SAS dean resigns post after 5 years

and Jessica Boar School of Arts and Sciences Dean Rosemary Stevens resigned this week in a letter to University President Judith Rodin, citing her desire to publish a 25th anniversary edition of her book American Medicine and the Public Interest. In a move that came as a surprise to administrators and faculty, Stevens announced her resignation September 1. She will remain in office until an interim dean is chosen. Stevens then plans to take an academic leave of absence until September 1997. She will resume teaching History and Sociology of Science at the University next fall. An SAS faculty member is expected to be chosen -- possibly within the next two weeks -- to serve as interim dean, Rodin said. Rodin added that a search committee will form by the end of the month to find a permanent replacement for Stevens. Rodin said she hopes to have a new dean in place for the start of the 1997-1998 school year. Stevens, who has taught at the University since 1978, has served as SAS dean for five years. When former University President Sheldon Hackney appointed her in 1991, she accepted only for a five-year term, she said in her letter. "Five years is a long time to be away from your research," she said. During her tenure, Stevens come under fire from both faculty and students for cutting two departments and for inadequately handling the school's budget constraints. Stevens eliminated the American Civilization and Regional Science departments in 1994. She also wanted to cut the Religious Studies Department, but faculty support kept it in place. At the time, Nursing Professor Elsa Ramsden -- president of the Pennsylvania division of the American Association of University Professors -- accused Stevens of not following University procedures when making the department-cutting recommendations. "What we are concerned about is that faculty responsibility is being usurped by the administration," Ramsden said in 1994. However, the Committee on Academic Freedom and Responsibility found Stevens had not bypassed any University procedures in her decision process. Throughout her tenure as dean, Stevens has also dealt with ongoing budget problems. To solve them, Stevens developed a strategic plan in 1993, but even that did not eliminate the school's deficit. Stevens said the SAS's precarious budget situation "did not influence my decision to resign." "I have tried to deal honestly with the budget situation as it has developed through three University administrations since 1991," Stevens wrote to Rodin in her resignation letter. While dean, Stevens created the Writing Across the University program and helped to raise $250 million and create 38 endowed chairs during the Campaign for Penn. "You have worked consistently to support the faculty and its excellence? which put Penn in the top group of American universities in terms of outstanding arts and sciences departments," Rodin said in a September 3 response to Stevens. Earlier this summer, Stevens had indicated she would remain in her position for one more year, according to Rodin. "However, sober reflection has convinced me that it is better that I stick to my original intention as far as possible," Stevens said in the letter. And Provost Stanley Chodorow said the resignation caught him by surprise. He added that he anticipates the transition to the next dean will be a smooth one. "Dean Stevens has established a first-rate team of associate deans who will stay in place, so I do not expect to lose momentum on the strategic planning projects we have underway," Chodorow said. But Religious Studies Chairperson Stephen Dunning said he was not surprised by Stevens' departure because of the demands and responsibilities of the position. Several deans said they will miss Stevens, wishing her success in her academic work and research. "While it is impossible to be an expert in the many disciplines that make up Arts and Sciences, Dean Stevens understood and could articulate and advocate for the research of the many faculty and departments," Nursing School Dean Norma Lang said. School of Applied Science and Engineering Dean Gregory Farrington echoed Lang's sentiments. "I have enjoyed working with Rosemary and valued her partnership in many ventures," Farrington said.