U. begins to seek new Wharton, Law deans

University President Judith Rodin and Interim Provost Michael Wachter took the first step toward filling two significant holes in Penn's academic administration by appointing search committees yesterday to replace the outgoing deans of the Wharton School and the Law School. Wharton Dean Thomas Gerrity and Law School Dean Colin Diver caught many by surprise when they independently announced their resignations October 6. Both said they would not officially step down until the end of the fiscal year -- June 30, 1999 -- and planned to stay on at Penn as faculty members in their respective schools. These two new committees join four others already formed to fill voids in the University's administrative fabric. Wachter announced earlier this month the creation of committees to find a new dean for the School of Engineering and Applied Science and directors for the Fels Center of Government and the Institute of Contemporary Art. In addition, an 11-member committee chaired by Gerrity has been at work for the last 10 months searching for a replacement for former Provost Stanley Chodorow, who announced his resignation in October 1997. Sources close to the committee said last month that the group had sent Rodin a "short list" of four external candidates in June, but that the committee was sent back to work in September. "We are fortunate that so many thoughtful individuals were willing to commit their time an energy to these important searches," Wachter said. "I know that the chairs and committee members will work vigorously to fill these positions with the most talented scholar-leaders in the world." The Wharton search committee is chaired by Graduate School of Fine Arts Dean Gary Hack, who is also heading up the group searching for a new ICA director. The committee will be charged, or given formal instructions, by Wachter next week. Hack said the committee needs to "organize" itself before it gets down to work, but indicated that Gerrity's successor may be in place when he leaves office next summer after nine years in the dean's office. "I don't have a timetable in my mind at the moment," Hack said. "My sincere hope is that we'll have someone in place when he steps down." Gerrity said he is stepping down so he can spend more time with his family. He indicated last month that he expects his replacement to be named by next June, and will have no official role in choosing his successor. Joining Hack on the 12-person committee are seven faculty members, two students and two members of the University Board of Trustees. The search committee to replace Diver, who came to Penn from Boston University in 1989 and who is leaving his post because he wants to return to full-time teaching and research, will be chaired by Wharton Undergraduate Dean Richard Herring. School of Arts and Sciences Dean Samuel Preston, six faculty members from inside and outside the Law School and two Law students also sit on the committee. Daniel Garodnick, a second-year Law student on the committee, said the body will first meet next Monday.