Beeman returns to prof roots

College of Arts and Sciences Dean Richard Beeman's colleagues are sad to see him leave Penn but say his decision to make the transition back to teaching and research does not come as a surprise.

Beeman will be leaving Penn at the end of the academic year in order to pursue a year-long visiting professorship at Oxford University. Current Associate Dean of Arts and Letters Rebecca Bushnell will officially take over Beeman's position in July.

Faculty said they were not shocked to find out that Beeman wanted to return to a more traditional academic position.

Economics Professor Jan Eeckhout said that given the amount of time that Beeman has served as dean, it is understandable that he would want to return to his own research projects.

"He is going to return to scholarship, which is a normal" career move, Political Science Professor Francine Frankel added. English Professor Stuart Curran had nothing but praise for Beeman and said he was glad to see Beeman receive this honor.

"It is a wonderful thing for him... It is a position of tremendous prestige" which he absolutely deserves, Curran said.

Faculty members also said they are pleased with Beeman's replacement.

Currently, Bushnell is a professor in the English Department and has served as associate dean for the past 5 years.

Members of the English Department already know Bushnell very well and said they are happy that she has been chosen to take over Beeman's position.

"I've known her since she arrived," Curran said. "I think the world of her."

Curran praised Bushnell for all her hard work during her 20 years at Penn.

"This institution will be served extraordinarily well by her," he said.

Curran said that next year, all College students will know what Bushnell's advisees and the faculty of the English Department already know -- how wonderful she is.

Faculty outside the English Department said they also have a good impression of Bushnell already.

"She is the right person to do this, given her experience," Eeckhout said.

Eeckhout cited Bushnell's time advising students and her involvement with the pilot curriculum as examples of her wide range of knowledge and experience within the College.

"She is a suitable person to take on the job," he said.

"Bushnell is highly thought of," Frankel added.

Beeman has said that he plans on returning to Penn as a professor after his year at Oxford, and faculty said they are pleased that he will be coming back.

Curran said that Beeman has worked very hard for Penn and will bring prestige to the University through his year serving abroad as Harold Vyvyan Harmsworth Distinguished Professor of American History.

"But it's only for a year, thank God," Curran concluded.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.