Who's Who at the University of Pennsylvania

Valarie McCoullum, Vice Provost for University Life Valarie McCoullum, Vice Provost for University LifeIn her position as vice provost for university life, Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum oversees all University offices, organizations and services that play a role in student life on and off campus. McCoullum has served as acting VPUL since January of 1994 and officially filled the permanent position last September. She is the first African American woman in the Ivy League to hold the position. As acting VPUL, McCoullum focused on the PENNCAP tutoring and Upward Bound programs. She also became very involved with the search for a new student center for students, which has evolved into the Perelman Quadrangle, currently in planning stages. Controversy ensued during her tenure when several residential security guards were found asleep at their posts. McCoullum took swift action by firing McGinn Security Service -- the firm through which the guards were employed. Since then, Allied Security has taken over those responsibilities. McCoullum is known for her enthusiastic and comforting nature and her constant interaction with students. She focuses much of her work on concerns of minorities and the need for diversity. McCoullum attended Pennsylvania State University and majored in liberal arts and social and behavioral science. She then briefly taught in the Philadelphia public schools and has since studied urban education, finance and secondary education. McCoullum's daughter, Ena, has just completed her second year at Penn's Medical School. She also has a son named David, who will begin his graduate education in engineering in the fall.