Pedro Ramos is no stranger to Philadelphia or the Penn campus.
A community and minority activist since his childhood days, the 1987 College graduate has spent the last two years as president of the Philadelphia public school board. And his work with colleges and not-for-profit organizations at the law firm of Ballard, Spahr, Andrews and Ingersoll has given him the background he needs to step into the sphere of higher education full-time.
It is this experience, presumably, that led Judith Rodin to appoint Ramos as her new vice president and chief of staff yesterday, filling a void left by Steve Schutt when he resigned last June.
The skills Ramos has acquired will be tested almost immediately when he takes over this January. With the battle over privatization of Philadelphia's public schools heating up, Ramos could well find himself at the center of the debate about Penn's role in the revitalization of the underperforming district.
If his history of activism and leadership are any indication, Ramos should handle his new post well. His colleagues say that he has the patience and dedication to see projects all the way through. And as the youngest person ever elected president of the school board, he seems wise beyond his years.
For all the energy he brings to the table, Ramos still has much in common with his predecessor, Schutt. Both are young Penn graduates with law degrees. Both have impressed their peers with their good judgement and ability to handle civic responsibility.
Schutt left the Penn-assisted public school as his legacy when he departed to become president of Lake Forest College. Despite protests and construction delays, the school finally opened its doors this fall, partially due to Schutt's persistence in seeing the project through to completion.
Ramos will also need to take an active role in the president's cabinet. He must show that he is well-rounded enough to avoid letting issues slip through the cracks, and he must provide a voice of reason and practicality in the administration.
Rodin should be applauded for choosing a qualified candidate with a fresh perspective for the vacant position. And Ramos should be applauded as well -- for the professionalism, advocacy and knowledge he has demonstrated throughout his career, and will hopefully bring to Penn.
