March 4, 2025 Volume 71 Issue 26

Interim president J. Larry Jameson has announced that Matthew Grossman will join Penn as Vice President for University Communications. The appointment is effective on April 7, 2025. In this role, Mr. Grossman will drive a communications approach that underscores Penn’s leadership in academic excellence, discovery, and societal impact, while strengthening connections across its campus community, national and international stakeholders.

Since 2021, Mr. Grossman has served as the chief brand and communications officer at Techstars, a global leader in early-stage technology investment. Previously, he spent 12 years at the Walt Disney Company, leading communications across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Earlier in his career, Mr. Grossman was the senior vice president, international corporate, for Edelman Communications, where he led efforts related to corporate and product communications and brand management. He also directed corporate communications and digital strategy at the Motion Picture Association of America.

In making the announcement, Interim President Jameson highlighted Mr. Grossman’s distinguished leadership, wide-ranging communications experience, and global perspective. “Matt Grossman brings a wealth of communications experience and a strategic, innovative mindset to this vital leadership role,” he said. “His ability to forge meaningful connections, shape thoughtful dialogue, and advance impactful narratives will be essential as we build on Penn’s strengths to educate future generations, inspire discovery, and lead on the great challenges of our time.”

As Vice President for University Communications, Mr. Grossman will be responsible for the development and implementation of a long-term communications plan for Penn. Serving as a key advisor to the president and other Penn senior officers, he will oversee Penn’s internal and external communications operations, partner with schools and centers on institutional communications, and promote the widespread recognition of Penn’s contributions to the community, nation, and world. 

“Penn’s integration of rigorous academics and groundbreaking research with real-world application is unrivaled,” said Mr. Grossman. “This approach is deeply rooted in the University’s founding and legacy, and unites its extraordinarily broad and accomplished community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni. I cannot wait to join the University Communications team and look forward to working with Penn’s twelve schools to share the stories of this great institution and its global impact.”

Mr. Grossman earned his MBA from the Anderson School of Management at UCLA and his undergraduate degree from Middlebury College. He and his family will soon relocate to Philadelphia from London. He succeeds Stephen J. MacCarthy, who has served as the interim vice president of University Communications since August 2024. Mr. MacCarthy previously led University Communications from 2011–2023 and returned from retirement to serve in an interim capacity for the past nine months. 

“I am deeply grateful for Steve MacCarthy’s superb leadership during this transitional period,” said Interim President Jameson. “He is an exemplary University citizen whose expertise and steady hand was, once again, invaluable.” He continued, “With his extensive experience and vision, Matt [Grossman] will play a pivotal role in further amplifying Penn’s voice as a leader in education, research, and service.”

February 24, 2025

I know our community is closely following the flurry of recent Executive Orders, federal guidance, and legal actions, especially as they affect higher education, diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, research programs, funding, and immigration. Penn has always upheld the law, and we will continue doing so. But the future of higher education may alter dramatically depending on how courts rule, how agencies implement new policies, and how future orders and legislation are enacted.

The anxiety and frustration many people feel at this moment is deep and often quite personal. I understand. But what has changed so rapidly is not the value, rightness, and impact of Penn’s contributions and promise. What has changed is the increasing polarization in public opinion about higher education and the accompanying changes in federal guidance and oversight. Penn must both respond and adapt to this rapidly shifting landscape.

I have heard from many that while we must remain agile, we must foremost protect Penn’s soul. I passionately agree and reaffirm Penn’s enduring values and principles. Among these are:

Our essential missions: Everything we do must be grounded in advancing Penn’s world-class teaching, research, clinical care, and service. This focus is especially important in times of turbulence and uncertainty.

Academic freedom: Everything we do must support freedom of inquiry and thought, open expression, and the rigorous pursuit of truth. These elements are essential to how we contribute to the world.

Opportunity, access, and support: Everything we do must be anchored in principled non-discrimination, expanding access, and embracing diversity in all its forms – all while following the law, which we will continue doing. These commitments to our culture have made Penn a pioneer in higher education for more than a century. We are stronger for it. A commitment to inclusive excellence has advanced research, scholarship, and patient care in profound ways.

As I communicated on February 11, cuts to federal funding loom, from financial aid to research funds, and proposed legislation to increase endowment taxes. These elements, along with changing rules related to cultural norms of higher education, are among the most significant of our challenges and represent an existential threat across our University and American higher education.

We are acting to protect our missions, our operations, our people, and our values. Here’s what the Penn community should know right now about what we are doing:

Vigorous advocacy: Penn’s leadership is directly engaged with our elected officials to ensure that Penn’s mission is preserved. We have also partnered with the Association of American Universities, the American Association of Medical Colleges, and other professional organizations, to advocate for the essential role of higher education, scientific discovery, our values, and our service to the greater good.

Internal response: In my February 11 message, I noted that we have convened a pan-University working group in seven different priority areas, all focused on evaluating the impact of new federal policies and actions on our academic and research enterprise. Led by Provost John L. Jackson Jr., Senior Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli, and Senior Vice President David Asch, this group is focused on ensuring internal coordination, planning, and efficient decision-making in this rapidly changing environment.

Contingency planning: We are modeling different financial scenarios and actions that may need to be implemented, and we are working closely with school and center leaders to seek input and ideas around possible cost containment measures and new sources of revenue. The multiple challenges we face remind us that we are all in this together. As has been our approach in past situations, we will remain judicious, measured, deliberate, and focused on sustaining our mission when determining any action.

Here is what I ask of you, the Penn community:

Remain united: Perhaps the most important factor for success, especially in tumultuous times, is our unity of purpose and support for one another. In the face of profound societal and governmental forces, Penn’s future depends not just on the resilience of the individuals in our community, but also on our mutual respect and shared support.

Take care of yourselves: Penn offers a range of services to help support you. Below this message, you’ll find a list of several critical resources, and I encourage you to make use of what you may need. I also encourage you to provide support to your local community – people you are closest to in your schools, departments, centers, and social groups.

Be ambassadors for Penn and higher education: We are a broad community of students, post-doctoral fellows, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, and friends. Penn has connected us and touched us and the world. Amazing things happen at Penn on a daily basis and even more so over time. We are all ambassadors through our messages, scholarship, service, and actions. Through your many networks and professional organizations, I encourage you to convey the value that Penn, and higher education, brings to individuals and society more broadly.

As the world around us changes, we will adapt and engage to shape the future. We are not strangers to challenge – Penn has endured wars and pandemics over its long history. Today’s challenges are profound and multimodal, and they will test us. We are resourced and inspired by a community that loves Penn, and that pursues its future with idealism and pragmatism, courage and compromise. These characteristics, and our enduring principles, have served us well and will continue to guide our future.

A List of Resources for the Penn Community

Penn has a robust network of campus resources for students, faculty, and staff impacted by events on and off campus that can be accessed here. Below are several resource offices:

Resources for Faculty, Staff, and Students:

• International Student and Scholar Services has a dedicated team to provide you with professional immigration guidance, a wide array of services, informative programs, and support. Penn community members can connect with the office through various channels, including virtual and in-person advising. Website | (215) 898-4661 | Email.

Public Safety Resources:

• Some members of our community may feel particularly uneasy about law enforcement. If you see any external law enforcement or have questions about encounters with external law enforcement, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on campus, please call Penn Police at (215) 573-3333, who will respond and coordinate with other support resources on campus.
• We encourage those who are feeling unsafe to reach out to us for additional resources, including walking security escort services  by calling (215) 898-WALK (9255) anywhere throughout our patrol area.

For Students:

• As we navigate periods of uncertainty, we are all likely to experience a range of emotional discomfort. Wellness at Penn is here to support you and help you manage your well-being. Learn more about Managing Stress in Uncertain Times here.
• Medical care and mental health support is available 24/7 at (215) 746-WELL (9355).
• University Life nurtures an inclusive campus life environment where students can grow intellectually, engage in meaningful experiential opportunities, and support one another. They can connect with the cultural and community resource centers.

For Faculty and Staff:

• Penn employees can access Penn Cobalt, a web-based platform, that matches Penn employees to mental health resources and the appropriate level of group and individual mental health and well-being support.
• Resources and tips are available for faculty and staff looking for ways to support students.

—J. Larry Jameson, Interim President

Paulo Arratia: Eduardo D. Glandt Distinguished Scholar

Paulo Arratia, a professor in the departments of mechanical engineering & applied mechanics and chemical & biomolecular engineering, has been named the Eduardo D. Glandt Distinguished Scholar.

Dr. Arratia’s research focuses on experimental fluid mechanics and soft matter physics. By integrating elements of physics, biology, and engineering, his work explores the behavior of complex fluids and soft materials, often at microscopic scales.  Dr. Arratia has been recognized with multiple awards, including the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the Milton Van Dyke Award (APS-DFD), the APS-DFD Gallery of Fluid Motion Award, the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award, the Ford Motor Company Award for Faculty Advising, and the Penn Health Innovation Award. He is a fellow of the American Physical Society. Dr. Arratia holds a PhD from Rutgers University and completed his postdoctoral research at Haverford College and at Penn. To learn more about Dr. Arratia and his research, please visit his faculty profile.

Named for Eduardo D. Glandt, a distinguished chemical engineer and dean emeritus of the School of Engineering & Applied Science, the Eduardo D. Glandt Distinguished Scholar position honors individuals who exemplify academic excellence, innovation, and leadership in fields related to engineering, science or education.

Ravi Radhakrishnan: Herman P. Schwan Department Chair of Bioengineering

Ravi Radhakrishnan, professor and chair of bioengineering and a professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, has been named the Herman P. Schwan Department Chair of Bioengineering.

Dr. Radhakrishnan’s computational research laboratory works at the intersection of biophysics, biomolecular engineering, and bioengineering. The lab’s goal is to create digital twin models in biomedical engineering to advance cancer treatment and next-generation therapeutics using nanomedicine. The group specializes in developing computational algorithms that span molecular and cellular scales, incorporating theoretical frameworks from statistical mechanics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Additionally, the lab uses high-performance scientific computing in parallel architectures. Dr. Radhakrishnan is actively engaged in and funded through several national and international multidisciplinary consortia and is a working group leader in the High-Performance Computing Working Group for an Inter-Governmental Consortium: Inter-Agency Modeling Group, which involves the NIH, NSF, NASA, DOE, DOD, and DARPA. Before joining Penn, he earned his PhD in chemical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.

Dr. Radhakrishnan has received numerous awards and recognitions. Most notably, he has received the Hewlett Packard Investigator Award and holds fellowships from prominent organizations, including the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), the Royal Society of Medicine, and the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES). To learn more about Dr. Radhakrishnan and his research, please visit his faculty profile.

The Herman P. Schwan Department Chair of Bioengineering position was established to honor the late Herman P. Schwan, a professor emeritus of biophysics and bioengineering at Penn and a pioneering figure in the field. A visionary scientist and one of the founding members of Penn’s department of bioengineering, Dr. Schwan played a pivotal role in shaping the field of bioengineering in the United States.

Alejandro Ribeiro: Solomon and Sylvia G. Charp Professor of Electrical and Systems Engineering

Alejandro Ribeiro, a professor in the departments of electrical & systems engineering and computer & information science, has been named the Solomon and Sylvia G. Charp Professor of Electrical and Systems Engineering.

Dr. Ribeiro’s research focuses on wireless autonomous networks, machine learning on network data, and distributed collaborative learning. He aims to develop theoretical foundations for processing architectures in artificial intelligence (AI), emphasizing fair, safe and efficient decision-making systems. His work has applications in multiagent systems, wireless communication, and network neuroscience. Among his many accolades are the 2022 IEEE Signal Processing Society Best Paper Award, the 2022 IEEE Brain Initiative Student Paper Award, the 2021 Cambridge Ring Publication of the Year Award, and the 2017 Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Distinguished Teach­ing Award. Before joining the University of Pennsylvania, he earned his MSc and PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Minnesota. To learn more about Dr. Ribeiro and his research, please visit his faculty profile.

The Solomon and Sylvia G. Charp Professorship of Electrical and Systems Engineering was established in 1992 by the late Sylvia Gorski Charp, GRD’66, a pioneer in educational technology and a senior fellow in the School of Engineering & Applied Science. In addition to receiving her master’s and doctorate of education degrees from Penn and teaching courses in the College of General Studies, she helped Penn Engineering develop some of its computer-based educational initiatives, including distance learning and Blackboard. The chair is named for Sylvia Charp and her late husband, Solomon Charp, EE’40, GEE’41, who was on the faculty of the Moore School of Electrical Engineering during the development of ENIAC.

Kevin T. Turner: John Henry Towne Department Chair of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics

Kevin T. Turner, professor and department chair of mechanical engineering and applied mechanics, has been named the John Henry Towne Department Chair of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics.

Dr. Turner’s research is at the nexus of mechanics, manufacturing, and materials. Ongoing efforts in his research group include the development of materials with tunable adhesion and stiffness, the engineering of fracture-resistant heterogeneous and architected materials, and the design and manufacturing of low-cost printed sensors for IoT applications. Dr. Turner holds a secondary appointment in Penn’s department of materials  science and engineering and serves as the research director for the NSF-funded Engineering Research Center for Internet of Things for Precision Agriculture (IoT4Ag). He earned his BS from Johns Hopkins University and his SM and PhD from MIT.

Dr. Turner has received numerous awards, including the ASME Sia Nemat-Nasser Early Career Award, the Early Career Award from the Adhesion Society, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers Outstanding Young Manufacturing Engineer Award, and the NSF CAREER Award. He has also been honored for teaching excellence with the American Society for Engineering Education Ferdinand P. Beer and E. Russell Johnston Jr. Outstanding New Mechanics Educator Award and Penn’s Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching. To learn more about Dr. Turner and his research, please visit his faculty profile.

The John Henry Towne Department Chair of Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics at the University of Pennsylvania is named in honor of John Henry Towne (1818–1875), a distinguished mechanical engineer and industrialist. The establishment of this chair reflects Mr. Towne’s enduring impact on the field of mechanical engineering and Penn’s commitment to excellence in this discipline.

The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania have approved a $328 million undergraduate financial aid budget for the 2025-2026 academic year, a 6.4% increase over aid expenditures for 2024-2025, driven largely by the Quaker Commitment financial aid initiative.  

The Trustees also approved a 3.7% increase in total undergraduate charges for 2025-26. Tuition will be $63,204, fees will be $8,032, housing will be $13,132, and dining will be $6,744, for a total of $91,112.  

Announced in the fall of 2023, the Quaker Commitment expands support for middle- and lower-income families by guaranteeing full-tuition scholarships for families who make $200,000 or less and removing equity in the family’s primary home from financial need assessments.  

The University of Pennsylvania’s undergraduate financial aid initiative, the Quaker Commitment, is being applied for the first time in Academic Year 2025-2026, marking a significant step in Penn’s ongoing commitment to making higher education more accessible and affordable.  

“The Quaker Commitment is a bold move that makes a Penn education more financially inclusive for middle- and lower-income families, while reinforcing the University’s reputation as a leader in fostering greater access to a Penn education,” said Interim Penn President J. Larry Jameson. “Access to affordable higher education is part of our national conversations, and the Quaker Commitment offers a compelling model for how higher education institutions can support more families.” 

Expanding on a Long-Standing Commitment to Financial Aid  

Penn introduced its signature no-loan financial aid program in 2008 with the goal of increasing access to a world-class university known for its high academic standards, innovative research, and dedication to serving the vibrant city of Philadelphia. “The Quaker Commitment builds on our long-standing policies, and it comes with transparency about costs welcomed by those concerned about the complexity of the financial aid process,” said Mark Dingfield, vice president for finance and treasurer. “Removing home equity from the financial aid assessment process is a major step toward that goal, making financial aid packages more generous for many and simplifying the process of applying for financial aid.” 

Penn’s approach to undergraduate financial aid has an impact on a wide variety of students and is the largest program of its kind in higher education. Of Penn’s approximately 10,000 undergraduate students, 45.4% currently receive financial aid, with an average aid package of $70,552. This average package is more than the cost of tuition and covers 76% of a student’s total cost of attendance. By comparison, the average aid package covered 57% in 2008, when Penn’s no-loan financial aid policy was first introduced. As a result of Penn’s no-loan financial aid initiative, only 18% of need-based aid recipients received  loans in FY25, compared to 76% in FY08 when the policy was first introduced.

A new research core—the Spatial Transcriptomics Core—has opened at Penn Dental Medicine, bringing a revolutionary advance in genetics research to the heart of the school and in turn, adding to the research resources for the entire Penn campus. The Spatial Transcriptomics Core features the 10X Genomics Xenium Analyzer, a device that enables researchers to measure which genes are active on a per-cell basis throughout a section of tissue. Using an imaging-based approach to map the location of each cell and up to 5,000 different RNA transcripts contained within, the Xenium Analyzer represents new cutting-edge technology that is now readily accessible to Penn Dental Medicine researchers.

“The nice thing about this kind of science is it’s widely applicable to different types of tissues and cell types,” said Eric Larson, director of the core. “Doing transcriptome measurements is always going to be helpful to understand what is going on in a tissue.”

The new core is located in room 429 of the Leon Levy Center at Penn Dental Medicine and works in partnership with staff in the school’s Tissue Processing Core, who help to prepare and read samples with the dedicated assistance of technical director Juyoung Park. The core is open to the Penn community. Users will have access to pre-experiment consultation, specimen sourcing and sectioning assistance, Xenium workflow assistance from a dedicated core staff member, and multiple options for downstream data analysis. The final output gives researchers a picture of which genes are detected in which cells.

“People are going to start realizing how much of an impact this type of data is going to make on the field, now that we’re able to start combining this spatial element with all of the other single-cell transcriptomic studies that have been done,” said Dr. Larson. Researchers in Penn Dental Medicine and throughout Penn can schedule time at the core by visiting www.dental.upenn.edu/SpatialTranscriptomicsCore or by contacting Dr. Larson, core director, at larsoned@upenn.edu.

Jeannette Flamm Brockman, a former assistant dean of the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Fine Arts (now the Weitzman School of Design), died on December 21, 2024. She was 87.  

Ms. Flamm Brockman grew up in New York City and graduated in 1958 from Sarah Lawrence College, where she studied with renowned literature professor Joseph Campbell and eminent philosopher Maurice Friedman. After a fellowship at Harvard University, she completed her master’s degree in Middle Eastern history at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1961. 

She began her work at Penn in 1977 as registrar at the Penn Museum. She then became chief development officer of the Graduate School of Fine Arts in 1981 and director of development for Penn’s libraries in 1986. From 1992 to 1995, she was assistant dean for external affairs at the Graduate School of Fine Arts.

During her more than two decades at Penn, Ms. Flamm Brockman obtained funding, supervised extensive building renovations, coordinated library development programs, and managed alumni affairs and public relations. She raised more than $30 million toward the renovation campaign for the Furness Building (now the Fisher Fine Arts Library) and the Eugene Ormandy Music and Media Center. She went on to teach photography in the Graduate School of Education’s Say Yes to Education program for children. 

Ms. Flamm Brockman was a celebrated photographer who had a passion for photographing landscapes, portraits, and public events. In 2014 she published Prayers at the Gate, a photographic meditation on the spontaneous memorials and offerings assembled to commemorate 9/11 at Ground Zero in New York City, at El Santuario de Chimayó in New Mexico, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. In 2015, she published Along the Trail, a collection of photographs from some of her favorite hikes throughout the U.S., wherein she used her beachcomber’s eye to find human and animal forms in forests.

Her photographs are in the permanent collections of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in New York, the Palace of the Governors Photo Archives at the New Mexico History Museum in Santa Fe, and the Haverford College Archives, among other institutions. Her photographs have been featured in numerous group and solo exhibitions in galleries and museums, including at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Sarah Lawrence College, the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, and various galleries at Penn.

She is survived by her sons, Joshua and George Brockman; and her grandchildren, Felix and Celia. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ms. Flamm Brockman’s memory may be made to HIAS Pennsylvania by calling (215) 832-0900 or visiting https://hiaspa.org.

Leonid (Leo) D. Rudnytzky, G’60, a former lecturer of Ukrainian language and literature in the department of Russian and East European studies in the School of Arts & Sciences, died on December 8, 2024. He was 89.

Born in 1935 in Lviv, Ukraine, Dr. Rudnytzky and his family escaped from oncoming Soviet forces and fled to Germany in 1944. Then, in 1952, Dr. Rudnytzky and his mother emigrated to the United States, where he earned an undergraduate degree from La Salle College (now University) in Philadelphia six years later. In 1960, he earned an MA in German studies from Penn, then defended his doctoral dissertation, Ivan Franko and German Literature, at the Ukrainian Free University in Munich, West Germany, in 1965. 

Dr. Rudnytzky’s primary faculty position was at La Salle University, where he began teaching in 1959 as a professor of German studies. He also later taught Slavic studies and comparative literature there, and in 1990, he co-founded La Salle’s Central and Eastern European Studies program and directed it until 1998. He received La Salle’s Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching in 1966. Dr. Rudnytzky also held several other faculty positions, including at Penn, Harvard University, Ludwig Maximilian University, and the University of Vienna. Dr. Rudnytzky spent the fall of 1989 as a professor of Slavic languages at Penn, then lectured intermittently in the College of General Studies (today the College of Liberal & Professional Studies) and in the department of Russian & East European studies until retiring in 2019. 

In 1998, Dr. Rudnytzky left La Salle to become the rector of the Ukrainian Free University in Munich, a position he held until 2004. That year, he returned to the U.S. and became president of the St. Sophia Religious Association of Ukrainian Catholics, serving until 2018.  “Leonid Rudnytzky was an intellectual who cherished his faith,” said his family in a tribute. “He played a crucial role in protecting the Underground Church, advocating for its recognition, and contributing to the celebration of the millennium of Christianity in Ukraine.”

He is survived by his wife, Irene (née Ieviņš); his children, Kateryna (Jim Schray), Larysa (John Dragonetti) and Nicholas (Christina née Nimczuk); his grandchildren, Alexander and Dianna Dragonetti; Teresa, Peregrine, Blaise and Simeon Schray; Gregory, Michael, Yuliya and Amelia Rudnytzky; and his cousins’ children, Dmytro, Danyo, Yaro, Ulita and Andrei. 

Donations in his memory can be made to St. Sophia Religious Association of Ukrainian Catholics, USA, 7911 Whitewood Rd., Elkins Park, Pennsylvania 19027; the Shevchenko Scientific Society, 532 Orioles Dr., Lehighton, Pennsylvania 18235; Christ the King Ukrainian Catholic Church, 1629 W Cayuga St., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140; or the Ukrainian Free University Foundation, 136 Second Ave. #502, New York, New York 10003.

The following is published in accordance with the Faculty Senate Rules. Among other purposes, the publication of SEC actions is intended to stimulate discussion among the constituencies and their representatives.  Please communicate your comments to Patrick Walsh, executive assistant to the Senate Office, by email at senate@pobox.upenn.edu.

Faculty Senate Executive Committee Special Meeting
Friday, February 28, 2025

Meeting Announcement. Faculty Senate chair Eric Feldman announced a special meeting of the Faculty Senate Executive Committee by email on Thursday, February 20, 2025, to be held on Friday, February 28, 2025, for the purposes of information exchange and discussion of current events on campus.

Meeting Discussion. Professor Feldman led Senate Executive Committee members in a wide-ranging discussion of the most immediate challenges facing the Penn community and higher education.

The stated meeting of the Board of Trustees on February 28, 2025, began with an invocation by Charles Howard, University Chaplain and vice president for social equity & community.

Board of Trustees chair Ramanan Raghavendran presented a resolution of appreciation for trustee Richard C. Perry that granted him emeritus status. The resolution was unanimously approved. A resolution authorizing the approval of the voluntary dissolution and strike-off of Penn Medicine London was also approved.

During the President’s report, Interim President Jameson noted that the extraordinary challenges Penn and higher education more broadly are facing. As stated in his message to the Penn Community, President Jameson noted that Penn has and will continue to abide by the law as the work continues to protect its operations, people, and values. 

Interim President Jameson presented two resolutions: to appoint Jonathan A. Epstein as Executive Vice President of the University of Pennsylvania for the Health System and Dean of the Perelman School of Medicine (Almanac February 18, 2025) and to appoint Matthew Grossman as Vice President for University Communications. Both resolutions were unanimously approved.

During the academic report, Provost John L. Jackson, Jr., acknowledged the reappointments of Beth A. Winkelstein as deputy provost (Almanac January 28, 2025) and Laura W. Perna as vice provost for faculty (Almanac February 18, 2025). He presented the resolution on faculty appointments and promotions, which was approved.

Senior Executive Vice President Craig Carnaroli presented the financial report. For the consolidated University, total net assets were $32 billion as of December 31, 2024, an increase of $1.7 billion, or 5.7%, over December 31, 2023. For the academic component, the change in net assets from operations for the University reflected a $440 million increase versus a $221 million increase last year. The total revenue of $2.8 billion was $337 million, or 13.9%, above last year. Expenses of $2.3 billion were $118 million, or 5.3%, above last year. For the health system, the change in net assets from operations reflected an increase of $117 million through December 31, 2024. Operating revenue increased $553 million, or 10.5%, from $5.3 billion as of December 31, 2023 to $5.8 billion as of December 31, 2024. Expenses increased $553 million, or 10.8%, from $5.1 billion as of December 31, 2023 to $5.7 billion as of December 31, 2024.

During the Penn Medicine report, Dr. Epstein discussed the important work for patients and the community. He thanked all those who advocate for the importance of Penn Medicine. He acknowledged and expressed gratitude for the gift from Catherine and Anthony Clifton (Almanac February 18, 2025) to name the Pavilion the Clifton Center for Medical Breakthroughs.

During the committee reports, seven resolutions were presented and approved:

• On the ethical return or shared stewardship of human remains from the Penn Museum
• To establish a master of applied economics and data science in the School of Arts and Sciences
• To approve the reappointment of independent accountants for FY25
• To approve recurring non-audit fees for FY26
• To authorize tuition, fees, & other student charges and financial aid for academic year 2025-2026
• To authorize up to $16 million for the planning, design, development and construction of the expansion of the Penn Medicine 76^th Street Pharmacy
• To authorize Pennovation Works parking garage, phase 1, in the amount of $13,272,000

Mr. Raghavendran presented resolutions for appointments to the Penn Medicine board and various advisory boards, which passed.

The next meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for May 15, 2025.

Penn’s Models of Excellence program has recognized over 1,800 staff members for their accomplishments since it began in 1999. Now in its 26th year, Models of Excellence continues to honor the people who are the foundation of all we do.

This spring, 51 staff members will receive Models of Excellence Program awards for 2025. The work of these individuals and teams exemplifies Penn’s principles and practices.

During the Models of Excellence call for nominations last fall, members of the Penn community submitted an unprecedented number of nominations. The 2025 selection committee worked diligently and objectively to review and rate all the Models of Excellence nominations and select this year’s honorees. Penn Human Resources is grateful for the 62 nominators and the committee’s time, contribution, and commitment to this program.

Each award-winning staff member will receive $500 and an engraved keepsake.

Award Celebration on April 7, 2025

The Penn community will celebrate the honorees’ outstanding efforts and achievements at the Models of Excellence ceremony on April 7, 2025, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the Harrison Auditorium in the Penn Museum, followed by a reception. Interim President J. Larry Jameson, Provost John L. Jackson, Jr., Senior Executive Vice President Craig R. Carnaroli, and Vice President for Human Resources Felicia A. Washington will present the awards on stage.

Learn about the 2025 honorees’ amazing work at www.hr.upenn.edu/models or download the 2025 Models of Excellence Honoree list.

These honorees were selected for their outstanding work in three categories: Models of Excellence, Pillars of Excellence, and Model Supervisor.

Models of Excellence Award

Seven Models of Excellence nominees are being recognized for their creativity, leadership, initiative, extraordinary service, and dedication to cost-effectiveness from among 39 compelling team and individual nominations.

The FAFSA Simplification Act Pilot Team

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Simplification Act Pilot Team educated and trained students, families, staff, and faculty on the impact of changes to the FAFSA application process and federal funding. The team developed and presented educational sessions throughout campus, resulting in a seamless application process for students and families and achieving a positive revenue stream of over $250 million in federal funding for the University.

• Sadia Abarry, Division of Finance
• Bria Boddie, Division of Finance
• Lyndsi Burcham, Division of Finance
• Samantha Corsaro, Division of Finance
• Jeffrey Greenberg, Division of Finance
• Erick Herrera, Division of Finance
• Amy Hooper, Division of Finance
• Joseph Manning, Division of Finance
• Hannah McKeever, Division of Finance
• Lissette Patterson, Division of Finance
• Nicole Soroka, Division of Finance
• Mathias Stangl-Riehle, Division of Finance
• Thomas Stewart, Division of Finance
• Elaine Papas Varas, Division of Finance
• Jodi Wagner, Division of Finance

Diana A. Johnson, Graduate School of Education (GSE)

Diana A. Johnson, executive assistant in the Dean’s Office at GSE, exemplifies dedication as a steadfast supporter of multiple deans. She handles intricate schedules, sensitive matters, and cross-functional projects with grace. A cornerstone of the school’s culture, Diana shares a wealth of institutional knowledge. Her reassuring, approachable presence is highly valued by faculty and staff.

The Joint Research Practices (JRP) Working Group

The Joint Research Practices (JRP) Working Group is a collaboration between the Center for Health Incentives and Behavioral Economics (CHIBE) and the Palliative and Advanced Illness Research (PAIR) Center. The JRP develops and disseminates best practices for conducting research that welcomes people from all backgrounds and represents the community we serve. The working group also provides free online resources and hands-on training on how to practice research in ways that build trust, promote fairness, and respect the experiences and contributions of all patients. The goal of the JRP is to make academic research more accessible for everyone.

• Lizzie Bair, Perelman School of Medicine
• Shira Blady, Perelman School of Medicine
• Emma Britez Ferrante, Perelman School of Medicine
• Brigit Joseph, Perelman School of Medicine
• Craig Kwiatkowski, Perelman School of Medicine
• Adina Lieberman, Perelman School of Medicine
• Arleen Lopez Cruz, Perelman School of Medicine
• Adam Mussell, Perelman School of Medicine
• Nirali Patel, Perelman School of Medicine
• Sara Riaz, Perelman School of Medicine
• Jonathan Richards, Perelman School of Medicine
• Devon Schroeder, Perelman School of Medicine
• Conor Shatto, Perelman School of Medicine
• Dorothy Sheu, Perelman School of Medicine
• Jingsan Zhu, Perelman School of Medicine

Leslie M. Levin, Graduate School of Education (GSE)

Leslie M. Levin, vice dean of admissions and student affairs at GSE, has unified all centralized student services under one cohesive umbrella. She has created systems and processes that maintain strong enrollment and provide the highest-quality experience to students. She plays a crucial role by prioritizing a culture of service to ensure that GSE offers students appropriate guidance and support.

Mental Health Co-Responder Program

The Mental Health Co-Responder Program is designed to enhance the University’s response to urgent student mental health emergencies during overnight and weekend hours. The program reduces stigma and potential barriers to accessing necessary emergency care for students in crisis. The team successfully expanded upon the virtual co-responder model to incorporate professional, in-person mental health services to provide a safe, efficient experience for students as well as emergency responders.

• Michael J. Belisairo, Division of Public Safety
• Beverly Carter-Fulmore, Division of Human Resources
• Benoit Dubé, Wellness at Penn
• Joseph W. Ferdman, Division of Public Safety
• Tamara Greenfield King, University Life
• William Melleby, Division of Public Safety
• Nora Nienhagen Greenberg, Division of Public Safety
• Jasmine Owens, Division of Public Safety
• Paige Wigginton, Division of Public Safety
• Derrick E. Wood, Division of Public Safety

Cindy Nguyen, School of Arts & Sciences (SAS)

Cindy Nguyen, an information technology support specialist in SAS, is the go-to person for institutional knowledge and serves as a pivotal member of the knowledge management team in SAS Computing. Cindy has solidified many new standard processes and stands out as an excellent example of genuine dedication to the community. She embodies the goal of helping researchers get their work done.

Bob Paul, Wharton School

Bob Paul, senior director of corporate and foundation relations at the Wharton School, inspires his team to exceed fundraising targets through collaboration, integrity, and strategic vision. His leadership has been pivotal in advancing interdisciplinary initiatives, including Wharton’s AI and environmental, social, and governance efforts. With over a decade of service, Bob’s empathy and trust-based relationships with stakeholders have set him apart, while his mentorship has fostered team growth and development.

Pillars of Excellence Award

The Pillars of Excellence nominees are being recognized for the strong foundation and important contributions of our staff in support roles who are pillars of the institution. Nine nominations were submitted in this category; three staff are being honored.

Anthony DeValerio, Facilities and Real Estate Services (FRES)

Anthony DeValerio, chargeperson in FRES, oversees the operation and maintenance of all campus cooling and refrigerant-based systems. He ensures reliable performance across Penn’s infrastructure, which includes two centralized chilled water plants and an extensive 16-mile underground distribution network. Anthony’s outstanding implementation of corrective, preventative, and predictive maintenance strategies has maximized system performance and reliability, which supports the University’s mission by providing a comfortable, efficient, and sustainable environment for learning and research.

Weining Guo, Student Services

Weining Guo, a senior application developer in Student Services, is a driving force in redesigning the technical infrastructure for departments across the University Life division. Her work has drastically increased the capacity and efficiency of the division and improved the user experience for both students and staff. Weining was vital in developing University Life’s account management portal, a critical tool that provides technical access to new and existing staff, automating several essential processes to free up the technical team for other initiatives. Weining has increased the technical security and stability of the University Life division.

Hitomi Yoshida, Student Services

Hitomi Yoshida, financial administrative coordinator at the Penn Women’s Center (PWC), manages the center’s financial activities. She was instrumental in re-engaging the Penn community after COVID impacted PWC’s initiatives, helping create a space where students and colleagues feel comfortable coming for programs and individual support. Hitomi created more leadership opportunities for work-study students, empowering them to organize programming aligned with their passions and the PWC mission. Hitomi also streamlined financial processes to help student organizations revitalize and grow their programs.

Model Supervisor Award

The Model Supervisor category received 14 nominations for 2025. Four are being honored for acting as leaders who serve and other outstanding work.

Edwin Berrios, Residential and Hospitality Services (RHS)

Edwin Berrios, the associate director of building operations in RHS, leads a team that directly supports 6,000 on-campus residents. He is a patient mentor who strengthens the community by promoting well-being and work-life integration. He empowers conversations by encouraging his team to explore ways to better serve our students, families, and peers with empathy and care.

Adrian Madison Cario, Wharton School

Adrian Madison Cario, the executive director of Wharton San Francisco, transformed Wharton’s West Coast campus workplace by cultivating deep relationships and fostering greater collaboration. Adrian empowers their team by creating an environment where everyone feels truly valued and respected. Among other initiatives, they launched the internal Fog Lifter Award, which recognizes colleagues who bring clarity and insight to discussions.

Melissa Kelly, Provost’s Center

Melissa Kelly, deputy managing director of the Penn Center for Innovation, transformed the corporate contracts and licensing teams through comprehensive mentorship and collaborative relationships. She is intentional and thoughtful about how individuals can grow and contribute. Melissa’s strategic vision and dedication have enhanced the morale of her teams and the quality of services they provide to the Penn community.

Katia Strieck, Penn Libraries

Katia Strieck, Goldstein Director of the Information Processing Center and Library Research Annex in the Penn Libraries, is a visionary leader who advances strategic initiatives to build dynamic resources, tools, and expertise that inspire critical inquiry and creative expression. Katia manages change with finesse, ensuring smooth transitions for staff within the evolving landscape of library services. Katia approaches each challenge with a consistently calm demeanor and focus on achieving the best outcome for her staff and the institution.

If you have any questions about the Models of Excellence program or the awards ceremony, visit www.hr.upenn.edu/models or feel free to contact Karen Kille, manager of Quality of Work-Life Programs in Human Resources, at karener@upenn.edu or (215) 898-7729.

Simcha Gross, an assistant professor of Near Eastern languages and civilizations in the department of Middle Eastern languages and cultures in the School of Arts & Sciences, has received the Scholarship Nahum M. Sarna Memorial Award from the Jewish Book Council for Babylonian Jews and Sasan­ian Imperialism in Late Antiquity.

Published by Cambridge University Press in April 2024, the book builds on Dr. Gross’s recent scholarship. It “advances a radically different understanding of Babylonian Jewish history and Sasanian rule” and “portrays a more immanent model of Sasanian rule, within and against which Jews invariably positioned and defined themselves.”

The National Jewish Book Awards began in 1950, the longest-running and most prestigious awards program of its kind. The aim is to “recognize authors and encourage reading of outstanding English-language books of Jewish interest.” Previous notable winners include Philip Roth, Elie Wiesel, and Jonathan Safran Foer. This year, authors were honored in 26 categories ranging from scholarship to visual arts.

Karen Redrobe, the Elliot and Roslyn Jaffe Endowed Professor in Film Studies in the School of Arts & Sciences, has received the 2025 Distinguished Pedagogy Award from the Society for Cinema and Media Studies (SCMS), an honor given for “outstanding pedagogical achievements.” This marks the first time in five years the award has been handed out. The award is part of the “Teaching, Service, and Career Awards” category and is one of 12 awards SCMS has bestowed since 1971.

Tess Wilkinson-Ryan, a professor of law and psychology and the Golkin Family Professor in the Penn Carey Law School; David Hoffman, the William A. Schnader Professor of Law in the Penn Carey Law School; and Emily Campbell, L’24, have won the Order of the Coif 2024 Lolly Gasaway Faculty-Student Writing Award for their collaborative work, called Expecting Specific Performance and published by the NYU Law Review in 2023.

Their research looks at how everyday people think courts handle broken contracts. Many believe that if someone breaks a contract, a court will force them to follow through on their promise (specific performance), rather than simply ordering them to pay money for the breach. Through surveys and experiments, the study shows that this belief is common but can change when people learn that courts usually award money damages instead. The findings suggest that these misunderstandings about contract law can influence behaviors, sometimes making people more likely to honor agreements because they think the law is stricter than it is. The paper also explores how legal psychology can help researchers better understand public perceptions of the law. “Our paper explores how non-lawyers perceive what happens when someone sues for breach of contract,” said Dr. Wilkinson-Ryan. “It involved a lot of creative problem-solving. We had to design a study that asked people what they think courts do without inadvertently teaching them new legal information. Our diverse perspectives helped us go beyond initial assumptions and create a study that truly reflects participants’ views.”

Ms. Campbell co-presented the paper at an academic conference with her professors while working as a summer associate at Latham & Watkins. She began the project as a summer research assistant, but, according to Dr. Wilkinson-Ryan, her contributions to the study design were so meaningful that she was quickly invited to co-author the paper.

The Order of the Coif, a national honorary society recognizing excellence in legal education, awards this honor annually to exceptional faculty-student collaborations in legal scholarship. To be eligible, students must rank in the top 10% of their class and complete at least 75% of their studies in graded courses.

“We are deeply grateful to the Order of the Coif for this recognition,” Mr. Hoffman said. “It underscores the value of collaborative work and highlights the interdisciplinary, collegial community at Penn Carey Law.”

The Gasaway Award celebrates outstanding faculty-student collaboration in legal scholarship, which Expecting Specific Performance exemplifies with original, thoughtful analysis and professional writing.

“The paper illustrates how lay intuitions about remedies and education can shift behavior,” said Coif secretary-treasurer Caroline Osborne. “It is engaging, interdisciplinary, and contributes meaningfully to contract law literature.”

Penn faculty members Jason Altschuler, César de la Fuente, Liang Wu, and Anderson Ye Zhang have each been selected to receive a 2025 Sloan Research Fellowship, which recognizes early-career scientists in North America. They are among 126 fellows, chosen from more than 1,000 nominees this application cycle, who will receive the two-year, $75,000 research fellowship.

Jason Altschuler is an assistant professor in the department of statistics and data science at the Wharton School. He also holds secondary appointments in the department of electrical and systems engineering and the department of computer and information science in the School of Engineering & Applied Science and is a member of the applied mathematics and computational sciences group in the School of Arts & Sciences. His research interests lie at the intersection of mathematical optimization, probability, and machine learning, with a focus on the design and analysis of efficient algorithms. Dr. Altschuler has been named a fellow for his contributions to the field of mathematics.

César de la Fuente is a Presidential Associate Professor in the department of psychiatry in the Perelman School of Medicine, with secondary appointments in Penn Engineering and Penn Arts & Sciences. The de la Fuente Lab pioneered the first AI-designed antibiotic with in vivo efficacy, launching AI-driven antibiotic discovery, and has identified more than a million new antimicrobial compounds. Dr. de la Fuente’s work has accelerated antibiotic discovery, cutting preclinical candidate identification from years to hours and turning decades of research into hours. He has won more than 80 awards, has appeared as an invited speaker at more than 300 talks, is a fellow of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering, and is a National Academy of Medicine Emerging Leader. He has authored more than 170 publications and holds multiple patents. Dr. de la Fuente has been named a Sloan Fellow for his contributions to the field of chemistry.

Liang Wu is an assistant professor in the department of physics and astronomy in the School of Arts & Sciences. He uses advanced laser and light-based techniques to study materials that could power next-generation quantum computers, solar cells, and memory devices. His work focuses on materials like superconductors and quantum magnets, aiming to make future technology faster and more efficient. Dr. Wu has given more than 120 invited talks, and his honors include the Richard L. Greene Dissertation Award in Experimental Condensed Matter from the American Physical Society, the Army Research Office Young Investigator Award, the William L. McMillan Award from the University of Illinois (given for outstanding contributions in condensed matter physics), and the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (given by the Army Research Office). Dr. Wu has been named a Sloan Fellow for his contributions to the field of physics.

Anderson Ye Zhang is an assistant professor in the department of statistics and data science at the Wharton School. His research interests include network analysis, clustering, spectral analysis, and analysis of preference data. A central theme of his work is the investigation of fundamental limits and the development of efficient computational methods in complex statistical problems. Working at the intersection of statistics and machine learning, he aims to advance both the theoretical and practical frontiers of modern data analysis. He has received prestigious accolades for his work, including the National Science Foundation CAREER award. Dr. Zhang has been named a Sloan Fellow for his contributions to the field of mathematics.

Since the Sloan Research Fellowships were first awarded in 1955, 135 faculty members from Penn have been recipients. The fellowships are among the most competitive available to researchers in North America.

Open to scholars in chemistry, computer science, earth system science, economics, mathematics, neuroscience, and physics, Sloan Research Fellowships are awarded in coordination with the scientific community. Candidates must be nominated by fellow scientists, and recipients are selected by independent panels of senior scholars based on research accomplishments, creativity, and potential of fellows to become leaders in their fields.

A new Penn Nursing study published in the Journal of Urban Health reveals that both adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and perceived neighborhood disorder significantly impact the mental health of Black men in Philadelphia following serious traumatic injuries. The study highlights the critical role of social and environmental factors in post-injury recovery.

“This research underscores the profound and lasting impact of social determinants of health on individual well-being,” said lead author Therese Richmond, the Andrea B. Laporte Professor of Nursing in the department of biobehavioral health sciences. “Our findings demonstrate that addressing both childhood trauma and the realities of living in neighborhoods with high levels of perceived disorder is crucial for improving the mental health and overall recovery of Black men after injury.”

The study analyzed data from 414 Black men who sustained acute physical injuries requiring hospitalization. Researchers examined the combined influence of ACEs and neighborhood characteristics, including perceptions of disorder and objective measures of social and economic disadvantage, on post-injury outcomes such as PTSD, depression, sleep quality, and return to work.

“Perceiving neighborhood disorder and feelings of fear and insecurity emerged as a significant predictor of PTSD and depression after injury,” explained the study’s senior author Sara F. Jacoby, the Calvin Bland Faculty Fellow and an associate professor of nursing in the department of family and community health. “This emphasizes the importance of considering an individual’s history of trauma along with the ways in which they experience their local environment and the social and economic factors that contribute to how they feel during the process of recovery.”

The study highlights the urgent need for interventions that address the complex interplay of ACEs and neighborhood environments to improve post-injury outcomes among Black men. It points to the potential of interventions for preventing ACEs, improving neighborhood conditions, and addressing the impact of recovering in neighborhoods where residents perceive high levels of disorder.

Co-authors include Ryan Quinn and Augustine Cassis Obeng Boateng (both from Penn Nursing); Anna Duan (Penn’s Weitzman School of Design); Christopher Morrison (Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health); and Nancy Kassam-Adams (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia).

Adapted from a Penn Nursing press release, February 24, 2025. 

Cancer patients spend a lot of time on their care. Meeting with doctors and other members of their healthcare team, getting labs and other tests, picking up prescriptions, and undergoing treatment all take time. So does getting to and from each appointment, sitting in the waiting room between each appointment, and so on.

In recent years, cancer researchers have worked to quantify the level of “time toxicity” or time spent commuting to, waiting for, and receiving cancer treatment. Now, for the first time, a pilot study has shown that it is possible to use digital technology to safely reduce the amount of time some patients spend receiving care. With a simple text-messaging system, patients saved more than an hour at each visit captured by the study, which was led by researchers from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center, and published in NEJM Catalyst.

“Patients with cancer spend an enormous amount of time engaging with the healthcare system, and for patients with advanced cancer in particular, that time is precious,” said senior author Ronac Mamtani, section chief of genitourinary cancers. “We developed a safe and effective platform that—for certain patients—could really challenge the status quo and give them quality time back.”

A Fast-Track System

Inspired by the efficiency of the TSA pre-check line to bypass long lines at the airport, Dr. Mamtani and former Penn oncology fellow and lead author Erin M. Bange, now an assistant professor at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, developed a text message-based platform using the Center for Health Care Transformation and Innovation’s Way to Health platform to obtain patient reported-symptoms and make sure patients are ready for immunotherapy treatment. Patients receiving immunotherapy for cancer treatment are currently required to complete bloodwork and meet with their health care team in the office before every infusion to confirm that they have not developed any concerning symptoms that might signal a reaction to the immunotherapy and a need to pause treatment. The pre-treatment symptom check is a necessary safety measure that many patients pass easily, given the relatively low rate of side effects for immunotherapy compared to traditional chemotherapy.

In this pilot clinical trial, patients receiving single-agent immunotherapy for solid tumor cancers at Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center were enrolled and randomized to complete either an in-person pre-infusion symptom check in the office with their provider or a 16-question symptom check, estimated to take less than five minutes, via the text message platform. If their labs were normal and no symptoms were reported, patients were given the option to fast-track and bypass the in-person visit, proceeding directly to their immunotherapy infusion. The 16 patients who were fast-tracked saved more than 60 minutes per visit, including 30 minutes less of wait time, than the 15 patients who were randomized to continue with the usual in-person visit.

More importantly, the fast-track system was safe, with no difference in post-infusion hospital visits or health-related quality of life impact compared to usual care.

“Considering that patients who consented for the study told us that saving even 45 minutes per visit would significantly impact their lives, we were excited to see that our first test of this tool surpassed expectations, giving patients even more time back each time they went in for treatment,” Dr. Bange said.

Limitations and Next Steps

A total of 19 additional patients who reported their symptoms via the text message platform were eligible for fast-track, but ended up continuing with the in-person visit instead, due to patient preference, provider preference, or other care coordination issues. The study team emphasized that some patients may prefer to continue in-person visits, and the team’s vision is for the text message platform to be an option for patients who want to use it, rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

The team also conducted focus groups with healthcare providers to better understand any concerns about the fast-track process and potential barriers to broader implementation. 

Adapted from a Penn Medicine news release, February 19, 2025.

Even though they receive minimal healthcare funding, chronic diseases are the leading cause of death in the United States. They account for 70% of deaths in the U.S. annually, with six in ten Americans suffering from at least one chronic condition. However, coverage of this public health crisis is eclipsed by coverage of risks such as homicide and terrorism—incidents that are far more likely to grab readers’ attention.

Calvin Isch, a doctoral student at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania and a member of the Computational Social Science Lab (CSSLab), explored this bias and imbalance in media coverage in a recent paper. Mr. Isch found that the outlets covered in the study tended to amplify sensational risks while underrepresenting chronic risks, highlighting a disparity between risks covered by the media and the mortality risks that statistically threaten Americans the most. 

Using natural language processing techniques, Mr. Isch collected monthly data on 14 different mortality risks, using keyword searches on 823,406 major U.S. news outlet articles that were published between 1999 to 2020. Heart disease, which accounts for 36% of overall deaths, showed a ratio of one article per 323 deaths; in contrast, terrorism, which accounts for 0.00008% of overall deaths, had a ratio of 36 articles per one death alone, highlighting that deadlier risks received less coverage when compared to their sensational counterparts.

In addition to comparing mortality risks and media coverage, Mr. Isch’s analysis looked for mentions of health interventions in order to determine if bias manifested in other ways. He found that mitigation strategies fell under three main categories: policy, behavioral, and technological. Articles on chronic diseases usually emphasized changes to individual behavior, while those on sensational risks focused more on collective policy solutions.

The paper also considered the tone of this reporting, showing that sensational risk coverage exhibited more negative emotions when compared to coverage of chronic diseases, which was covered more neutrally in tone. 

This data, and the trends it illustrates, provides a useful framework for discussing how health communication can play a role in determining the quality of personal and public health, in addition to barriers such as economic factors. Further exploring the media’s impact on these perceptions could help researchers better understand how they contribute to public attitudes and policymaking.

Adapted from an Annenberg School press release by Delphine Gardiner and Jonathan Allan, February 13, 2025. 

Films

6          Life of Abundance: A Film about Grief; a short film depicting the Black experience surrounding grief, loss, and community healing in Harlem; features Q&A with the director, producer, and executive producer; 4 p.m.; room 109, Annenberg School (Annenberg School for Communication).

7          Restitution Cinema: Interiors; a film program that considers the impossibility of repair, and the traction in reaching for it anyway; 6 p.m.; Rainey Auditorium, Penn Museum (Cinema & Media Studies).

Fitness & Learning

Penn Libraries

Workshops open to the Penn community. Various locations. Info and to register: https://www.library.upenn.edu/events.

5          March Madness Tournament: Mario Kart; for March Madness, the Leon Levy Dental Medicine Library will host a Mario Kart Tournament featuring up to 4 players per round; 11 a.m-1:30 p.m.; room LL02A, Levy Dental Medicine Library.

On Stage

6          Coming Out! A Documentary Play About Gay and Lesbian Life and Liberation; collective table reading of a work by Jonathan Katz, history of art; 4 p.m.; the Rotunda, 4014 Walnut Street (The Rotunda, Gender, Sexuality & Women’s Studies).

8          Penn Thillana Presents "A Bridgerton Story"; step back into the Regency era as Penn’s premier Indian classical dance team presents an evening of wonder and intrigue of the Bridgerton world; 7 p.m.; Iron Gate Theater; tickets: $10-$12 (Platt Performing Arts House).

Readings & Signings

Kelly Writers House

In-person events at Arts Café, Kelly Writers House. Info: https://writing.upenn.edu/wh/calendar/0325.php.

4          Heled Travel Grant Presentations; Armie Chardiet, C’25; Daniel Gurevitch, C’24; noon.

Talks

4          Robust Integration of External Data in Randomized Trials; Guanbo Wang, Harvard University; 3:30 p.m.; room 701, Blockley Hall, and Zoom webinar; join: https://tinyurl.com/wang-talk-mar-4 (Biostatistics).

            Decoding the Coughing Horse; Daniela Luethy, Penn Vet; 6:30 p.m.; Zoom webinar; register: https://tinyurl.com/luethy-talk-mar-4 (Penn Vet).

5          Experimental Times: Startup Capitalism and Feminist Futures in India; Hemangini Gupta, University of Edinburgh; noon; room 330, Fisher-Bennett Hall (Cinema & Media Studies).

            From Data to Insights: Trustworthy Solutions for Imaging Problems; Jeremias Sulam, Johns Hopkins University; noon; room 414, Amy Gutmann Hall, and Zoom webinar; join: https://upenn.zoom.us/j/93115449335 (SEAS ASSET Center).

            Understanding the Recent Wave of Military Coups in West Africa; Marc Papé, Lauder Institute; noon; room 328A, 3401 Walnut Street (Africana Studies).

            The Magic of Lasers in Entertainment – Behind the Technology; John Suehle, Image Engineering; 3 p.m.; room 307, Levine Hall, and Zoom webinar; join: https://upenn.zoom.us/j/98540261772 (GRASP Lab).

            Discoveries with the JWST, and What Comes Next; John C. Mather, NASA; 3:30 p.m.; room A8, DRL (Physics & Astronomy).

            AIIMS New Delhi and the Tumultuous Beginnings of Indian Biomedicine; Kiran Kumbhar, Center for the Advanced Study of India; 4:30 p.m.; room 230, PCPSE (Penn Center for Global Health).

6          Flexible Causal Inference in the “Big Data” Era: Efficiency, Robustness, and Partial Identification; Alexander Levis, Carnegie Mellon University; 11:30 a.m.; room 701, Blockley Hall, and Zoom webinar; join: https://tinyurl.com/levis-talk-mar-6 (Biostatistics).

            Change Over Time Dialogues: Civil Rights Work as a Global Strategy of Resistance and Resilience; panel of speakers; noon; Kleinman Forum, Fisher Fine Arts Library (Historic Preservation).

            Tracheobronchitis in Chronic Critical Illness; Anna Zemke, pulmonary, allergy & critical care medicine; noon; room 213, Stemmler Hall (Penn-CHOP Lung Biology Institute).

            Pareto-Efficient AI Systems: Expanding the Quality and Efficiency Frontier of AI; Simran Arora, Stanford University; 3:30 p.m.; Wu & Chen Auditorium, Levine Hall, and Zoom webinar; join: https://upenn.zoom.us/j/93050333779 (Computer & Information Science).

            Seneca’s First Intervention; James Ker, classical studies; 4:45 p.m.; room 402, Cohen Hall (Classical Studies).

            Bench to Conference Rooms: The Role of Sex and Gender in Research and Workforce; Effie Ioannidou, University of California, San Francisco; 5:15 p.m.; Corby Auditorium, Penn Dental Medicine; register: https://tinyurl.com/ioannidou-talk-mar-6 (Penn Dental Medicine).

7          Aesth-ethics of Resistance: Grammars of Listening and Radical Testimony; María del Rosario Acosta López, University of California, Riverside; 1 p.m.; room 473, McNeil Building (Center for Latin American & Latinx Studies).

Economics

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

4          Grade Inflation and Predoc as Signaling in PhD Admission Market; Siqi Li, economics; noon; room B13, Meyerson Hall.

5          Scale-Dependent Returns or Dynamics of the Interest Rate? Mojtaba Hayati, University of Zurich; noon; room 100, PCPSE.

            Managed Competition vs. Public Procurement in Individual Health Insurance; Pietro Tebaldi, Columbia University; 3:30 p.m.; room 100, PCPSE.

Mathematics

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

4          Decategorifying the Singular Support of Coherent Sheaves; Kendric Schefers, SUNY Stony Brook; 3:30 p.m.; room 4C4, DRL.

Mechanical Engineering & Applied Mechanics

Info: https://events.seas.upenn.edu/calendar/tag/meam/list/.

6          Exploring Structure, Mechanics, and Function in Soft Biological Systems Across Scales; Jing Xia, Princeton University; 10:15 a.m.; room 225, Towne Building.

11        Three-Dimensional Biointerfaces: Soft Bioelectronics for Complex Biological Geometries; Naijia Liu, Northwestern University; 10:15 a.m.; Wu & Chen Auditorium, Levine Hall.

This is an update to the March AT PENN calendar. To contribute events to upcoming Almanac monthly AT PENN calendars and weekly updates, 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 February 17-23, 2025. 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 February 17-23, 2025. 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: 4 incidents were reported for February 17-23, 2025 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.

A new protocol makes it easier for first responders to find you when you call 9-1-1 in an emergency. FCC rules implementing federal statutes known as Kari’s Law and Ray Baum’s Act define what should happen when a call is made to 9-1-1 (which is a Public Safety Answering Point, or PSAP). One goal of these laws is to direct first responders to a caller’s location as quickly as possible.

The law generally requires that an operator of a multi-line telephone system, such as Penn, provide simultaneous notification to a central location when 9-1-1 is dialed from a telephone in the system. The law also requires that the operator notify 9-1-1 of the phone number and accurate location of 9-1-1 calls placed from the system.

Under the new protocol, when 9-1-1 is dialed from a University PennFlex telephone within the Penn patrol zone, Public Safety PennComm Emergency Center dispatchers will also be able to listen in on the call to obtain critical information for our first responders.  The Public Safety dispatcher cannot speak to the caller or the 9-1-1 call taker.

For University locations outside of Penn Public Safety’s patrol zone, building personnel will be notified where possible.

By adding Public Safety dispatchers to the call, Public Safety will be able to provide a faster response in an emergency. As always, we encourage Penn community members to dial (215) 573-3333 (or 5-1-1 from your campus phone) within our patrol zone for any medical, fire, or police emergency.

In the event 9-1-1 is dialed in an emergency, this new protocol will assist us with ensuring that emergency personnel most closely located to the caller are notified.

Starting in March, all calls to 9-1-1 from a University phone number will feature this safety enhancement. FAQs are available online.

—Information Systems and Computing

Earth Week at Penn will take place from April 21-27, 2025. The Earth Week Organizing Committee would like to invite the campus community to participate by hosting an event.

Earth Week presents an opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to engage in cross-disciplinary events designed to educate and inspire action. To align with this year’s theme of Our Power, Our Planet, event organizers are encouraged to consider programming that inspires others to use their influence and energy to foster sustainability, environmental stewardship, and positive change. This year, involvement is encouraged from all schools and centers at Penn and all events for the week will be consolidated into a single calendar.

The committee will update the Earth Week Events Calendar as it learns of new events. Please consider hosting an event and submitting your Earth Week plans for inclusion in the calendar using this form.

As you are planning your event, you are encouraged to use logos for your promotional materials, graphic assets, and the Earth Week 2025 Event Guide.

Please feel welcome to reach out with any initial questions, thoughts, or suggestions to Noah Swistak, sustainability manager, at swistak@upenn.edu.

There will be no issue of Almanac on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, because of spring break. The next issue will be published on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

The Penn Bookstore will be closed on Saturday, March 8 in order to conduct physical inventory. The store will reopen on a regular schedule on Sunday, March 9. To view a complete list of store hours, please visit www.upenn.edu/bookstore.