U.'s Lewis lends comfort

Assoc. VPUL Juana Lewis has put on a strong face in the wake of tragedy. A warm smile and a soft-spoken manner are two qualities Juana Lewis puts to good use in her job at Penn. The associate vice provost for University life, Lewis serves the Penn community in a multitude of ways, limited only by the number of hours in the day. Her duties carry her to places like Career Services, La Casa Latina and the Penn Women's Center, three campus locations to which she serves as the VPUL's liaison. But more than anything, when tragedy strikes the Penn community -- as it has several times already this year -- the Penn community turns to Lewis. With every untimely death of a member of its community the University witnesses there is 44-year-old Lewis, behind the scenes, offering support to the victims' friends and family members, helping with final arrangements and serving as the University's point person in times of need. Lewis, who replaced former Associate VPUL Barbara Cassel, plunged into her job this summer, experiencing a trial-by-fire during the first turbulent months of her tenure. Just days before the start of the school year, a car accident claimed the life of College sophomore Zachary Walker and injured three others. Earlier this month, Benjamin Tencer, a senior citizen who took classes at the University, died from injuries sustained in a bicycle accident on campus. And just 2 1/2 weeks ago, Wharton freshman Michael Yang became the second member of the Penn community to die in a bicycle accident this year. When Yang died, it was Lewis who stepped to the forefront, speaking with his family in Cairo, Egypt, and notifying Yang's Hill House hallmates and house dean of available support services. "She did an absolutely first-rate job," Vice Provost for University Life Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum said of Lewis's work during the recent Yang tragedy. "I have gotten a number of calls and e-mails from students, faculty and staff that she gave wonderful, compassionate care through very difficult and tragic times." Prior to her arrival at Penn, Lewis spent 13 years at the University of the Sciences, formerly known as Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science. During her stay at the 6,000-student school, she served first as associate dean and then ultimately as dean of students, making her the highest-ranking African-American and female administrator in the school's history. But this summer, Penn came calling. And when Lewis accepted the position, she says she stepped into a much bigger and more challenging world than before. In an interview late last month, Lewis explained that her time at the University of the Sciences was an "incredible learning experience," but the opportunity to work at Penn -- a school with a more collegiate atmosphere and a pronounced Greek system that harkens back to her own undergraduate experience -- is something she embraced. "To me, those elements are what make college life and I loved it," Lewis said. "And Penn has it all in spades." Lewis described the task of learning the ins and outs of Penn as "very daunting," but one that she devoted her summer to accomplishing. And when Walker died in a car accident in Ohio on September 1, she faced her first true test. "It wasn't a University issue right away," Lewis said. "I had to find out what [the family] needed, what the situation was." Because of the experience she gained from the Walker tragedy, Lewis said she was better prepared to deal with the losses of Tencer, 70, and Yang, 18, who died in unrelated bicycle accidents within 10 days of each other last month. While some of her work at the University of the Sciences did bring her in contact with emergency situations, Lewis said she gives Penn a lot of credit for creating a position like hers, intended to be a "one-stop" shop in times of crisis. "What they've done is carved out a position for student emergencies," Lewis said. "Penn has seen fit to place a person with a lot of experience to work in a bunch of different areas." McCoullum said she has been and continues to be enthusiastic about working in partnership with Lewis. "All in all, Juana adds an important dimension to the University's support of Penn students," McCoullum said. With over 30,000 people, the Penn community is certainly not immune to tragedy, but Lewis emphasized that her top priority is to help solve problems -- all types of problems. "I think it's important for the students and the University to know that I'm here to help," Lewis said. "Not everything has to be catastrophic."