During her senior year in high school, Sandi Li was accepted into various colleges, including Penn. But she was unsure about whether or not she wanted to attend school in Philadelphia -- until she received a friendly welcome letter from William Whitney.
Whitney, the founder and former director of the Joseph Wharton Scholars program, customarily wrote letters to incoming JWS students, inviting them to contact him with questions and concerns.
Ever since Li received that letter, Whitney has been a driving force in her academic career and has had a similar impact on countless others throughout his 36-year tenure at the University.
"As an academic advisor and as a college mentor, I think he's been fabulous," said Li, now a Wharton senior, who decided to go abroad based on Whitney's advice, despite concerns voiced by peers and other advisers. "He really encourages students not to follow herd mentality. He promotes international travel, studying liberal arts and really exploring things you probably would not have thought to try."
After decades of interaction with students as an administrator, professor and adviser, Whitney planned to retire at the end of last year.
But Penn would not let him go away that easily.
Not only did the Wharton School honor him by creating the William G. Whitney Award for Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching in the Affiliated Faculty, but it also gave him the position of Wharton ombudsman.
Whitney filled the void left by Anita Summers, who was promoted to the job of ombudsman for the University. In his new role, Whitney visits Penn's campus twice each week to serve as a mediator between Wharton graduate students and faculty.
"Sometimes there are misunderstandings, value conflicts and people who are caught up in bureaucratic rules who really don't see any easy way to make things better," Whitney said. "An ombudsman is one informal way of trying to settle those kinds of misunderstandings."
Students and faculty can come to Whitney for help in solving interpersonal conflicts. Whitney can file complaints on behalf of others, talk directly to administrators and contact those involved in a conflict.
"The idea is to lower the conflict and to search for mutually agreeable solutions," said Whitney, who anticipates dealing with about 10 cases this year.
Students like Li are excited that Whitney will still be on campus if they feel the need to talk. And for many faculty members the fact that their esteemed colleague will still be contributing to the intellectual community at Penn is encouraging.
"I was glad that the appointment was going to keep him actively involved in the school and the University," Management Professor Daniel Raff said. "I think he is a stimulating, very constructive member of the community, and I'm very glad to see him still connected to it."
Whitney's major accomplishments at Wharton include developing and leading the successful JWS program. Founded in 1988, the program offers students an honors curriculum that incorporates classes in various departments from both Wharton and the College of Arts and Sciences.
Students and faculty alike compliment Whitney on a warm personality that makes him easy to talk to.
"He's just great about knowing people personally," Li said. "He remembers where you're from and interests that you've had."
"He's fair, he's kind, he's concerned," added Raff. "These are all very important attributes for the person in this job."
Because of his unique outlook on education and life in general, those who come to the ombudsman to seek advice in one matter often come out with new perspectives on a whole range of issues.
Those who know Whitney well can recite his "Whitnesian Koans," his basic philosophies on life. He stresses applying skills rather than memorizing, opting for challenges rather than taking the easy way out and living one's life for personal satisfaction instead of trying to impress others.
The overall theme of these mindsets is that of encouraging Wharton and College students alike to pursue liberal arts and to find a niche in college. He stresses that grades are less important than personal satisfaction and intellectual stimulation.
"I would hope that students find a balance in their college life so that they're learning while they're playing and playing while they're learning," Whitney said.
