SAS dean treks to Asia to 'spread Penn word'

School of Arts and Sciences Dean Rebecca Bushnell spent part of January in the continent that drew the most international applicants for the Class of 2010 -- Asia.

Bushnell recently returned from a two-week trip there as part of an ongoing plan for University administrators to reach out to the global community.

Her trip included stops in New Delhi, India's capital, as well as Singapore and Hong Kong. The visit came on the heels of Penn President Amy Gutmann's tour of India, from which she returned on Jan. 9.

The school's dean traditionally makes the trip annually, and because Bushnell was appointed to her office about one year ago, this trip was her first.

"The purpose of the trip is really to connect with our supporters, alumni and parents in Asia," Bushnell said. It is "for me to go and spread the Penn word and the School of Arts and Sciences word out in the world."

Bushnell was accompanied by School of Arts and Sciences spokesman Michael Baker.

Connecting with parents is an important part of the trip because "Asia is now a very important source of students for the School of Arts and Sciences," Bushnell said.

Regular-decision international applications for the Class of 2010 increased 11 percent, according to Dean of Admissions Lee Stetson. The greatest number of international applications came from Singapore.

Bushnell said that the liberal arts education provided by the School of Arts and Sciences is attractive to applicants from foreign countries because many students abroad are locked into a specific track early in their education.

"The College allows for a broad-based general education on which then you build a professional career," Bushnell said.

And according to the dean, this idea is catching on in Asia.

"People are understanding what you get from a liberal arts education," she said. "You get the kind of skills for leadership, creativity and innovation that are really important for any career in today's world."

College and Wharton senior Warren Mah -- who is from Singapore -- agreed. He says that in Singapore, a liberal arts education is "increasingly seen as an option. But previously [my classmates] tended towards more of a pragmatic education."

Bushnell said she was fascinated by the intense interest in Penn.

"I was told, in New Delhi, that Penn has a higher profile, probably, than any other American school," she said.

Wharton freshman Rish Chaudhuri -- who is from Thailand -- said that although in his hometown American education is seen as some of the best in the world, at his high school Penn was not a popular choice because of its selectivity.

Many people see Penn as "high up there and hard to get into," he said.

But Bushnell said she hopes her trip will result in more interest from students in Asian countries.

She said that she "talked to people who want to import elements of a college liberal arts education into India, Singapore and Hong Kong."

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