Who's who on campus

A quick guide to the names in the news A quick guide to the names in the newsRodin enters fifth year at U.'s helm And in the four years that have followed, Rodin -- the first female university president in Ivy League history -- has achieved a high national profile as well. She serves on a number of corporate boards and presidential committees, and some rumors had her pegged for a seat on President Clinton's second-term cabinet. NBC Nightly News named her as one of its "Newsmakers of the Year" in 1996. However, Rodin has faced some criticism at Penn for not spending enough time talking to students or following through on their concerns. She has concentrated her administration on improving undergraduate education at Penn, restructuring the University's large administrative bureaucracy and several large-scale facilities projects. Soon after her tenure began, the administration released a broad 21st Century Report that gave a variety of recommendations for improving undergraduate education. Most of its recommendations were incorporated into 1995's Agenda for Excellence, her five-year strategic plan that has been invoked for initiatives such as the construction of Sansom Common and new hiring in the Political Science Department. During her time at Penn, Rodin has spearheaded several large fundraising efforts geared toward both alumni funding and government grants. Her work has served to increase Penn's endowment, which is smaller per capita than the financial reserves found at peer institutions. A psychologist by trade, Rodin is a specialist in the fields of eating disorders and aging. She has published more than 200 articles and authored or co-authored more than 10 books. A native of Philadelphia, Rodin attended the Philadelphia Girls High School and graduated from Penn's College of Women in 1966. While at the University, Rodin presided over the Women's Student Government and forged a close friendship with her male student government counterpart, Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell. Before coming to Penn, Rodin was the provost of Yale University. Rodin, 53, is married to Paul Verkuil, dean of the Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University. She has a 16-year-old son, Alex Niejelow, from a previous marriage. Her official residence is Eisenlohr Hall on the 3800 block of Walnut Street, where she hosts many University functions.