September 26, 2023 Volume 70 Issue 7

September 22, 2023

Dear members of the Penn community,

As many of you are aware, Penn Police responded yesterday to reports of an individual shouting antisemitic obscenities and overturning furniture at Penn Hillel. The individual was determined to be in crisis and was quickly and safely removed and referred for medical evaluation. This troubling incident came in the wake of another upsetting occurrence at the Weitzman School of Design, where a group of students found a swastika painted on the wall of a spray booth, a small room that is used for painting projects, on the fourth floor of Meyerson Hall. Dean Frederick Steiner wrote to the Weitzman community immediately after learning of the incident. The image was also quickly removed. Penn Police is actively investigating this incident and encourages anyone who may have information to please contact the Division of Public Safety at (215) 573-3333.

We unequivocally condemn such hateful acts. They are an assault on our values and mission as an institution and have no place at Penn. Sadly, incidents of hatred, including antisemitic rhetoric and acts that denigrate Jewish people, have become all too common. That these incidents happened on our campus, in our spaces, is deeply unsettling. We also acknowledge the timing of these incidents is particularly difficult given the controversial speakers who will be participating in the event on our campus over the coming days. It is our collective responsibility as a community to stand clearly and strongly against antisemitism.

We are unwavering in our commitment to ensuring our Jewish community feels safe and supported on our campus. The Division of Public Safety is actively pursuing both incidents and following all protocols for potential bias incidents on campus. They are also continuing to provide increased security coverage and support to Penn Hillel, conducting special checks at Lubavitch House, and working to determine appropriate security measures for Jewish students living in on- and off-campus housing.

We are also in active conversations with campus- and community-based organizations (an example is here) including Penn Hillel and the Office of the University Chaplain, and consulting the U.S. National Strategy to Counter Antisemitism to guide our efforts to combat antisemitism on our campus broadly. Here are a few actions that are already underway:

Training and education: We are reviewing and building upon our existing training and education programs to ensure we are including antisemitism awareness as part of our equity and inclusion programs for faculty, staff, and students.

Community connection: We are redoubling our work with student organizations and other groups to encourage efforts to understand the interconnectedness of different forms of bigotry and oppression. We will continue working with the Office of the University Chaplain and the Division of University Life to bring people together to learn from and with one another.

The University of Pennsylvania has a long and proud history of being a place for people from all backgrounds. Hateful acts like this sow fear and anxiety, and many members of our community are hurting right now. Please check in with your friends and colleagues and let them know that they are not alone. Offer your support. It is our collective responsibility to foster a campus environment where all members can thrive and succeed. We must set about this work with renewed focus and urgency as a community.

—Liz Magill, President
—John L. Jackson, Jr., Provost
—Craig Carnaroli, Senior Executive Vice President
—Joann Mitchell, Senior Vice President for Institutional Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer
—Rev. Chaz Howard, University Chaplain and Vice President for Social Equity & Community
—Karu Kozuma, Vice Provost for University Life

The University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing has received a $1 million grant from the Bedford Falls Foundation—a donor-advised fund established by Philanthropists William (Bill) E. Conway Jr., co-founder and co-chairman of the Carlyle Group, and his wife, Joanne. The couple has given millions to support nursing education and scholarships to address the nation’s nursing workforce shortage.

The $1 million grant to Penn Nursing will support a total of 40 high-merit, high-need students over a four-year period who are enrolled in Penn Nursing’s Master of Professional Nursing (MPN) degree program. Ten students will be selected every year to receive this support and they will be known as Conway Scholars.  

“Penn Nursing is incredibly grateful for the generous support from the Conways and the Bedford Falls Foundation,” said Penn Nursing dean Antonia Villarruel. “A commitment like theirs helps make a world-class education available for all students by minimizing their debt burden. This grant will help us prepare the next generation of nurse leaders to meet our country’s changing health and healthcare needs.”

“Our country continues to grapple with a nursing shortage which is only projected to get worse as the need for healthcare grows,” said Bill Conway. “We are excited to partner with Penn Nursing in supporting high quality nursing education and training. We are certain that reducing the financial burden placed on nursing students will help combat this critical shortage.”

The MPN is an accelerated, fast-paced 15-month full-time program for students with a non-nursing undergraduate degree who want to pursue a nursing degree and attain an RN license. The four-semester plan of study sequentially builds robust skills in population health, health equity, interprofessional collaboration, care transitions, and systems thinking to advocate for better healthcare. The program draws on rich academic partnerships with regional clinical sites to provide the experiential foundation required for nurses to play leading roles in delivering high-quality and accessible care across varied settings and populations.

N.B. In July 2023, it was announced that beginning with the Class of 2025, Penn Nursing would be transitioning from the accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program to the new entry-level MPN degree program. The first cohort of Conway Scholars, graduating in 2024, will be comprised of students enrolled in the final ABSN program.

Penn Live Arts (PLA) has received a $360,500 grant from the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage in support of a three-year residency with Rennie Harris and his company, Rennie Harris Puremovement (RHPM). The grant includes both project funding and an additional 20% in unrestricted, general operating support. Beginning in September 2023, the residency will provide the hip-hop choreographer with a platform to explore his artistic vision and to generate new work commissioned by Penn Live Arts.

 Following successful collaborations with Mr. Harris and RHPM in 2022 (LIFTED) and 2023 (Rome & Jewels), the three-year residency will explore pressing social issues such as gun violence, a thematic focus in PLA’s 2023-24 season, allowing Mr. Harris to respond through his own creative process and engage multiple communities by using hip-hop as a language of reflection, resistance, and renewal.

“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to deepen the artistic work we’ve already begun with Rennie Harris,” said Penn Live Arts executive and artistic director Christopher Gruits. “This new, extended relationship allows us to support the vision of a globally significant Philadelphia artist and partner in the creation of new work, while elevating important and relevant issues for our community. We are deeply grateful to the center for making this residency possible.”

The first year of the Rennie Harris residency will revisit highlights of the choreographer’s catalogue with the presentation of the acclaimed Students of the Asphalt Jungle, March of the Antman, and P-Funk alongside current repertoire A Day in the Life and The Word to explore gun violence and gangs (March 22–23, 2024). The second and third years will explore what new work looks like for Mr. Harris, expanding his artistry in a new direction and collaborating with a lighting design artist to create and debut Mr. Harris’ own visual artwork. RHPM company members will also participate in programs at PLA’s partner schools in West and North Philadelphia, inviting young people to observe their own communities and respond creatively using a range of artistic media including writing, visual art and hip-hop movement vocabulary.

“I’m so pleased to have this opportunity to spend three years working with the Penn Live Arts team,” said Mr. Harris. “Creating at home in Philadelphia grounds and inspires me, and I look forward to this journey that will bring new work to life and have a meaningful impact in my home community.”

 “We are delighted to welcome Rennie Harris to Penn for this exciting residency,” said Penn Provost John L. Jackson, Jr. “Our campus will be energized and educated by his unique art practice, which fuses contemporary dance and music to urgent social issues and a strong commitment to Philadelphia.”

In the newly released 2024 U.S. News & World Report ranking of United States universities, the University of Pennsylvania was ranked #6—up one spot from last year.

This ranking is calculated from factors including graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student/faculty ratios, class sizes, SAT/ACT scores, percentage of Pell-grant eligible students, and their graduation performance.

Penn was also ranked #13 in best value schools; #7 in psychology programs; #8 in economics; #9 in programming languages; #25 in undergraduate research/creative projects; #62 in best undergraduate teaching; and #184 in top performers on social mobility.

The Wharton School has retained its #1 post as the best undergraduate business program in the country, which it has held for many years. It is ranked #1 in finance; #2 in marketing, management, and real estate; #3 in quantitative analysis and production/operation management; #4 in international business; #5 in analytics; #6 in entrepreneurship and accounting; #7 in insurance; and #12 in management information systems.

Penn’s School of Nursing was again ranked #1 for its undergraduate nursing program. Penn’s School of Engineering and Applied Science ranked #19 for best undergraduate engineering programs. Within SEAS, Penn ranked #10 in biomedical engineering.

To Members of the University and Surrounding Community:

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Involvement Recognition Awards will be presented to five individuals in the following areas:

• Community Award presented to two residents (youth and/or adult) of the greater Philadelphia community involved in community service and/or working for social justice through non-violent efforts aimed at alleviating systemic inequalities as it relates to poverty, racism, and militarism.
• Community Award presented to a faculty or staff member of the Penn community involved in community service and/or working for social justice through non-violent efforts to alleviate systemic inequalities related to poverty, racism, and militarism.
• Community Award presented to a Penn student involved in community service and/or working for social justice through non-violent efforts to alleviate systemic inequalities as they relate to poverty, racism, and militarism.
• The Rodin Education Award is presented to a Penn faculty or staff member, student, or Philadelphia resident who demonstrates significant contributions in community service and/or working for social justice efforts through advancing education and educational opportunities in Philadelphia.

The awards will be presented as part of Penn’s MLK Interfaith program. We seek your help in nominating individuals whose work most merits recognition. Please share this information with others in your families, communities, schools, departments, and organizations so that we may identify those most deserving of this award.

Nomination forms may be submitted through November 15, 2023. Electronic submissions are available at: https://tinyurl.com/UPENNMLK23. This method is preferred, but not required.

If you prefer sending by mail, please send to the African American Resource Center, Attn: Colleen Winn, 3643 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, PA  19104-6230. Should you have any questions, please contact the African-American Resource Center at (215) 898-0104 or aarc@pobox.upenn.edu.

—2024 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Symposium Executive Planning Committee

To Members of the University and Surrounding Community:

The National Institute for Women of Color (NIWC) proclaimed March 1 National Women of Color Day. Penn, HUP, Presbyterian and Pennsylvania Hospital seek to increase our awareness of the talents and achievements of women of color by recognizing those who support women of color, regardless of their sex, gender, race, or other status, with the Women of Color Award.

The Women of Color Awards are given in recognition of individuals who have conscientiously endeavored to increase respect for women of color at Penn, Hospital of the University, Presbyterian, Pennsylvania Hospitals and the Delaware Valley community.  Annually, awards are given in up to six categories:

• Helen O. Dickens Award: must have demonstrated over 25 years of previously recognized service
• Joann Mitchell Outstanding Legacy Award
• Faculty/Staff Award
• Graduate or Professional Student Award
• Undergraduate Student Award
• Community Member Award

Nominees must be affiliated with Penn, HUP, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center or Pennsylvania Hospital and/or the local Philadelphia area and have demonstrated:

• Outstanding leadership
• Distinguished service
• Positive impact on the community
• Commitment to enhancing quality of life for and/or serving as a role model for women of color

Joann Mitchell Outstanding Legacy Award nominees must have worked with the Women of Color Executive Planning Committee or have proven support through donations, event involvement and action advocacy of the WOCAP mission.

Nominations must be submitted on or before October 27, 2023.

Learn more about the 2024 WOCAP Day Awards Program at: https://aarc.upenn.edu/women-color/women-color-awards.

—Women of Color Executive Planning Committee

This summer, six scholars of global media camped out in the Center for Advanced Research in Global Communication (CARGC) office for a week of research, writing, editing, and brainstorming.

The residency is a part of CARGC’s greater mission to make the center an open and welcoming space to early career and precariously-employed scholars who might not have the resources or time to focus on research and writing, said the center’s director, Aswin Punathambekar.

This first cohort of scholars explored the role of media and communication in political, societal, and cultural changes across the world, from the impact of independent media in Morocco in the aftermath of the Arab Spring to representations of the second-generation South Asian American experience in American television.

“West Philly is, and always has been, a location shaped by global flows and forces,” said Dr. Punathambekar. “We have incredibly vibrant migrant communities, multiple universities that attract thousands of international students, a wide range of cultural and religious institutions, food cultures that span the world, and more. The CARGC summer residency will bring together media scholars—and down the road, artists and activists as well—whose work explores how global dynamics shape communities in this region and, by the same token, how people who live and work here re-imagine their social, cultural, and political horizons.”

The scholars—Tilottama Karlekar of Temple University, Youngrim Kim of Rutgers University, Annemarie Iddins of Fairfield University, Madhavi Reddi of York College of Pennsylvania, Fernanda Rosa of Virginia Tech, and Celeste Wagner of the University of Florida—made up the inaugural cohort of the CARGC Summer Residency, a program that brings together early career scholars to research and write in community with one another.

During the week, these scholars had the leeway to decide how and when they wanted to use CARGC’s office space—apart from a daily group lunch with Dr. Punathambekar, CARGC program coordinator Anastasiya Miazhevich, and senior research manager Eszter Zimanyi.

Residents planned their own co-writing and feedback sessions and even threw a surprise birthday party for a member of their cohort, Annenberg alumna Celeste Wagner, PhD’22.

Dr. Punathambekar believes that by opening CARGC’s doors to emerging scholars who are in dialogue with communities across the world, this residency can help cement West Philadelphia as a hub for global media and communication studies.

Donna Huryn, a professor of practice in the department of chemistry of the School of Arts and Sciences, has been selected to receive the 2024 Francis P. Garvan-John M. Olin Medal from the American Chemical Society. The award recognizes distinguished service to chemistry by women chemists in the United States. The award consists of $5,000, a medallion with a presentation box, and a certificate.

The award was established in 1936 through a donation from Francis P. Garvan and has been supported by a fund set up at that time. The medallion was presented at a luncheon held at the ACS spring meeting.

The 2023 Wharton-Jacobs Levy Prize for Quantitative Financial Innovation was awarded to Albert S. “Pete” Kyle at a conference hosted by the Jacobs Levy Equity Management Center for Quantitative Financial Research of the Wharton School on September 22 in New York.

Dr. Kyle received the Wharton-Jacobs Levy Prize for his research on market microstructure, based on his 1985 Econometrica paper, “Continuous Auctions and Insider Trading.” The paper’s model of informed trading has been widely used in both academic research and practical applications, such as the development of algorithmic trading strategies.

“Pete Kyle’s research on market microstructure was groundbreaking in that it substantially enhanced understanding of the functioning of financial markets for academic researchers and financial practitioners,” said Erika James, dean of the Wharton School. “His work embodies Wharton’s commitment to elevating the impact of scholarship that advances innovation in finance and the broader business community.”

Dr. Kyle is the Charles E. Smith Chair Professor of Finance at the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business. His research focuses on market microstructure, including topics such as informed speculative trading, strategic trading, liquidity measurement, the informational content of prices, high-frequency trading, price manipulation, and contagion.

The conference program also featured paper presentations and a panel discussion on advances in market microstructure. The Wharton-Jacobs Levy Prize is an $80,000 award that is endowed with a $2 million gift from Bruce I. Jacobs, G’79, GrW’86, and Kenneth N. Levy WG’76, G’82, principals and co-founders of Jacobs Levy Equity Management. It is given biennially to recognize excellence in quantitative research that has contributed to a particular innovation in the practice of finance.

The Division of Human Resources will celebrate members of the Penn community who have worked at the University for 25 or more years at the annual 25 Year Club Celebration. The event will be held on Thursday, October 12 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Registration is required, and attendance is by invitation only.

To attend, please register by Thursday, October 5 at www.hr.upenn.edu/25yearclub.

For more information, call (215) 898-3463 or email 25yearclub@hr.upenn.edu.

Here is a list of the new members of the 25 Year Club.

25 Year Club: New Members for 2023

Lawrence Abbott, School of Arts and Sciences

Soo Abboud, Perelman School of Medicine

Asif Agha, School of Arts and Sciences

Peter Alele, Weitzman School of Design

Elisavel Aleman, School of Arts and Sciences

David Allman, Perelman School of Medicine

Shirit Anolik, School of Nursing

Scott Asman, Information Systems and Computing

Alan Atlas, School of Dental Medicine

Kathleen Bailey, School of Veterinary Medicine

Todd Barton, Perelman School of Medicine

Amy Baxter-Bellamy, School of Arts and Sciences

Sheila Bayes-Eaton, Information Systems and Computing

Marc Beck, Perelman School of Medicine

Tami Benton, Perelman School of Medicine

Elizabeth Beothy, Perelman School of Medicine

Douglas Berger, Residential and Hospitality Services

Francis Berkery, Facilities and Real Estate Services

Lucinda Bertsinger, Perelman School of Medicine

Erfei Bi, Perelman School of Medicine

Eugenie Birch, Weitzman School of Design

Gregory Bisson, Perelman School of Medicine

Kent Bream, Perelman School of Medicine

Bruce Brod, Perelman School of Medicine

Joanna Brown, Human Resources

Lorie Brown, School of Veterinary Medicine

Mitchell Brown, Facilities and Real Estate Services

Karena Browne, Perelman School of Medicine

Christopher Buggey, Facilities and Real Estate Services

Rosemarie Burnett, Division of Recreation & Intercollegiate Athletics

Marie Burnite, Perelman School of Medicine

David Callans, Perelman School of Medicine

Carolyn Cambor, Perelman School of Medicine

Eric Capozzoli, Perelman School of Medicine

Linda Cardamone, Perelman School of Medicine

Kyle Cassidy, Annenberg School for Communication

Laura Cesaro, Perelman School of Medicine

Camille Charles, School of Arts and Sciences

Irina Chernysh, Perelman School of Medicine

Sumedha Chhatre, Perelman School of Medicine

Carol Chou, Perelman School of Medicine

Atiya Clark, Carey Law School

Noam Cohen, Perelman School of Medicine

Ralph Conti, School of Veterinary Medicine

Rita Copeland, School of Arts and Sciences

Donna Coviello, Perelman School of Medicine

Brett Cucchiara, Perelman School of Medicine

Bruce Cutilli, School of Dental Medicine

Ula Cutten, School of Arts and Sciences

Konstantinos Daniilidis, School of Engineering and Applied Science

Angela De Michele, Perelman School of Medicine

Dawn Deitch, President’s Center

Sara DeMucci, School of Arts and Sciences

Lara Derr, School of Veterinary Medicine

Cheryl Devine, Perelman School of Medicine

Chantag Devore-Freeland, School of Dental Medicine

Simon Dicker, School of Arts and Sciences

Anne Didenko, School of Dental Medicine

Cheryl Diehl, School of Veterinary Medicine

Stephen Dinardo, Perelman School of Medicine

Bohdana Discher, Perelman School of Medicine

Dennis Dlugos, Perelman School of Medicine

Christine Droesser, Penn Carey Law School

John Duda, Perelman School of Medicine

Tamara Duffy, Information Systems and Computing

Jennifer Edmondson, Provost’s Center

Diane Eliasson, Wharton School

Eoin Ennis, Penn Carey Law School

Douglas Epstein, Perelman School of Medicine

Renae Ethengain, Information Systems and Computing

Suzanne Fegley, Graduate School of Education

Charicha Ford, Wharton School

Lloyd Frank, University Library

Delfin Fuentes, Facilities and Real Estate Services

Brian Fuller, Division of Recreation & Intercollegiate Athletics

Christopher Gallagher, Facilities and Real Estate Services

Theodore Ganley, Perelman School of Medicine

Victor Garcia, Facilities and Real Estate Services

Kayowa Gibson-Tshilenge, Provost’s Center

Matthew Gillespie, Perelman School of Medicine

Phyllis Gimotty, Perelman School of Medicine

Norman Gold, Information Systems and Computing

Lee Goldberg, Perelman School of Medicine

Ivy Graham, Perelman School of Medicine

Phillip Green, Perelman School of Medicine

Elroy Greene, Facilities and Real Estate Services

Robert Gross, Perelman School of Medicine

Kimberley Grube, Development and Alumni Relations

Wensheng Guo, Perelman School of Medicine

Martin Hackett, School of Veterinary Medicine

Knakiya Hagans, School of Arts and Sciences

Tania Hanna, Provost’s Center

Randall Hardie, Perelman School of Medicine

Ronald Harty, School of Veterinary Medicine

Susan Havrilla, Perelman School of Medicine

Gregory Hawkins, Wharton School

Zhenning He, Perelman School of Medicine

Paul Hendrickson, School of Arts and Sciences

Witold Henisz, Wharton School

Barbara Hewitt, Student Services

Cheryl Hickey, School of Engineering and Applied Science

Margaret Higgins, Perelman School of Medicine

Quinton Hill, Residential and Hospitality Services

Nancy Hirschmann, School of Arts and Sciences

Yugong Ho, Perelman School of Medicine

Ole Hoffstad, Perelman School of Medicine

Baofeng Hu, Perelman School of Medicine

Sharka Hyland, Weitzman School of Design

Paul Janmey, Perelman School of Medicine

Alexander Jarymovych, Weitzman School of Design

Tyeisha Johnson, Division of Finance

Michael Kallan, Perelman School of Medicine

Bekir Karabucak, School of Dental Medicine

Michael Kelty, Business Services

Beth Knaul, Division of Finance

Maryanna Kraft, University Library

Amy Kramer, Perelman School of Medicine

Maryl Kreider, Perelman School of Medicine

Ann Kreidle, Graduate School of Education

Sriram Krishnaswamy, Perelman School of Medicine

Janet Kwiatkowski, Perelman School of Medicine

Sheila Laws, Provost’s Center

Frank Lee, Perelman School of Medicine

Stephen Leff, Perelman School of Medicine

Kristina Leonard, Wharton School

Ming Li, Perelman School of Medicine

Darren Linkin, Perelman School of Medicine

Vincent Lo Re, Perelman School of Medicine

Kristin Lorent, Perelman School of Medicine

Joseph Lowry, School of Arts and Sciences

Francis Luca, School of Veterinary Medicine

Zhongming Ma, Perelman School of Medicine

Dawn MacMillan, Perelman School of Medicine

Petar Mamula, Perelman School of Medicine

Edgar Manigault, University Library

Francis Marchlinski, Perelman School of Medicine

Michael Marmo, School of Dental Medicine

Shannon Maude, Perelman School of Medicine

Michael McCallum, School of Veterinary Medicine

Ryshee McCoy, Facilities & Real Estate Services

Elizabeth McNamara, Division of Finance

Michael McNicholas, Perelman School of Medicine

Bonna Mean, Perelman School of Medicine

Marcie Merz, Development and Alumni Relations

Jason Molli, Perelman School of Medicine

Katherine Moore, School of Arts and Sciences

Daniel Morris, School of Veterinary Medicine

Edward Morrisey, Perelman School of Medicine

Carol Muller, School of Arts and Sciences

Ann Muramatsu, School of Nursing

Emiko Nagatomo, Wharton School

Benjamin Nathans, School of Arts and Sciences

Houping Ni, Perelman School of Medicine

Peter O’Dwyer, Perelman School of Medicine

Suzanne Oh, Graduate School of Education

Ronald Ozio, President’s Center

Michael Parmacek, Perelman School of Medicine

Caroline Pasquariello, Perelman School of Medicine

Benjamin Pierce, School of Engineering and Applied Science

Mechthild Pohlschroder, School of Arts and Sciences

Richard Polman, School of Arts and Sciences

Pamela Puder, Perelman School of Medicine

Christine Reger, School of Nursing

Erica Reineke, School of Veterinary Medicine

Alexander Reiter, School of Veterinary Medicine

Simon Richter, School of Arts and Sciences

José-Victor Ríos-Rull, School of Arts and Sciences

Doug Roberts, Perelman School of Medicine

Betsy Robinson, Facilities and Real Estate Services

Will Robinson, Human Resources

Michael Rubenstein, Perelman School of Medicine

Michael Ruckenstein, Perelman School of Medicine

Albert Russo, Penn Carey Law

Richard Salmon, School of Dental Medicine

Richard Scarfone, Perelman School of Medicine

Frank Schorfheide, School of Arts and Sciences

Stephen Schuster, Perelman School of Medicine

Maurice Schweitzer, Wharton School

Anthony Scirica, Penn Carey Law School

Anthony Secreto, Perelman School of Medicine

Meena Sharma, Perelman School of Medicine

Andrea Shuster, Perelman School of Medicine

Nicolaj Siggelkow, Wharton School

David Skeel, Penn Carey Law School

Kent Smetters, Wharton School

Billy Smith, School of Veterinary Medicine

Eric Snyder, Information Systems and Computing

Keith Snyder, Morris Arboretum

Oleg Sokolsky, School of Engineering and Applied Science

Richard Somerville, Perelman School of Medicine

Ying Song, Perelman School of Medicine

Jonathan Spergel, Perelman School of Medicine

Terri Staley-Marrow, School of Dental Medicine

Michael Stifel, Weitzman School of Design

Honore Strauser, Perelman School of Medicine

Rachel Szkaradnik, Wharton School

Waixing Tang, Perelman School of Medicine

Reshma Tanna, School of Arts and Sciences

Katrina Terrell, Human Resources

Loraine Terrell, School of Arts and Sciences

Christian Terwiesch, Wharton School

Steven Thomas, Perelman School of Medicine

Andrei Thomas-Tikhonenko, Perelman School of Medicine

Pam Tolomeo, Perelman School of Medicine

June Treston, School of Nursing

Thomas Troxler, Perelman School of Medicine

James Trumbo, Facilities and Real Estate Services

Deborah Tsang, School of Veterinary Medicine

Paul Umbriac, Perelman School of Medicine

Michael Upham, Facilities and Real Estate Services

Kathleen Venit, School of Engineering and Applied Science

Arthur Waldron, School of Arts and Sciences

Elizabeth Walsh, Perelman School of Medicine

Colleen Walters, School of Veterinary Medicine

Michael Weaver, Office of Budget Planning & Analysis

David Weiss, Perelman School of Medicine

Karl Wellman, Weitzman School of Design

Keith Wells, School of Dental Medicine

Stephanie West, Facilities and Real Estate Services

Barry Wilson, Wharton School

Ronald Wolf, Perelman School of Medicine

Abraham Wyner, Wharton School

Craig Wynne, Perelman School of Medicine

Xiaolu Yang, Perelman School of Medicine

Douglas Yates, School of Engineering and Applied Science

Christine Zay, Perelman School of Medicine

Paul Zhang, Perelman School of Medicine

Guochang Zhao, Wharton School

Rong Zhou, Perelman School of Medicine

Timothy Zhu, Perelman School of Medicine

Amy Zoll, School of Arts and Sciences

Joseph Zorc, Perelman School of Medicine

The October AT PENN 2023 calendar is online. To view a web version of the calendar, click here. To download a printable PDF of the calendar, click here. 

The September AT PENN 2023 calendar can still be viewed at almanac.upenn.edu/at-penn-calendar/september-at-penn-2023. 

Children’s Activities

29        At-Home Anthro Live: The Archaeology of Music; students will learn about the importance of music in human civilization by studying musical instruments from around the world, then use this as inspiration to design their own instruments; 1 p.m.; online webinar; register: https://www.penn.museum/calendar/64/at-home-anthro-live (Penn Museum).

Conferences

29        15th Annual CHOP Pediatric Global Health Conference; rings together colleagues from around the world to “Shape the Future of Global Child Health” using an equity, bottom-up and community-informed strategy; speakers will include activists, community members, nurses, pediatricians, students and youth; 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; HUB for Clinical Collaboration, 3501 Civic Center Blvd; register: https://tinyurl.com/chop-conf-sept-29 (CHOP).

Fitness & Learning

26        Using Digital Humanities in the Classroom, Examples of What Can Be Done and What Issues Might Arise; Mélanie Péron, Italian studies; 4 p.m.; room 543, Williams Hall; register: https://ctl.upenn.edu/event/using-digital-humanities-in-the-classroom/ (Center for Teaching & Learning).

27        London Calling: Learn How to Successfully Apply to Graduate School and Thrive in the U.K.; discover how you can obtain your master's degree in one year or a PhD degree in as little as three years from some of the world's leading universities while having a transformative international experience; 5 p.m.; room 242, Van Pelt Library; register: https://tinyurl.com/curf-workshop-sept-27 (Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships).

29        Ready or Not... Health and Safety Fair; an afternoon of fun as Public Safety provides safety and wellness information along with many campus partners; 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; field at 39^th Street and Locust Walk (PennReady).

LGBT Center

Unless noted, in-person events at LGBT Center. Info: https://lgbtcenter.universitylife.upenn.edu/.

27        SPARC Drop-In Space; 10 a.m.-noon.

29        Family Dinner; 6-8 p.m.

On Stage

30        HEEL: A Performance; dancer, composer, and movement educator Sigrid Lauren activates exhibiting artist Hannah Levy’s meticulously crafted stainless steel stilts through a choreographed performance; 7 p.m.; Institute of Contemporary Art; register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/707919364877?aff=oddtdtcreator (ICA).

Talks

26        Defending the Planet: The DART Mission, and Mechanics Among the Asteroids; Kaliat (K.T.) Ramesh, Johns Hopkins University; 10 a.m.; Wu & Chen Auditorium, Levine Hall (Mechanical Engineering & Applied Mechanics).

            From Virtual Cinematography to Virtual Production; Paul Debevec, Eyeline Studios Powered by Netflix; 2 p.m.; room 307, Levine Hall (GRASP Lab).

27        Sex Isn't Real: A Historical Perspective; Beans Velocci, history & sociology of science; 11:50 a.m.; Ben Franklin statue, College Hall (60-Second Lectures).

            Dismissal and Discretion: A Forgotten Piece in the Criminal Justice Puzzle and its Role in Racial Disparities; noon; room 201, Fisher-Bennett Hall; RSVP: breyanam@sas.upenn.edu (Criminology).

            The Judiciary at the District Court Level; Joshua D. Wolson, judge of the Eastern District of PA; Renée Marie Bumb, chief judge of the District of NJ; noon; room 213, Gittis Hall; RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/wolson-talk-sept-27 (Federalist Society).

            Privileged Niche Acquisition by a Bacteroides Fragilis Toxin; Juliane Bubeck-Wardenburg, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis; noon; Class of 1962 Auditorium, John Morgan Building (Microbiology).

            Safety Through Agility – Safe and Performant Control for Learning-Enabled Autonomous Systems; Rahul Mangharam, electrical & systems engineering; noon; room 307, Levine Hall (ASSET Center).

            Vulnerability in Health Work: Trainee Physician Protests Across the Globe; Sorcha Brophy, Columbia University; noon; room 150, McNeil Building (Sociology).

            Reporting Gun Violence: Media, Ethics and Community Intervention; panel of speakers; 12:15 p.m.; the Agora, Annenberg Public Policy Center; register: https://bit.ly/45IqXxT (Center for Media at Risk).

            Becoming a Latina Business Owner; Melissa Gallarado, Bonita Fierce Candles; 5 p.m.; room 255, Huntsman Hall (La Casa Latina).

28        AI in the City; John Paul Farmer, WeLink Cities; Evi Fuelle, Credo AI; Santiago Garces, City of Boston; Emily Royall, City of San Antonio; Ethan Zuckerman, University of Massachusetts Amherst; noon; online webinar; register: https://tinyurl.com/iur-talk-sept-28 (Institute for Urban Research).

            K-Pop, Transpacific Music Historiography, and The Otherwise Modern; Bo Kyung Blenda Im; noon; suite 310, 3600 Market Street (Korean Studies).

            The End of ESSER Is Just the Beginning; Aleesia Johnson, Indianapolis Public Schools; Joe Gothard, St. Paul Public Schools; Uri Monson, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; Verjeana McCotter-Jacobs, National School Boards Association; Denise Forte, Education Trust; 1 p.m.; online webinar; register: http://penng.se/esser-webinar-reg (GSE).

            Declamatory Fictions and the Crimen Maiestatis - Seneca, Controversiae 9.2; Matthew Leigh, St Anne's College, Oxford; 4:45 p.m.; room 402, Cohen Hall (Classical Studies).

            Fels Public Policy in Practice Speaker Series; Mary Ellen Iskenderian, Women’s World Banking; 6 p.m.; Zoom webinar; register: https://tinyurl.com/iskenderian-talk-sept-28 (Fels Institute of Government).

29        Network Intelligence Role in Future Mobility; Ehsan Moradi-Pari, Honda Research Institute; 10 a.m.; room 307, Levine Hall (PRECISE Center).

            Toward Foundational Models of Physical Scenes: From Large Language Models to World Models and Back; Stefano Soatto, University of California, Los Angeles; 10:30 a.m.; Wu & Chen Auditorium, Levine Hall, and Zoom webinar; join: https://upenn.zoom.us/j/99139402446 (GRASP Lab).

            Temperature and School Absences: Evidence from England; Risto Conte Keivabu, Max Planck Institute of Demographic Research; noon; room 367, McNeil Building (Sociology).

            The Corporation and the Twentieth Century: The History of American Business Enterprise; Richard Langlois, University of Connecticut; 12:30 p.m.; room 209, College Hall (History).

            Where is China’s Economy Headed? Hanming Fang, economics; 12:30 p.m.; room 418, PCPSE (Center for the Study of Contemporary China).

            Creaturely Cold War: More-Than-Human Narratives of Revolution and War in Africa and Latin America; Sophie Esch, Rice University; 4 p.m.; room 543, Williams Hall (Spanish & Portuguese).

Center for Latin America & Latinx Studies

Various locations. Info and to register: https://clals.sas.upenn.edu/events.

27        Community Activist in Refugee Communities; Jengishbek Karagulov, activist; 4:30 p.m.; room 473, McNeil Building.

29        Quest for Reproductive Justice: Exploring Gender-Based Violence and Forced Sterilizations in Peru (1996-2001) Through an Interdisciplinary Lens; Lucía Stavig, CLALS; noon; 2^nd floor forum, PCPSE.

Economics

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

27        Occupational Choice and the Workweek Throughout the Life Cycle; Cesar Urquizo Ubillus, economics; noon; room 101, PCPSE.

            The Welfare Impact of Market Power: The OPEC Cartel; Allan Collard-Wexler, Duke University; 3:30 p.m.; room 100, PCPSE.

            Scaling Up the American Dream: A Dynamic Analysis; Alessandra Fogli, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis; 4 p.m.; room 101, PCPSE.

Mathematics

In-person events. Info: https://www.math.upenn.edu/events.

27        Diophantine and Tropical Geometry; David Zureick-Brown, Amherst College; 3:45 p.m.; room A2, DRL.

28        Toward a Higher Algebra of Symplectic Geometry; Hiro Lee Tanaka, Texas State University; 3:30 p.m.; room 4C8, DRL.

29        GIT and Quivers; Emma Lennen, mathematics; 10 a.m.; room 3N6, DRL.

This is an update to the September AT PENN calendar. The October AT PENN calendar appears in this issue of Almanac. To submit an event for a future AT PENN calendar or weekly update, email the salient details to 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 September 11-17, 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 September 11-17, 2023. The Penn Police actively patrols 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: 10 incidents were reported for September 11-17, 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 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.

Penn’s 2023-2024 Be in the Know wellness campaign, open to all benefits-eligible faculty, staff, and postdoctoral researchers and fellow eligible for the Penn Postdoc Benefits Plan, provides an array of programs and resources to focus on your health and well-being, connect with the Penn community, and earn up to $300* in Pulse Cash rewards.

This fall, the Penn Healthy You team, in partnership with Health Advocate, will offer on-campus biometric screenings at convenient University locations. Quick, no-cost screening appointments will be held from October 10 through November 30. Advanced registration is required, so sign up for your appointment online at Penn’s Health Advocate portal. Log in with your PennKey and password, and follow these steps:

• Click on the “Schedule a Health Screening” tile
• Look for “Attend an Onsite Health Screening Event”
• Click “Schedule”
• Search by available location and follow steps to make your appointment

For a complete list of screening dates and locations, download the biometric screening schedule.

Rewards Start With Your Biometric Screening

Completing a biometric screening is an essential step for Be in the Know 2023-2024. It is the only activity required to receive Pulse Cash rewards this year. Biometric screenings also provide you with key indicators about your health and professional feedback on the meaning of your results.

Once you complete your screening between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024, you’ll earn your first $50 in Pulse Cash rewards. Health Advocate will automatically send biometric screening results and credit to Virgin Pulse on your behalf. (Please allow at least two weeks for them to appear on the platform). You’ll also be able to earn an additional $250 in Pulse Cash rewards when you complete your choice of over 90 qualifying well-being activities from our 2023-2024 “Ways to Earn” list. All Pulse Cash rewards are redeemable on the Virgin Pulse platform—allowing you to choose from gift cards, wellness items, and charitable donations.

If you are not enrolled on the Virgin Pulse platform, get started today at https://join.virginpulse.com/penn.

What to Expect at the Screening

Please bring your PennCard or University ID card to your biometric screening appointment. At the on-campus biometric screening, a Health Advocate representative will measure key components of your overall health:

• Blood pressure
• Total cholesterol
• HDL cholesterol
• Blood sugar/glucose

More Biometric Screening Options

On-campus screenings are an easy way to earn biometric screening credit for Be in the Know 2023-2024, but there are other choices to fit your schedule:

• Submit screening results from your healthcare provider: Obtain a screening between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024. Download the Consent to Release Results form), then follow the instructions to submit your confidential results to Health Advocate. Once Health Advocate processes your form, they will automatically send results and credit to Virgin Pulse. Please allow a few weeks for credit to appear on the platform.
• Two Labcorp options available through Virgin Pulse: Sign into the Virgin Pulse platform, go to Programs tab and “Biometric Screenings Options, 2023-2024” page for the order links. Click the “START NOW” button on the left side of the screen. Choose from “Labcorp Patient Service Center” (voucher) or “Labcorp OnDemand Home Test” (home test kit). For both options, Labcorp will process your screenings and automatically send results and credit to Virgin Pulse. Labcorp will email you a link to view results. Processing for both options takes several weeks, so please complete them before June 1, 2024.
  • Labcorp Voucher Program: Download a voucher (screening script) from the Virgin Pulse platform. Schedule and complete a screening appointment at a participating Labcorp facility near you.
  • Home Test Kits: Order a home test kit on the Virgin Pulse platform. Complete the kit at home, which will include all directions and supplies and mail back the completed kit.

For complete Be in the Know 2023-2024 campaign details, including more ways to earn rewards, visit www.hr.upenn.edu/beintheknow.

—Division of Human Resources

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

October 2023 is the 20th anniversary of National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM). In observance of NCSAM, the Office of Information Security (OIS) is holding two events.

On October 12, OIS kicks off the celebration by inviting Penn faculty, staff, and PhD students to attend a one-day Penn Information Security Aware Community (PISAC) hybrid event at John M. Huntsman Hall and via Zoom. PISAC features six sessions with experts presenting in the field of:

• Cybersecurity & Law by Claire Finkelstein, a professor of law and philosophy.
• Information Science, Engineering, and Applied Science by Jonathan Smith, a professor of computer and information science.
• Cybersecurity Guidance for Research and Education by the National Institute of Standards and Technology
• Panel discussion on Resilience in Cybersecurity by CISOs from higher education institutions.
• Cyber Threats Targeting Children and Youth by the National Center of Missing and Exploited Children
• Protecting Yourself from Cyber Threats by the OIS Security Operation Center

OIS will participate in the Employee Resource Fair on October 24, held in person at Pottruck Health & Fitness Center. From noon -1:30 p.m., OIS will distribute swag carrying a security message to attendees.

Continuing with OIS’s annual tradition, a free movie screening, The Marvels, is offered for students on November 10 at 5:30 p.m., preceded by a brief discussion of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) and Penn’s copyright policy.

As a reminder of best security practices, it is essential to:

• Back up the data you handle in a secure location
• Set your file-sharing site to private to prevent unauthorized access
• Verify the authenticity of the email before responding. If in doubt, contact your IT support staff for verification.

Information on event registration is on the Penn 2023 National Cybersecurity Awareness Month webpage. 

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.

To add the 2023-2024 academic calendar (fall 2023 and spring 2024 terms) to your personal calendar, visit https://almanac.upenn.edu/penn-academic-calendar and click the blue Add to Calendar button.

There will be an option to download it to Apple, Google, Office 365, Outlook, Outlook.com, or Yahoo calendars.

The academic calendar is also available as a public calendar in PennO365. To add it to your calendar views, visit https://www.isc.upenn.edu/how-to/adding-penn-academic-calendar-penno365.

Tobias Baumgart

I would like to begin by thanking all those outstanding teachers at Penn, in the chemistry department and elsewhere, who have allowed me to observe their teaching, either in person or electronically, or who have otherwise been inspiring. My educational journey has benefited tremendously from our learning community, and my ambition is to extend and nurture that community in my classrooms. I am hopeful that more connection and community, and less toxic competition, can help take the sting out of STEM teaching, both for our students and for us instructors. 

This community can begin with getting to know many, if not all, the individuals in the classroom. It is challenging to memorize students’ names off registration photographs that sometimes seem to bear little resemblance to the current individual in the classroom. Furthermore, the names provided in the course registration table do not always offer guidance on their pronunciation, and some students use a nickname, or prefer to use their middle name. How to get a hold of all of this? I learned from others an ice breaker activity during the first class where each student mentions their name and a fun fact, or—to provide a graceful way out—a favorite color. This only works for small classes. For larger ones, both my students and I have had fun with an assignment that could be completed during a short amount of class time or after class: 1) “Using your phone, submit to Canvas a short audio recording containing your full name, how you would like to be addressed, your choice of pronoun, as well as a fun fact (or favorite color)” and 2) “Provide a current snapshot of yourself (selfie)”. I still cherish some of the fun facts I have learned in past courses, and this activity helped me appreciate the richness of what our students bring to the table. Such fun facts also helped me quite a bit with the process of remembering names in large classes. 

For instructors to think about ‘us’ all together, instead of seeing students as ‘other,’ sounds trivial at the surface, and yet it took me more than 10 years of teaching to figure this out for myself. Recognizing that my teaching was not about ‘me’ allowed me to realize that it is OK to make the occasional mistake, and that fully owning my mistakes in front of the students, can be a genuine way of connecting. Vulnerability seems to be a stance too often interpreted as weakness for professionals in our discipline. For the STEM teacher, it may in fact be a strength. I learned from observing my colleagues the power of apologizing, of self-deprecating humor, of being less than a sage-on-the-stage while coming to class with enthusiasm about the material, especially if all this comes with being well-organized and well-prepared. 

Using music as a tool (typically in the form of a song played right before class) turned out to be a way to create community and connection in several different ways. Sometimes a short story connects a song to some course material, and some songs address emotional class experiences, such as anxiety and sadness. I have had students suggest a piece that they used as a “pump up” song in past contexts, and these songs became theme songs for our course. Soliciting song suggestions from the class helped me to be more “modern.” It is possible that playing songs of my own (likely more “antiquated”) choice before class may have had a larger effect on me than on anyone else in the classroom and that may have indirectly elevated the classroom atmosphere. I remember fairly emotional moments when listening, on the evening before class, to the song I would enjoy with my students the next day. For example, I used Kamakawiwo’Ole’s “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” when covering the blackbody spectrum (such as of the sun),  and Ashokan Farewell—a song written about human bonding and theme song for Ken Burns’s documentary on splitting and reuniting North and South—when discussing the chemical bond.  I also use a video of Rocky Balboa’s jog through Philadelphia and up the Art Museum steps during the last day of class. Shostakovich’s second waltz and an accompanying video of ballroom dance couples helped illustrate the concept (and misconceptions!) of electron pairing, and a flash mob orchestra adding one instrument after another to play Beethoven’s Ode to Joy, with a whole marketplace eventually participating, illustrated the Aufbau-principle of the periodic table, one of the most amazing insights into chemical principles. These songs helped me to think of my class at an emotional level the students had not experienced before without the help of music. 

Online course communication tools (such as EdDiscussion) further improve access to the class outside of class and office hours, especially if they offer students the chance to submit questions, comments, and concerns anonymously. Since the whole teaching team (instructor, graduate teaching assistants, and undergraduate learning assistants) as well as all other students in the course have access to the submissions as well, that too adds community to the course experience. 

Finally, I have chosen to never again teach a course where students are graded on a curve. I am aware that there are pros and cons. Given that I never had to take a curved course myself as a student, this choice came easily for me. The arguments that resonate with me are the reduction of toxic competition and the promotion of collaborative learning. In addition, absolute grade schemes allow transparency such that students always know where they stand in the course. Challenges include me having to explain to students why the absolute grade scheme changed from one year to the next, and having to explain to colleagues why the promise that everyone enrolled in the course in principle can come out with an A-grade almost became reality at the end of one semester. Those high grades raised concerns about grade inflation and fairness among different cohorts and different teachers. I’m not sure I have good answers to such concerns. My priority has been the course experience of the individual student in my course.

For those looking for more on teaching effectively and without sting, I highly recommend Kelly Hogan and Viji Sathy’s text “Inclusive Teaching,” which offers a plethora of ideas to work towards creating a class that welcomes students, Claude Steele’s “Whistling Vivaldi,” a book that can help instructors better understand why some students struggle even though they are capable, and Daniel Willingham’s “Why Don’t Students Like School,” on how the mind works and what that means for the teacher. Those books, along with numerous articles on positive psychology and inclusive teaching, have helped form my current teaching philosophy. But I have had a little more help. In closing, I’d like to thank one inspiring high school instructor who in addition to teaching us sports and French showed “that the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.” 

Tobias Baumgart is a professor of chemistry in the School of Arts & Sciences and the 2023 recipient of the Dennis M. DeTurck Award for Innovation in Teaching.

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This essay continues the series that began in the fall of 1994 as the joint creation of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Center for Teaching and Learning, and the Lindback Society for Distinguished Teaching. 

See https://almanac.upenn.edu/talk-about-teaching-and-learning-archive for previous essays.