Alumni relations and admissions veteran Harriet Joseph has left Penn after seven years of interviewing and recruiting legacy applicants.
Joseph, who announced her decision in August, was the Director of the Alumni Council on Admissions and worked in the Sweeten Alumni House on Locust Walk. Prior to working in that capacity, she was an undergraduate advisor.
"It was a wonderful experience and I enjoyed it very much," Joseph said, adding that after working in the ACA for seven years, "it was time to move on."
In her previous post, Joseph took an active interest in the admissions process, interviewing children of alumni when they applied to Penn and participating in meetings with admissions officers. She also represented the ACA throughout the admissions decision-making process.
Joseph said she is currently looking to come back to Penn in another job capacity.
While Joseph's replacement is being sought, Associate Director of the Alumni Society Jason Horger has assumed her responsibilities and said the office is running smoothly.
"We're managing things fine," Horger said. "It's in addition to my other job, so it's sort of a strain... but we're keeping the same interview load."
Horger also speculated on Joseph's reasons for leaving.
"Seven years is a long time doing anything. I think she was ready for a change," he said, "She consulted with her family and decided that now was a good time [to leave]."
When Joseph left Penn, the positions of associate and assistant director of the ACA were already vacant, adding a third empty office with her departure.
According to Assistant Vice President of Alumni Relations Robert Alig, however, the office recently hired a new associate director. The future employee's name remains confidential, but Alig predicted that the other positions will be filled within the next few months.
When Joseph left in August, Alig sent an e-mail to the Alumni Relations staff to announce her departure. Alig commended Joseph's determination in recruitment and her ability to implement undergraduate programs for prospective students.
"Harriet... exemplified Penn's commitment to legacy applicants across our four undergraduate schools," Alig wrote.
Horger, who worked closely with Joseph, said, "I liked Harriet a lot. I liked working with her in every way.... She was always ready to pitch in."
