Future of administrative staff uncertain

and Jorie Green With the impending arrival of President-elect Judith Rodin and Provost-elect Stanley Chodorow, the future of some staff members in both offices may be in jeopardy. Spokespeople for both the Office of the President and the Office of the Provost have said that many of the positions in the respective offices must serve "at the pleasure of" either the president or provost. But no one will comment as to whether or not Rodin and Chodorow plan to shake up the staffs of Interim President Claire Fagin and Interim Provost Marvin Lazerson. "Every new president and provost certainly has flexibility in designing the jobs that they need," Linda Hyatt, executive director of the Office of the President said. Although she has met with Rodin several times, Hyatt said the meetings "have been on issues, and we have not gone into staffing in the office." Executive Vice President Janet Hale said she thinks it is important that Rodin "has the staff and the folks that she's interested in." "What's really important for all of us is to be sure that the institution continues to make progress in so many areas that are of mutual concern to both Claire and Judy." The staff in the president's office hope to be able to "complete some of the tasks that have been important throughout the year, to set the stage for next year," Hale said. Interim Provost Marvin Lazerson said "every provost really has to develop a team of people with whom he has confidence and trust -- and whom the deans and the faculty and the students have similar levels of trust." Hyatt said her "plans for the future as far as I know are to continue to be of assistance to Penn." She added that she thinks Rodin's arrival to the University will amount to "a dynamic period of growth for the University." Fagin said that when she first came to the University, she "reorganized the the administrative structure in the office." Although she was unable to say whether Rodin would follow her suit, she hinted that "the new provost will be making organizational changes." Lazerson said "the biggest organizational issue that faces a new provost is the development of a team that's congenial and effective." But, he added that "the people in the provost's office are very, very good now." Rodin and Chodorow will officially take office on July 1.