PSCI and interim GIC directors appointed

After several weeks of speculation, Associate Vice Provost for University Life Larry Moneta announced the names of both the new PSCI director and the GIC interim director this week. David Grossman, assistant director of the Career Planning and Placement Service, will take over as director of the Program for Student Community Involvement July 25. And Rev. Lawrence Burnley, a former associate director of the Christian Association, will serve as interim director of the Greenfield Intercultural Center for the fall semester. Grossman was named to his post after an extensive search which Moneta said "took a little bit longer" than expected. Moneta said he was "delighted" with the choice, and Grossman was equally excited about his new job. "I'm really thrilled to be taking this on," he said. "I'm looking forward to working with students and student organizations, hopefully with faculty and certainly with the community members and organizations that the Program is closely tied into." Grossman also said he wants to help students realize "what it means to be part of a broader community" living in West Philadelphia. To assist this, he wants PSCI to act as a resource for campus groups such as fraternities and sororities who may want to sponsor service activities to the community. PSCI oversees programs such as Into the Streets and PennCORP -- both of which provide freshmen with early community service opportunities -- and several elementary school tutoring programs. Burnley was named to the interim GIC post after Joseph Sun -- Moneta's first choice for permanent GIC director -- decided to take another position in the Wharton School. Burnley said he looks forward to the challenges of his new job. "I'm extremely excited about it," he said. "I think it's an interesting time to take the helm given the issues that face not only the Penn community but the wider society as it relates to multicultural issues and diversity." He added that since he will only have the position for one semester, his main goal will be to "strengthen some of the program initiatives that have been developed in the last year." However, Burnley did say he will seek the permanent position, and if he receives it he would then work on developing his own initiatives. Moneta said the search for the permanent GIC director will begin in September and will hopefully be completed sometime in October.