Still no dean for Social Work

As the new school year begins, the School of Social Work is still without a permanent dean.

Although University President Judith Rodin appointed a search committee in early August to the task of finding a new dean for the school, the committee has yet to announce any candidates or a schedule for when the search will end.

"It's a very thorough search," Law School Dean and search committee chairman Michael Fitts said of the process. "We have no limitations... we're looking inside and outside" of the Penn community, he said.

According to interim School of Social Work Dean Richard Gelles, every member of the committee -- which is made up of graduate students, faculty members and an alumni representative -- wants to "get this process over as soon as [they] can," and the committee has a responsibility to "make sure the names sent forward are the top people."

Although the committee will submit a list of names to Rodin for consideration and make recommendations, the final decision will be made by Rodin herself.

Former Social Work Dean Ira Schwartz headed up the School of Social Work for eight years before stepping down in July 2001 to become the provost of Temple University. Rodin named Gelles to the position of interim dean the following month.

Gelles formerly served as dean of arts and sciences at the University of Rhode Island, as well as in various administrative positions before joining the School of Social Work in 1998.

Though Gelles said he does hope the search for a new dean will come to a close by the end of the semester, he is content with his interim position.

"I've done the best I could under the circumstances," Gelles said, adding that he believes he has kept "the momentum of the school going."

"The school didn't just stand still," Gelles noted. Instead, it accomplished "significant goals" including a 17 percent increase in enrollment in the social work master's degree program, as well as an increase in external research training.

Though much has been accomplished in the year he has served as dean, Gelles still sees room for improvement.

"Taking a very careful look at the building... it's really not adequate enough to meet our needs," he said, referring to the Caster Building located at 3701 Locust Walk.

Gelles will have a chance to complete these goals if he is named to the position of dean permanently. Although he acknowledged that he is one of the candidates under consideration by the committee, he noted that he is "really very happy at the University" in "any position."

"I have faith in the process," Gelles said, adding that he believes the new dean "will be an outstanding individual."

However, Fitts would not confirm whether Gelles is a candidate for the position, saying only that he found it "inappropriate" to name any candidates at this time.

As the committee now begins the process of interviewing candidates, Fitts still maintains that the committee does not yet have a set number of candidates.

"The committee has been meeting almost continually throughout the summer... putting together a really top group," Fitts said.

The search committee members represent a "broad spectrum" of ideas and experience that will aide the committee in finding a dean who will "work well with the rest of the University" and who has the "ability to really build on what's been going on there for the last decade," Fitts said.

"I can't underscore enough how hardworking and thoughtful the committee members are," he added.

Yet, without a fixed schedule or a deadline, the committee has made it unclear how long Gelles will continue to serve as dean.

"I'll just do my job until they tell me otherwise," Gelles said.

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