Departure of David Morse, Penn's top lobbyist, leaves a void

Morse is the second Penn official this year to leave for the Pew Charitable Trust, along with former spokesperson Barbara Beck. After nearly 14 years handling problems such as federal taxes, research grants and financial aid programs, Associate Vice President for Policy Planning David Morse has announced he will leave the University. Morse will take on a job with the Pew Charitable Trust, following former Director of News and Public Affairs Barbara Beck, who took a job at Pew earlier this year. Morse's counterpart in the Health System, Michael Nardone, also announced last week that he will be leaving the University to become Deputy Managing Director of the city's Special Needs Housing Department. Morse said working at the University has been an "extraordinarily wonderful" experience, encompassing tasks as diverse as handling negative reactions to the 1989 Robert Maplethorpe exhibit on campus to helping procure 100 tons of iodine for a faculty member's solar neutrino experiment. "I've become a public policy junkie since I've come to Penn, which is one of the good things about Pew -- it will allow me to continue that," Morse said. He added that he will likely continue to teach his Graduate School of Education Course on public policy in American Higher Education. While Morse's position will be filled as quickly as possible, the vacancy will create more work for the University's Office of Policy Planning, according to Vice President for Government, Community and Public Affairs Carol Scheman. "It is going to make me crazy until I can get a replacement," Scheman said. A search committee will begin looking for a replacement for Morse this week. But Scheman added that Morse -- famous in Washington and Penn for his bow-ties -- will be difficult to replace. "Morse is the 'dean' of federal relations people in Washington," Scheman said. "He is recognized widely as one the most experienced, thoughtful and knowledgeable people on higher- ed policy." She added that Morse's job is one of high pressure and constant demands. "He has to know Washington, how it works and who the players are in Washington and other institutions," Scheman said. "And most importantly for me and [University President] Judith Rodin, he has to be able to creatively spot and make new opportuntities for Penn." And employees in Morse's office described him as the best employer they have ever worked with. Micheline Murphy, a policy analyst, said that although Morse expected hard work, she never minded putting in extra hours on his projects because his own efforts were so impressive. "In all the time that I've worked for David he has never been too busy to answer a question or proofread a document, and he even offers to brings us coffee," Murphy said. Associate Director for Federal Relations Carl Maugeri, who many consider to be Morse's protege, agreed that Morse has always been a hard worker. "He's like a blur," Maugeri said. "He's always running from meeting to meeting and Senate office to Senate office." Maugeri added that Morse has provided him a thorough understanding of higher education policy issues. "Before I got into this I don't think I understood it the same way I do now and that it definetly due to watching David [Morse] operate," Maugeri said. Scheman --Ewho has known Morse since the two worked in Washington nearly 20 years ago --Eactually recommended him for a job to then- incoming University President Sheldon Hackney. Scheman said that although students may not be familiar with Morse's work, many would have lost federal financial aid without Morse's work in periods when Congress tried to cut federal student grants. She added that Morse's exit from the national higher education scene represents a loss not only for Penn, but for all the higher education people in Washington who often benefitted from Morse's experience. As a result, Scheman said she feels an obligation to fill Morse's position with someone equally qualified, adding that a pile of curricula vitae have already found their way to her desk. She said the group of higher education experts at Morse's level is relatively small -- and most are people with whom she is acquainted -- which she hopes will expedite the search for a replacement. Until a replacement is found, Morse's office -- and in particular his longtime coordinator Franca Jenkins -- will pull together to cover the extra work, Scheman said. Morse, meanwhile, said he has not yet begun to feel nostalgic for Penn, although he is certain he will once he leaves.

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