judicial Discretion in Texas Communities; noon; room 201, Fisher-Bennett Hall; RSVP: breyanam@sas.upenn.edu (Criminology).

            Towards a Design Flow for Verified AI-Based Autonomy; Sanjit Seshia, University of California, Berkeley; noon; room 307, Levine Hall (ASSET Center).

            Unruly Categories: The Transnational Circulation of “Transgender”; Tara Gonsalves, Northwestern University; noon; room 150, McNeil Building (Sociology).

            Primary Care in Sierra Leone With Doctors Without Borders; Alaina Hall, Doctors Without Borders; 1 p.m.; online webinar; register: https://www.nursing.upenn.edu/details/forms.php?id=204 (Penn Nursing).

            Ancient Ethics for the Modern World; philosophy; Brian Reese, University of Central Florida; 7 p.m.; online webinar; register: https://tinyurl.com/reese-talk-oct-25 (Penn NYC).

26        Advanced Analytical Characterization of Next Generation Energy Storage Systems; Nik Singh, Toyota Research Institute of North America; 10:30 a.m.; Wu & Chen Auditorium, Levine Hall (Materials Science & Engineering).

            Machines that Talk to the Brain and Think Like the Mind; Raghavendra Pothukuchi, Yale University; 11 a.m.; room 307, Levine Hall (PRECISE Center).

            Rethinking Impact Litigation; Athie Livas, Cooper & Kirk; noon; room 213, Gittis Hall RSCP: https://tinyurl.com/livas-talk-oct-26 (Federalist Society).

            Vanguards of New Gender and Family Norms: Evidence from South Korea; Eunsil Oh, University of Wisconsin-Madison; noon; suite 310, 3600 Market Street (Korean Studies).  

            Exploring the Placental Origins of Health and Disease: From Environmental Drivers to Solutions; Rebecca Fry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; 3 p.m.; room 251, BRB, and Zoom webinar; register: https://pennmedicine.zoom.us/j/99944363548 (Philadelphia Regional Center for Children's Environmental Health).

            The Host Response to Viral Infections; Peter Chen, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center; 4 p.m.; room TBA, Smilow Center (Penn-CHOP Lung Biology Institute).

            Israel’s Judicial Overhaul: The Struggle for Democracy; Ofra Bloch, Tel Aviv University; 4 p.m.; seminar room, Perry World House; register: http://bit.ly/Israeljudicialoverhaul (Paideia Program).

            A Neural Circuit for Male Sexual Behavior, Drive, and Reward; Nirao Shah, Stanford University; 4 p.m.; room 10, Leidy Lab (Biology).

            New Directions in the Study of Indian Classical Humanities; Deven Patel, South Asia studies; 4:45 p.m.; room 402, Cohen Hall (Classical Studies).

27        Communication and Sensing with Laser Light; Xia Zhou, Columbia University; 10 a.m.; room 307, Levine Hall (PRECISE Center).

            Quantum Sensing and Imaging With Diamond Spins; Ania Bleszynski Jayich, University of California Santa Barbara; 11 a.m.; room 13, Skirkanich Hall (Electrical & Systems Engineering).

            The Character of Connection: Platform Affordances and Connective Democracy; Sarah Shugars, Rutgers University; 12:15 p.m.; room 108, Annenberg School (Elihu Katz Colloquia).

            Rapidly Rotating Rayleigh-Bénard Convection: The Quest for Quasi-Geostrophy; Robert Ecke, Los Alamos National Laboratory; 3 p.m.; room 358, Hayden Hall (Earth & Environmental Science).

30        Lawyering with Love: Supporting Folks Inside the Carceral System; Tamika Bell, Paulette Carrington, and Starr Granger, former inmates; noon; room 214, Gittis Hall; register: https://tinyurl.com/public-interest-week-2023 (Carey Law Public Interest Week).

            Social and Environmental Factors Associated With Human Microbiome Variation; Elizabeth Mallott, Washington University; noon; room 345, Penn Museum (Anthropology).

            Latin and Vernacular in the Renaissance: Coexistence and Contestation; Andrea Rizzi, University of Melbourne; 5:15 p.m.; Cherpack Seminar Room, Williams Hall (Italian Studies).

            Dental Therapy as a Pathway to Doing Social Good and Enhancing Practice Efficiency; Leon Assael, University of Washington; Abdirahman Ahmed, GP Orthodontics & Cosmetic Surgery; Nathan Pederson, dentist; 6 p.m.; online webinar; register: https://tinyurl.com/dental-talk-oct-30 (Penn Dental Medicine).

31        Hardware / Controls Co-Design to Overcome Challenges for Aerial Robots; Mark Mueller, University of California at Berkeley; 10 a.m.; Wu & Chen Auditorium, Levine Hall (Mechanical Engineering & Applied Mechanics).

            De-Centering Lawyers: Practical Experiences with Organizing and Movement Lawyering; panel of speakers; noon; room 213, Gittis Hall; register: https://tinyurl.com/public-interest-week-2023 (Carey Law Special Interest Week).

            Planning for a Pharaoh’s Palace; Josef Wegner, Egyptian section, Penn Museum; noon; online webinar; register: https://tinyurl.com/wegner-talk-oct-31 (Global Discovery Series, Penn Museum).  

            Modeling Atoms to Address Our Climate Crisis; Larry Zitnick, Meta; 3:30 p.m.; Wu & Chen Auditorium, Levine Hall (Computer & Information Science).

Asian American Studies

Hybrid events at room 473, McNeil Building, and Zoom webinars. Info and to register: https://asam.sas.upenn.edu/events/.

27        Log Kya Kahenge: An Ethnography of Genetic Testing, Breast Cancer, & Risk Perceptions in the South Asian Diaspora; Simran Rajpal, ASAM fellow; noon.

Economics

In-person events. Info: https://economics.sas.upenn.edu/events.

25        Local Labor Markets: Job Ladder, Wage Growth and Unemployment; Justin Franco Lam, economics; noon; room 101, PCPSE.

30        Gaussian Transforms Modeling and the Estimation of Distributional Regression Functions; Sami Stouli, University of Bristol; 4:30 p.m.; room 100, PCPSE.

31        The Impact of Vape Regulation on Public Health; Kathleen Hui, economics; noon; room 101, PCPSE.

            Inertial Updating; Gerelt Tserenjigmid, University of California, Santa Cruz; 4 p.m.; room 101, PCPSE.

Historic Preservation

Info: https://www.design.upenn.edu/events?area=10.

26        Rethinking Conservation: The Aga Khan Trust for Culture in India; Ratish Nanda, Aga Khan Trust for Culture; noon; Kleinman Forum, Fisher Fine Arts Library.

Mathematics

Info: https://www.math.upenn.edu/events.

27        Intro to Hodge Theory; Vivek Chakrabhavi, mathematics; 10 a.m.; room 3N6, DRL.

            Statistical Inference in Reinforcement Learning; Chengchun Shi, London School of Economics and Political Science; 1:45 p.m.; room A2, DRL.

This is an update to the October AT PENN calendar, which is online now. The November AT PENN calendar will be published on October 31. To include your or your department’s event in a future AT PENN calendar or update, email almanac@upenn.edu.

Division of Public Safety University of Pennsylvania Police Department Crime Report

About the Crime Report: Below are the Crimes Against Persons and/or Crimes Against Property from the campus report for October 9-15, 2023. The Crime Reports are available at: https://almanac.upenn.edu/sections/crimes. Prior weeks’ reports are also online. –Eds.

This summary is prepared by the Division of Public Safety (DPS) and contains all criminal incidents reported and made known to the Penn Police, including those reported to the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) that occurred within our patrol zone, for the dates of October 9-15, 2023. The Penn Police actively patrol from Market Street to Baltimore Avenue and from 30^th Street to 43^rd Street in conjunction with the Philadelphia Police.

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

Penn Police Patrol Zone
Market Street to Baltimore Avenue and from 30^th Street to 43^rd Street

Philadelphia Police 18th District
Schuylkill River to 49th Street & Market Street to Woodland Avenue

Below are the Crimes Against Persons from the 18th District: 8 incidents were reported for October 9-15, 2023 by the 18^th District, covering the Schuylkill River to 49th Street & Market Street to Woodland Avenue.

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

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

November 7, 2023 is Election Day. Here’s what you need to know to successfully cast your ballot:

To check your Pennsylvania voter registration status and confirm your polling place location, visit https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/pages/voterregistrationstatus.aspx. Polls are open on Tuesday, November 7, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Any registered voter may request a mail-in ballot. Absentee ballots can be requested by voters with disabilities or an illness that prevents them from going to their polling place on Election Day, or by those who will be absent from their municipality on Election Day. Request forms must be received by your county election board by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 31. Completed ballots must be received by your county election board by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, November 7. To apply for either a mail-in or absentee ballot online, visit: https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/OnlineAbsenteeApplication/#/OnlineAbsenteeBegin.

If you requested a mail-in or absentee ballot but would prefer instead to vote in person on Election Day, you must bring your mail-in ballot and pre-addressed outer return envelope with you to your polling place to be voided. After you surrender your ballot and envelope and sign a declaration, you can then vote in person on a voting machine.

If you requested a mail-in or absentee ballot in the past, you may have received one this cycle. To track your mail-in or absentee ballot status, visit: https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/pages/ballottracking.aspx.

For voters not registered in Pennsylvania, visit your Department of State website for information on upcoming deadlines, voting hours, and more.

To learn more about Election Day at Penn and student-led non-partisan voter engagement efforts, visit vote.upenn.edu.

—Office of Government and Community Affairs

October 17, 2023

Throughout the past week, many members of our community have expressed concern for their sense of safety given the continuing violence in Israel and Gaza and the growing activism on campus and more broadly in the world. Penn Public Safety is closely monitoring protests, rallies, and other gatherings taking place on our campus, as well as outside events occurring throughout the Philadelphia region. We work in close partnership with our local, state, and federal partners through whom we receive multiple updates each day. Nothing is more important to us than the safety and well-being of all members of the Penn community.

The University has increased the presence of Penn Police and Allied security in spaces across campus and are is in constant contact with the leaders of these spaces and organizations about events and gatherings. We are also monitoring and providing additional support for residential spaces where students may feel unease. Penn Public Safety will continue to attend rallies, protests, vigils, and other gatherings on campus to ensure the physical safety of participants and onlookers alike. Penn Police will take immediate action should there be any physical threat of harm and pursue it to the fullest extent of the law.

We encourage anyone who is feeling unsafe to reach out to Penn Public Safety for additional resources, including our 24/7 Walking Escort Services anywhere throughout our patrol area. Please call our 24/7 PennComm Emergency Call Center at (215) 573-3333 for any immediate concerns.

Feeling safe also includes practicing self-care. Penn Public Safety partners with multiple support services across the University. Below is a list of safety and support resources throughout campus.

Again, nothing is more important than the safety and well-being of all members of the Penn community.

—Kathleen Shields Anderson, Vice President for Public Safety

Public Safety Resources

Emergency Contact Information

If you should have any concerns or see someone exhibiting suspicious behavior, call the PennComm Emergency Communications Center at (215) 573-3333. We are here for you 24-hours a day, 7 days a week, call anytime. If you feel unsafe outside of the Penn Patrol Zone, call 911 for local police (in the U.S.). As a reminder, the Penn Patrol Zone extends from 30th Street to 43rd Street (east to west) and Market Street to Baltimore Avenue (north to south).

Emergencies: Dial (215) 573-3333 or 511 (from any campus phone). Dial 911 outside of t he Penn Patrol Zone.

• Blue Light Emergency Phones: If you observe a potential safety hazard, require assistance, notice suspicious activity, feel unsafe or need a walking escort, you can reach Public Safety directly through any emergency phone on campus. Just pick up the receiver or press the button.
• UPennAlert Registration: For information on how to register or update your contact information.
• Penn Guardian: Use the Penn Guardian App to stay in touch with Public Safety.

Safety & Wellness Resources

We encourage those who are feeling unsafe to reach out to us for additional resources, including walking security escort services anywhere throughout our patrol area. DPS works in close partnership with multiple University support resources, including University Life’s community and cultural resource centers, Wellness resources, the Chaplain’s Office, and College House & Academic Services, among others. DPS offers safety presentations, self-defense courses, and emergency procedures training to the Penn community. Groups may request presentations via the form on our website.

In this confusing and difficult time, remember to care for yourself, and, if needed, use the University resources available for your own well-being:

• The HELP Line: (215) 898-HELP (4357). Any member of the Penn community may call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to request mental health resources and information.
• Student Health and Counseling (24/7): (215) 898-7021. Student Health and Counseling services are part of Wellness at Penn, and are here to support you throughout your Penn experience.
• The Office of the Chaplain & SPARC: (215) 898-8456. The Office of the Chaplain is available to students, faculty and staff for pastoral support, guidance, or informal advising and counseling.
• Special Services: (215) 898-4481 or (215) 898-6600 (24 hours). Members of the Penn community may inquire and receive support services when victimized by any type of crime. Highly trained personnel are available to offer immediate assistance, including crisis intervention, accompaniment to legal and medical proceedings, options counseling and advocacy, and linkages to other University and community resources.
• University Life: University Life at Penn nurtures an inclusive campus environment where students grow intellectually, engage in meaningful experiential opportunities, and deepen intercultural and interpersonal understanding in preparation for a life of meaning and purpose. Connect with the cultural and community resource centers and other support resources supported by University Life.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP): 1 (866) 799-2329. Penn’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) can provide counseling and referral services to you and your families, as well as connect you to resources to help you work through the grief these events can create. EAP offers materials for coping with traumatic experiences and ways to help those who struggle with feeling safe at school, home, or work.
• International Student and Scholar Services: (215) 898-4661. ISSS has a dedicated team to provide you with professional immigration guidance, a wide array of services, informative programs, and unwavering support to enhance your U.S. experience throughout your entire stay at Penn and beyond. You can connect with them through various channels, including virtual and in-person advising, phone and email correspondence, participation in immigration workshops and integration programs, engaging with them on social media, or exploring their website.
• Weingarten Learning Resources Center: (215) 573-9235. In addition to housing Student Disability Services which assists students navigating academic and/or other University accommodations, the Weingarten provides learning consultations, tutoring, and interactive programs as you develop learning strategies and content knowledge to further your academic and professional goals. The center works closely with all of Penn’s schools and centers and advising offices. If you find yourself falling behind in course work or struggling to focus on academics, reach out to a learning specialist at the Weingarten Center.

The Payroll Office encourages University faculty, staff, postdocs, and student workers to elect electronic delivery only of their W-2 tax form. Electronic delivery is secure. Turning off printing and mailing of paper W-2 forms avoids delays or errors in receiving year-end tax documents.

Log in and make the change in Workday before December 31, 2023. Those who previously submitted consent for electronic access only do not need to take any action.

For assistance in turning off printing and mailing of the W-2, access the following:

• Watch a short video for a step-by-step demonstration, or
• Follow the simple steps in the Self Service-Access to W-2, W-4, and State Reciprocal Forms (pdf) tip sheet

The 2023 W-2 will be available electronically in early 2024. For those who still receive paper copies of the W-2, the Payroll Office arranges U.S. postal mailing of the paper copy of the year-end form to the home address indicated in Workday.

Important Information for Tax Return Preparation

• W-2s since 2019 are available in Workday.
• W-2s in Workday will not display Box D Control Numbers.
• If you need Control Numbers to import to an electronic tax preparation service, please contact the Penn Employee Solution Center at (215) 898-7372 or solutioncenter@upenn.edu.
• You can also view your W-2s through the University’s tax information management vendor, ADP W-2 Services. For detailed instructions, access the Workday website.
• Use the ADP site to access your tax information for the current year and prior two years.
• For copies of W-2 for tax years earlier than those available in Workday or ADP, contact the Penn Employee Solution Center at (215) 898-7372 or solutioncenter@upenn.edu.
• Do you have additional questions on withholding and year-end tax documents? See the resources on the Division of Finance Tax web page. Note that University of Pennsylvania staff are not authorized to provide personal tax advice. Please consult with a qualified tax specialist or the IRS.

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

Cats and dogs are part of many families and deciding to add a new four-legged family member often brings challenges.

Don’t let that challenge lead to you being scammed.

The “puppy scam” usually starts via social media posts where photos of cute puppies and kittens for sale are shared. You contact the breeder/owner, and they respond. Things seem normal at first, and the breeder may exchange videos, photos, and information about their available animals.

You speak about payment and delivery, but then things may start to change. They may want a large deposit sent via payment apps like Zelle, CashApp, Venmo, or even gift cards. Sending money via Zelle and CashApp doesn’t provide buyer protection. Finally, you are asked to pay for shipping or a courier service so you can get your pet. Now, you start to feel that something might not be right, but you have invested time, money, and care for an animal you haven’t met yet.

Unfortunately, the requests for more money mount with more excuses for why your new pet hasn’t arrived.

It finally sinks in that you’ve been scammed.

How to prevent this from happening?

1. Be wary of animals being sold via social media.
2. Check your state, city or town’s laws about animal sales or breeders.
3. Don’t send deposits via non-refundable means or using gift cards.
4. Don’t pay for an animal you haven’t seen in person.
5. Adopt, don’t shop! There are rescue groups that have animals that need good homes. If you are interested in a specific breed, there are breed-specific rescue groups that may be able to help you.

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

Visit https://pennsway.upenn.edu for more information. Online participation must be completed by midnight on Sunday for inclusion in a given week’s drawing that Monday morning. Note: list subject to change.

Week Three–Drawing October 23

• Cintas Corporation: Penn-Branded Under Armour Backpack, $60 value: Tracy Tascone, Division of Finance
• Penn Live Arts: Two tickets for 23/24 Season, $100 value: Elisa Kraemer, Penn Carey Law School
• EMSCO: Barnes & Noble Gift Card, $25 value: Joseph Harrington, Wharton School
• McKesson: Gift Card–Starbucks, $25 value: Anome Mammes, Information Systems & Computing
• Winterthur: Admission Passes (two), $50 value: David Tso, Hospitality of the University of Pennsylvania
• Neta Scientific: Amazon Gift Card, $25 value: Nikita Colon, HUP Cardiology
• Neta Scientific: Amazon Gift Card, $25 value: Shakema Stevens, HUP Outpatient Pharmacy

Week Four–Drawing October 30

• Benco Dental: Barnes & Noble gift card, $25 value
• Specialty Underwriters: JBL Harmon Flip5 bluetooth speaker, $90 value
• Neta Scientific: Amazon gift card, $25 value
• Philadanco!: Dance classes (10), $100 value
• Longwood Gardens: Admission passes (two), $50 value
• Adventure Aquarium: Admission passes (two), $70 value