Who's Who On Campus: Preston serves as SAS dean

A Quick Guide to the names in the news Preston, a 54-year-old Sociology professor, assumed his position as SAS head in January 1998 and since then has proceeded to redirect the school's course. On April 6, Preston unveiled his $19 million strategic plan, a series of initiatives -- including increased funding and resources for six academic departments, renovations of various facilities and buildings and the allocation of research funds to each newly appointed assistant professor -- aimed at improving SAS over the next several years. In addition, Preston helped coordinate the recent hirings of two Political Science professors in an attempt to restore prestige to the beleaguered and depleted department. Preston arrived at Penn in 1979 as a Sociology professor. During his tenure here, he has been active in University affairs, serving as chairperson of the Faculty Senate and director of Penn's Population Center. Preston is considered an expert in the field of demography and has authored more than 100 scholarly articles and headed the United Nations' Population Trends and Structure Section. He has led the Sociology Department both as its chairperson and as captain of its softball team. Although he declined the post of SAS dean when it was first offered to him during a dean search in 1990, Preston later accepted the position and was hired concurrently with College Dean Richard Beeman. He replaced Interim SAS Dean Walter Wales, who filled in after former Dean Rosemary Stevens resigned in 1996.