Dean of Admissions Eric Furda, previously one of Penn’s most distinguished alumni, is not who the University thinks he is.
Recently, a member of the Admissions Office reported a serious lie in Furda’s resume to the Human Resources department at Penn. Furda, who claimed to have attended Penn from 1983 to 1987, actually attended Penn State during that time.
“I was searching Penn State’s alumni records to find contact information for an old friend when I came across Furda’s name,” the admissions officer said, under conditions of anonymity. “I couldn’t believe it. Eric’s face is a virtual symbol of Penn around here.”
The report spawned an extensive investigation of Furda’s past. Although it has been confirmed that he is not an alumnus of Penn, it remains unclear how he was able to conceal his true alma mater for so long.
“We are saddened and shamed by this news,” Vice President for Human Resources Jack Heuer said. “In the future, we will ensure that applicants to positions at Penn are more thoroughly vetted.”
Furda explained that the mistake was caused by a mixup that occurred right before college began.
“We were driving from upstate New York, before GPS came out and I actually thought I was heading to Penn and I was admitted to Penn,” Furda said. “But we drove to Penn State.”
Because he happened to have his records with him, Penn State chose to spontaneously admit Furda for their incoming class when he arrived. Since then, Furda said, he has been lying about his past in order to avoid embarrassment.
Furda added that concealing his true alma mater was relatively easy due to the similarities between the names of Penn and Penn State.
Students expressed mixed reactions to the news.
“I feel pretty betrayed,” College junior Jenna Davis said. “I mean, don’t have so much Penn pride if you didn’t even go here. It’s literally ridiculous.”
Wharton sophomore Zachary Gold expressed a more positive view.
“I wish I could pull something like that off,” he said. “If you could be the Dean of Admissions at an Ivy League without ever taking writing seminar, wouldn’t you jump at the chance?”
The Department of Human Resources is currently working with the Admissions Office to uncover further details. It is undetermined whether Furda will continue to serve as Dean of Admissions at Penn.
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