The University recently became a little richer — both monetarily and academically — thanks to a $20 million donation made by alumnus and trustee George Weiss. Weiss, who is also chairman of Penn’s ongoing Making History capital campaign, should be commended for his generous gift to fund four Penn Integrates Knowledge professorships.
In this difficult economy, many sources of funding for professors have been cut back, and some elite schools have experienced financial difficulties. Having the funds to endow additional professorships will provide Penn with a competitive advantage in recruiting talented faculty.
Providing for more PIK professorships will also enhance students’ educational experiences. PIK professors hold appointments in two different schools. As a result, students are given the opportunity to broaden their scope of knowledge and learn from faculty who apply material across disciplines.
In today’s complex world, it’s important to be able to make connections between concepts that seem distinct on the surface. These new professors can teach students to think outside the box.
We hope the University continues to look for donors who wish to contribute to this valuable program, and we hope the positions are filled by talented researchers and professors in a variety of fields. Penn prides itself in being interdiciplinary, and Weiss’ donation contributes to the idea that knowledge should know no boundaries.
