Rodin first woman to win William Penn Award
The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce named the first female Ivy League president as the first female winner of the William Penn Award yesterday.
University President Judith Rodin will be given the annual award -- handed to those whom the Chamber of Commerce feels have greatly contributed to the Philadelphia area -- for her work at Penn's helm over the last 10 years.
Rodin announced over the summer that she will be leaving her post as University president in June 2004.
"I'm very honored that they've chosen to recognize Penn... as such a significant force in the community," said Rodin, who sits on the board of the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce.
Rodin also sits on the boards of Aetna Inc., Comcast Corporation and AMR Corporation, among others.
The Chamber of Commerce noted the increases in Penn's endowment and research funding, the $1 billion Penn has spent in capital construction over the past several years, a high number of faculty honors and the school's rise in the U.S. News and World Report rankings as some of Rodin's accomplishments.
A gala event will be held on April 23 to honor Rodin, who will join a list of William Penn Award winners such as Ambassador Walter Annenberg and former Philadelphia Orchestra director Eugene Ormandy.
-- Madlen Read and Rachel Velcoff
