As Penn gains a new head honcho with an impressive list of credentials, Princeton University will be losing a provost who many say will be deeply missed.
Princeton Vice Provost for Academic Programs Katherine Rohrer said she "felt very excited for Amy, for Penn, for higher education and really devastated for [her]self and Princeton" when she heard about Gutmann's departure.
This sentiment was echoed by most of Gutmann's colleagues, who exhibited similar mixed feelings about the provost's nomination.
"She's a marvelous colleague, a wonderful teacher, a splendid administrator and a great friend," said Nancy Weiss Malkiel, dean of the College at Princeton. "She has made her mark on this institution in many ways."
"We are richer for having had her here for 28 years, and [they] will be extraordinarily lucky to have her at Penn," Malkiel added. "I'm happy for her, I'm certainly happy for Penn and I'm sad for Princeton."
Chairman of Princeton's Department of Politics Jeffrey Herbst, who worked with Gutmann often during her time at Princeton, said that his initial reaction to the news of her nomination was thinking that "Penn had remarkably good taste."
"This is obviously what she wants, and so I think that's a great thing," Herbst added, also noting that he will miss Gutmann both intellectually and personally.
Stephen Macedo, director of the Princeton University Center for Human Values -- which Gutmann helped found -- said that the provost's act will be a difficult one to follow.
"She's quite unique," Macedo said. "I don't think we'll find anyone to fill her shoes in the way that she filled them, certainly."
And her colleagues are not the only ones who will feel Gutmann's loss. In her time as provost, she also made a lasting impression on many of Princeton's students.
"We're losing a very important voice in campus debates," said Princeton senior Josh Anderson, who worked alongside Gutmann on the University Council for two years. She "was one of the few people who was willing to take on the issues that don't lend themselves to easy answers."
Princeton Senior Class Vice President and Co-Chairman of the Student Groups Projects Board Rishi Jaitly said that, although he was not able to work with Gutmann directly, he was able to observe her in a variety of settings.
"She just has a very positive, optimistic and radiant presence," Jaitly said. "She's been widely hailed as someone who has ... talent, dedication, creative insight and ... accessibility. Princeton is going to be losing a lot because of her departure."
However, despite their sadness to see Gutmann leave, both administrators and students agreed that her appointment was not surprising -- and that she will surely accomplish great things at her new post.
"She's been talked about before as someone who's going places in University administration," said Jaitly, who recalled hearing Gutmann's name on the shortlist during Harvard's presidential search in 2001. "She'll really thrive as not only the leader of an institution, but also as a figurehead who people can look up to."
Macedo pointed out that Gutmann's "fantastic eye for intellectual talent" will certainly be an asset to her at Penn, adding that "she's a person who's capable of making a big difference in a short time."
And both administrators and students remain positive that Princeton will find a replacement.
"It's always hard when you lose someone on whom you rely so heavily ... but at the same time, I'm confident that we'll do fine and I'm just very excited for her to have this wonderful opportunity and challenge," Rohrer said.
