Who's Who at the University of Pennsylvania

Judith Rodin, University President Since then, however, she has come under criticism for not spending enough time talking with students and not understanding or following through on their concerns. Having specialized in eating disorders and aging, Rodin is also a psychology professor and will be teaching a freshman seminar this fall. Since her arrival, Rodin has focused primarily on issues of undergraduate education and restructuring the University, as well as fundraising. Soon after her tenure began, she released a broad 21st Century Report that gave a variety of recommendations for improving undergraduate education at the University. It included a proposal to create a residential collegiate planning system that would combine academics and the residences and could involve major changes to the University's current residential system. During the two years she has been at the University, Rodin has spearheaded several fundraising efforts, both with alumni and with regard to local, state and federal funding. As a result, administrators, faculty and alumni alike have praised her for her leadership and fundraising skills. Before becoming the University's president, Rodin served as Yale University's provost, where she handled education policy, budgetary and administrative issues. A native of Philadelphia, Rodin attended the Philadelphia Girls' High School and went on to graduate from Penn in 1966. During her time as a student at the University, Rodin was president of the Women's Student Government. And during her senior year, Rodin played a crucial role in merging her own organization with the men's student government. Rodin, 51, is married to former American Automobile Association President Paul Verkuil and has a 14-year-old son, Alex Niejelow, from a previous marriage. She has published more than 200 articles in academic journals and authored or co-authored 10 books, most notably Body Traps, which was published in 1992. Rodin has also served as president of the Society of Behavioral Medicine, the Eastern Psychological Association and the Division of Health Psychology of the American Psychological Association.