Stetson Departure | New dean steps in, but will step right out

Though thrust into the limelight rather suddenly, Interim Dean of Admissions Eric Kaplan is no stranger to Penn's admissions office.

Kaplan, a former undergraduate director of admissions at Penn, was picked for the position after former Dean of Admissions Lee Stetson abruptly announced that he would leave the University effective immediately.

And amid all the questions surrounding Stetson's departure, the University faced a sudden vacancy in its top admissions post. Kaplan's experience in the field made him an easy choice.

Kaplan's first introduction to admissions came during an internship at Connecticut College, where he was an undergraduate. Since then, he has spent over 20 years in higher education, most notably as Lehigh University's dean of admissions from 2003 to 2006.

He had previously worked in Penn's admissions office from 1994 until 2003. He returned to the University last year as associate secretary, managing programs and developing meeting agendas for the trustees.

But a year into his job, he was invited back into Penn's admissions office in the wake of Stetson's sudden and unexplained retirement.

"We're very impressed with [Kaplan's] experience and knowledge of the office and also his excellent judgment," Gutmann said.

Kaplan says he will only remain as dean for this academic year before returning to his position in the Office of the Secretary.

That position "gave me access to the highest priorities and [let me] see more of the University," he said. "Having that job made me better at this job by giving me broader perspective."

In the meantime, Kaplan has the tough job of replacing Stetson, one of the more acclaimed people in admissions and a key figure in Penn's rise over the last 30 years.

Marilyn Albarelli, director of college counseling at Moravian Academy, a private school in Bethlehem, Pa., said Kaplan will have to continue Penn's tradition of maintaining student diversity and reaching out to underrepresented groups.

For his part, Kaplan has already expressed an interest in many of the initiatives that made Stetson so successful.

He has already announced, along with Gutmann, that the University will be maintaining its early-decision policy, which was a trademark of Stetson's tenure. Kaplan has also said he will continue the University's push for racial and socioeconomic diversity, and the admissions office has begun accepting the fee waiver for College Board tests this semester.

Those who have worked with Kaplan say his experience should make for a seamless transition going forward.

"He knows the admissions business, he has a huge network of contacts throughout the country, and [he] is a good decision maker," said Lehigh Director of Admissions J. Bruce Gardiner, who worked under Kaplan.

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