New era begins as Preston takes office

Samuel Preston officially began his new job as SAS dean yesterday. Newly appointed School of Arts and Sciences Dean Samuel Preston will venture to Capitol Hill next month to brief Democratic senators on population figures for the next millennium. Fortunately for Preston, an expert in population studies, the lecture is scheduled early in his tenure as SAS dean. Preston said he is concerned that his new position will prevent him from continuing his research on a daily basis. "My expertise will be dated pretty soon," he joked. Preston began his seven-year term yesterday morning, replacing Interim SAS Dean Walter Wales, a Physics professor. Preston described the early days of his tenure as a "relatively painless process," citing an extensive support network of associate deans. Sociology Department Chairperson Douglas Massey praised his colleague during this period of transition, likening him to a near-superhero of academia. "He is one of those rare people that you meet in academia that can do it all," he said. A native of Bucks County, Preston earned a bachelor's degree in economics at Massachusetts' Amherst College before journeying to Princeton University in 1965 to complete his graduate work. Armed with a doctorate in the field, the young Preston landed his first job as a professor of demography at the University of California at Berkeley. "At age 24, I was younger than most of my graduate students," he said. But the "awkward" experience did not deter him from pursuing a career in teaching. Preston traveled to the University of Washington in Seattle four years later, where he taught sociology and headed the school's Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology. Since the subject of population studies is related to both economics and sociology, Preston has held positions in different departments at each university. "I never had a course in sociology," the economist admitted, noting that his title as "professor of sociology" is largely based on the field's ties to population studies. In 1977, Preston became the acting head of the United Nations' Population Trends and Structure Section. He described his time with the organization as a "frustrating" yet rewarding experience, riddled with "bureaucratic encumbrances." Preston said the United Nations' seniority-based system for promotion often ignored performance, and added that he was not fond of living in New York. Preston came to Penn in 1979 to accept a teaching position in the Sociology Department. The victorious Penn wrestled the distinguished demographer from Princeton recruiters. With family members sprinkled across the Philadelphia region, Preston categorized his arrival at the University as a "homecoming." Accompanied by his wife, Winnie -- who he has known since grade school -- Preston became reacquainted with his roots. The Prestons have three sons and two grandchildren. Preston became director of Penn's Population Studies Center in 1982. He recently stepped down in the wake of his appointment and will be succeeded by Economics Professor Jere Behrman. After nearly two decades at Penn, Preston has remained active in the University community. He has served as chairperson of both the Faculty Senate and the Sociology Department, and recently as University Council moderator. The University named him Frederick J. Warren Professor of Demography in 1988, and he has authored more than 100 articles. Preston's current research concerns African American health and mortality. By linking a sample of death certificates to childhood records from the U.S. censuses of 1900, 1910 and 1920, Preston and his team of researchers examined family structure and childhood experiences in relation to long-term survival. The team found that African American males who lived on farms as children at the turn of the century were twice as likely to survive until age 85 as males who were not raised in a rural habitat -- "presumably because most of these boys grew up to be farmers themselves," Preston noted. While serving as dean, Preston plans to devote his summers and a couple of hours each week to his research. He is also co-teaching a graduate course in Sociology this semester with Douglas Ewbank, associate director of the Population Studies Center. Although he has officially pledged to remain in his position for a seven-year term, Preston said he hopes to vacate his post after five years to allow him time to return to teaching-- "the stuff I love." Preston had declined an offer to serve as SAS dean during the 1990-1991 dean search. That search resulted in the appointment of Rosemary Stevens, who resigned in 1996. He also initially declined to interview with the search committee during this year's search out of a desire to continue his research and teaching. Both Wales and former College Dean Robert Rescorla indicated a similar desire to leave their posts and return to the classroom at the close of their terms. But Preston said he hopes to be able to retain one key position while wearing an administrative hat. An avid sports fan, Preston is captain of the Sociology Department's softball team. Comprised of faculty members and students, the team competes against departments in SAS and other University schools. Under Preston's guidance, the "Rad Socs" -- "Rad" for radical and "Socs" for sociologists -- made the playoffs this year. And if success in coaching says anything about leadership ability, the debt-ridden SAS may have a bright future.