University President Amy Gutmann announced the members of the newly formed provost search committee yesterday, initiating the first step in a process that will likely last for the remainder of the academic year.
Arthur Rubenstein -- who serves as dean of the School of Medicine and executive vice president for the University of Pennsylvania Health System -- was appointed to the position of chairman. He will be in charge of guiding the 15-member committee through the selection process, as they collaboratively assess the candidates for the top academic administrative position at Penn.
"I'm really delighted that we have a spectacular search committee," Gutmann said of the group, which comprises 11 faculty members, two undergraduate students and two graduate students.
Gutmann said she's "hoping the committee will give me a report sometime in the spring semester," so that she can have someone installed by early July.
"I think that's reasonable," Rubenstein said of the deadline, noting that the committee will "work hard ... to try to accommodate that schedule."
Rubenstein seemed enthusiastic about the committee, noting the diversity of its members and stressing the importance of their shared responsibility.
"This person is [the president's] closest partner in the University," he said of the job of provost.
Rubenstein also noted that the committee "will look at both inside and outside candidates," keeping open the possibility of internally transferring someone already working for the University to the position.
Some of the younger members of the committee -- such as College senior and Undergraduate Assembly Chairman Jason Levine -- seemed to share Rubenstein's dedication to the issue.
Levine noted the significance of the post of provost for the student body.
"We can rely on the provost for funding, and to support new initiatives," he said, describing the official as "the administrator that students depend on more than any other."
Levine said he is going to make undergraduate student concerns an important part of the search process.
"I'm very excited to offer a student perspective," he said, pledging to "make sure that student issues ... are discussed and prioritized when assessing each candidate."
Though Rubenstein said that the committee's first meeting -- which will take place within the next two weeks -- will shape the group's expectations, he highlighted some of the qualities that he personally thought should be taken into consideration.
"The person has to have a keen appreciation for scholarship," Rubenstein said. He also identified "outstanding personal skills" and "impeccable judgment" as necessary characteristics.
The committee members -- whose expertise span a wide range of disciplines -- will be aided by a national search firm, the Isaacson, Miller group, which was involved with the University's presidential search last year.
"They know the University and Dr. Gutmann really well," Rubenstein said. "That's actually going to be a big plus for us."
