Vice President for Public Safety Maureen Rush was recently appointed to the Board of Trustees at the Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College, located at 42nd and Walnut streets.
The Board of Trustees’ primary function is to help Restaurant School President Danny Liberatoscioli develop effective programs and understand the growth of the Restaurant School’s “footprint” in University City as a result of its expansion, Rush said.
According to Rush, the Division of Public Safety has collaborated regularly with Liberatoscioli over the 15 years she has worked at Penn.
“They have grown, and their program has grown,” Rush said. “They have more students now in dormitories in the neighborhood, and we’ve always worked to assist them to keep a safe environment.”
Rush added that she has also worked closely with Liberatoscioli, a longtime “colleague and friend,” on the University City District Board.
According to Liberatoscioli, Rush was a “natural choice” for the Board of Trustees.
“She engages others, understands the potentials and makes things happen — her skills transcend the much-needed tasks of policing,” he wrote in an e-mail.
He added that the Restaurant School — which moved to University City in 1992 — is “fortunate to have Penn as a neighbor,” citing the University’s involvement with such initiatives as the University City District, the tree-planting project UC Green and other efforts.
“The community today is much different than what we experienced in 1992 … there is no doubt that University City is now brighter, cleaner, safer and more dynamic,” Liberatoscioli wrote. “When people and teams work together everyone benefits.”
“I think this board will be very exciting in that this is a school that will continue to grow adjacent to Penn as part of the University City environment,” Rush said.
Rush explained that Liberatoscioli felt she would be an asset to the Board because of her extensive experience with urban policing at Penn and involvement with the redevelopment of the University area under both Penn President Amy Gutmann and her predecessor, Judith Rodin.
“It’s a wonderful institution — the staff, faculty and president are all people who give back to Philadelphia with generous hearts,” Rush said.
“We all like good restaurants, and I’m happy to be a part of making it easier for [Liberatoscioli] to develop the next Iron Chef,” she added. “I enjoy eating, so I’m happy to help people become great chefs in any small way that I can.”
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