Rescorla plans to study abroad

The College of Arts and Sciences dean will head to Cambridge, England. After devoting 3 1/2 years to a "fun, stressful and always engaging turn at the administration," College of Arts and Sciences Dean Robert Rescorla will leave the country next fall. Rescorla, who announced in September that he will resign from his post at the end of the semester, will continue to teach both undergraduate and graduate Psychology courses this spring before journeying to Cambridge, England, for part of his year-long sabbatical. In Rescorla's years at Penn, his work has focused on understanding the nature of simple associative learning, particularly Pavlovian conditioning. Rescorla is "an intellectual leader of the [College] and the department," according to Psychology Department Chairperson John Sabini. He added that Rescorla's Psychology 121 class is one of the most popular courses in the department. Undergraduate education has also benefited from Rescorla's work in the College office, according to Undergraduate Department Chairperson Michael Kelly. During his term, Rescorla improved the student advising system, increased the number of undergraduate research opportunities, instituted several interschool minors and achieved new levels of cooperation among undergraduate schools. Rescorla said he was reluctant, however, to establish priorities for his replacement, adding that he "would hate to set an agenda for [the new dean]." But he stressed the importance of filling administrative positions with faculty members, adding that most good ideas for change originate at the faculty level. Sabini said the department may "put [Rescorla's] administrative experience to good use" in the near future, adding that he hopes Rescorla would be receptive to a possible chairmanship. Although Rescorla said he had always "planned" to hold an administrative position for a few years and "make a contribution," he said he is happy to return to his students and his lab. "There's a sort of tradition of people going into administration and never coming back out," he said in 1994. "I thought it was up to me to put up or shut up." And while he is enthusiastic about returning to teaching full time, he said his leave is somewhat overdue -- it has been about 12 years since he last took a sabbatical. "He certainly has earned some time off," graduate student Matt Lattal said, adding that Rescorla managed to spend practically every morning and afternoon in his Psychology lab while juggling his administrative responsibilities.