University names interim provost

Deputy Provost Michael Wachter will take over for Provost Stanley Chodorow, who formally resigns later this month. Deputy Provost Michael Wachter will take office as interim provost January 1, University President Judith Rodin announced Monday. Wachter replaces outgoing Provost Stanley Chodorow, Wachter, who has overseen academic budgeting as deputy provost since July 1995, will hold the position while a committee searches for a permanent provost. Chodorow resigned October 31 to pursue the presidency of the University of Texas at Austin, which named him one of five finalists for the post. UT-Austin officials will announce their choice Tuesday. Wachter "was the natural candidate," for the position, said College of Arts of Sciences Dean Robert Rescorla, who will step down from his post at the end of the month. Rodin will name the members of the provost search committee by the end of the semester, when Chodorow steps down. Administrators hope to appoint Chodorow's permanent replacement by next summer. Wachter's appointment comes as the University continues to search for a College Dean to replace Rescorla and a new dean for the School of Arts and Sciences. Officials have not yet named a permanent replacement for Interim SAS Dean Walter Wales, who has served in the position since September 1996. Wales said he hopes to announce Rescorla's successor by the end of the semester -- when Rescorla is scheduled to step down from his post. Armed with a bachelor's degree from Cornell and a doctorate from Harvard, Wachter arrived at Penn in 1969 as an assistant professor in Law and Economics. He became director of the Institute for Law and Economics in 1984. Although Wachter said he anticipates a "short term," the 28-year Penn veteran said he's "in no rush" to vacate the post. Pledging to "keep the momentum going" while in office, Wachter said serving in an interim position will not hinder the University's progress. He stressed that Chodorow's initiatives, such as the 21st Century Project and the overhaul of residential life, are integral to the transformation of undergraduate education and will survive the transition process. The 21st Century Project is the University's broad initiative to increase academic and research opportunities for undergraduates. "It's not so much that I'm going to start something new," he said. "We have so many new things already in place." In accordance with Chodorow's efforts under the 21st Century Project, Wachter's chief concerns will be appointing senior faculty members to the Political Science Department and developing the University's new humanities center, as well as instituting several submatriculation options. Administrators lauded Wachter's appointment, with Chodorow describing it as a "terrific" decision that will "assure the maximum amount of continuity." Rodin expressed confidence in Wachter, noting he "will do an outstanding job as Interim Provost." And Wales categorized Wachter as an "established scholar" who is particularly sensitive to the operations of the University.