Plans for the University's contribution to the tsunami relief efforts in Southeast Asia will begin to formalize in the next few weeks, according to Dean of the Graduate School of Education Susan Fuhrman, who is coordinating Penn's fundraising.
"We're just beginning the planning process," Fuhrman said. "Obviously, we want to move quickly."
University President Amy Gutmann recently announced that Penn's main contribution to the disaster will focus on rebuilding the educational infrastructure of the devastated areas.
"There are so many needs there that it is kind of overwhelming, and focusing on the schools is something that's natural for a university with an educational mission," Fuhrman said.
Currently, Fuhrmman and a small, informal group of advisors are looking to organizations --such as the World Bank Group -- who are involved in large-scale efforts to ascertain what is needed.
According to Fuhrman, there are plans to not only contribute monetarily, but to also share the University's educational expertise. She also stressed that her focus will be on long-term rather than short-term restoration.
-- Marissa Montenegro
