Challenges lie ahead for successor

Whoever is tapped to take on the over $5 billion corporation, community responsibilities and complex relationships that are the University of Pennsylvania will have a lot on his plate.

Working around 12 to 16 hours a day, six days a week, according to industry experts, the next president will be responsible for maintaining the forward momentum that Rodin's administration saw in many categories -- from the rising SAT scores of the freshman class to Penn's bounce from top-20 to top-five in the U.S. News and World Report's rankings.

Any takers?

The Consultative Committee for the Selection of a President -- recently selected by the University -- has started approaching the question. While the times and locations of its meetings are kept confidential, the committee reportedly held its first session some time this past week.

Chairman of the University Board of Trustees James Riepe would not offer his opinions on the qualities the committee might be looking for.

"It's going to take a few meetings for the committee to get to know each other and to discuss the issues," Riepe said, adding that he did not want to undercut the committee's deliberations.

The committee is aiming to select a "short list" of candidates in time for the Executive Committee of the Trustees and the full Board of Trustees to select and swear in a permanent president before an interim replacement becomes necessary.

"I think we have plenty of time to get it done," second-year Wharton MBA student and search committee member Robert Alvarez said.

Keeping to the confidentiality agreement, the chairman of the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly said that the committee's schedule was enough to keep him busy.

"As I look at my own calendar and try to decide where my classes should go... it seems like an aggressive timeline," Alvarez said.

Riepe said that the recommendations of the committee -- which is comprised of eight faculty members, eight trustees, two graduate students and two undergraduates -- will likely be supported by the Executive Committee, whose choice, in turn, will likely be supported by the full Board of Trustees.

Committee member and Undergraduate Assembly Chairman Jason Levy outlined what he'd like to see in the big College Hall office in 2004.

"The primary function of a Penn president is to serve as the external face of the University," Levy said. "His or her role as a fundraiser [will be] a prominent one."

Levy wants the next president to balance external responsibilities and internal accessibility as well.

"I would hope that the next president of Penn will be accommodating to student input and new ideas," Levy said.

He added that a connection to Penn or Philadelphia would also be a "very positive" trait in a candidate.

Executive Vice President Cliff Stanley, approaching his one-year anniversary at Penn, would not offer his views on what the next president should be like.

According to Provost Robert Barchi, "outstanding academic credentials," are the next prerequisite for possible successors.

"We, as a premiere research university, must have someone in a leadership role who's respected by the faculty and by the academic community nationally and around the world," he said.

However, according to Barchi, the academic will also have to be an administrator and an ambassador.

"I'd want to see a demonstrated ability to manage in a very complex environment," Barchi continued. "Sensitivity to community issues that can continue and strengthen our relationship with West Philadelphia and the state."

While Barchi did not think that it was important that the next president have a background in medicine or health care management, he said that the ability to "deal with the complex problems a medical system presents" is another necessity.

"Half of the University budget is the health system," he said. "One simply cannot afford to ignore that."

Finally, Barchi challenged the search committee to find "someone who can live up to the president's reputation."

Barchi said, however, that he does not want the job himself.

"I think my job as provost is one of the best in the country, and that's what I'm going to continue doing," he said. "Now find me a new boss!"

Rodin said that her successor will likely not end up living in her shadow.

"This is a very entrepreneurial place, a place not adverse to leadership," she said.

"I think what will attract someone is the fact that this institution was so responsive to change efforts over the past 10 years.

"There's much more work to be done, and I'm sure that person will find it."

Levy concurred.

"The next president, I'm sure, will be looking to make his or her own mark on the University," he said.

"I would be surprised if they would be willing to take the job if they didn't have the opportunity to lead the University in the direction that they choose."

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