It is the end of an era.
University President Judith Rodin has announced that this coming academic year will be her last at Penn's helm. She leaves behind a largely successful legacy, many well-wishers and some tough shoes to fill.
The list of Rodin's accomplishments as President are many, but perhaps her greatest achievement has been bringing the University's academic reputation to the forefront of higher education in this country. While this is best demonstrated by Penn's rise in the U.S. News and World Report rankings, the true effect of this rise extends far beyond those pages. From professors at the cutting edge of their fields to bright young students with futures limited only by their imaginations, Rodin has made Penn an attractive and competitive place to be. The pride that this community now takes in its university and neighborhood is tangible.
However, like any tenure, Rodin's has had its share of missteps, all of which were well-documented and opined on in the pages of this newspaper. But in the end, even her detractors will have a hard time disputing the merits of her time as President. She leaves behind a Penn that was not only stabilized in the wake of the tumultuous Sheldon Hackney years, but vastly improved upon.
In fact, Rodin has done such an impressive job that finding a suitable replacement seems exceedingly difficult. While we are certain that the Presidential search committee will do its best, we do not envy them the rigorous task they must perform, nor do we envy the task of our next President in sustaining Penn's current pace of improvement. The committee must choose very carefully.
As for Rodin's future, speculation abounds. While we would be the beneficiaries if she were to return to the classroom in some capacity, a desire that she has expressed, the potential for loftier endeavors remains. Only Rodin knows for sure, but whatever her future plans may be we wish her well on them. With any luck, her final year will be as fruitful as her previous ones.
