EDIRORIAL: In search of new leadership

Penn must pick up the pace and try to find new deans for two of its major schools as soon as possible. Today the Wharton School loses its dean. And the Law School will not keep its present leader for much longer. And despite searches that have stretched over the past nine months, neither school has found a replacement for outgoing Law School Dean Colin Diver or outgoing Wharton School Dean Thomas Gerrity. With barely two months left before the next academic year begins, we urge the University to do everything possible to remedy this problem. It is vital that Penn continues to have strong leadership within the individual schools, especially as the entire University moves into the 21st century. Both search committees pledged that they would do everything within their power to find new deans by July 1, the date that both deans said they would step down. Administrators do recognize, quite appropriately, that Diver's decision to fulfill his responsibilities as dean should in no way alleviate the pressure to find a successor. It is true that outgoing deans Diver and Gerrity both were exemplary scholars and outstanding academic leaders. They each left a permanent impression on Penn. But they now become part of Penn's history. Who will oversee Penn's future? The individual search committees themselves don't know the answer yet. As the search process hopefully escalates over the next two months, we hope that Penn will inform the University community about its progress. For some time students, faculty and staff have been provided with cryptic reports and mixed messages. The community needs be aware of major University decisions. Currently it isn't clear if the committees have short-listed any candidates or if they are still conducting interviews. We hope all necessary steps are being taken to ensure the University will have two new deans come September. Without able leaders the schools may jolt into a state of flux and be prevented from successfully moving forward. If the University appoints interim deans and continues to search for permanent replacements, then the process could lag on indefinitely. This will not improve the general health of the institution. If the Penn wants to rise to the level of its fellow Ivy League schools, then it needs to find replacements for Diver and Gerrity. Soon.