David Thornburgh was recently appointed executive director of the Fels Institute of Government, Penn's graduate program that educates and trains leaders to achieve results in public work.
Thornburgh will succeed Donald Kettl, who recently retired from the position and returned to full-time research and teaching in the Department of Political Science. Kettl will continue to serve on the Fels faculty and Academic Advisory Committee.
[Thornburgh] is a great believer in the Fels mission," said SAS Dean Rebecca Bushnell. "He will bring forward the increasing stature of Fels, its reputation and its connection with the government.
Thornburgh holds a B.A. in Political Science from Haverford College and a Master's Degree in Public Policy from Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. He has received a number of awards for his professional and civic leadership, including a 1992 finalist position in the White House Fellows Program.
Prior to his appointment, Thornburgh served as a Senior Advisor to the Econsult Corporation, a Philadelphia-based regional economic consulting firm. He also served as Director of the Wharton Small Business Development Center - the consulting and training arm of Wharton's Entrepreneurial Center - from 1988 to 1994.
Thornburgh's appointment is the result of a widely advertised nation-wide search that was conducted by a search committee, said Political Science professor and committee chair Jack Nagel.
Nagel said that Thornburgh was chosen for his familiarity with the University, his impressive record of government work and his connections within the Philadelphia region.
"[Thornburgh] is energetic, thoughtful, and unabashedly committed to the notion of public service," said Penn President Amy Gutmann's Vice President and Chief of Staff Greg Rost, who also served on the search committee. "I couldn't be more pleased to see him at the helm."
Thornburgh brings with him fresh ideas and some planned changes for the institution.
"I want [Fels] to be recognized around the country and around the world as one of the premiere executive programs," he said.
Thornburgh explained that one of his goals for the school is to equip its graduates to make decisions and solve problems in the real world.
"There is a rigor to our approach here, but there is also a practical quality," he said. "It's not just about classroom and curriculum."
Thornburgh is currently working on a project in which a group of students - called the Fels Performance Action team - will work with the city of Philadelphia to train city managers and leaders and to "improve outcomes and results that city governments can achieve."
