The spring 2023 semester saw a high rate of turnover in University administration, including a variety of newly appointed deans and directors.
The end of this semester marks the conclusion of Liz Magill's first academic year as Penn president. She began her duties on July 1, and since then, she has formed the Red and Blue Advisory Committee — an advisory group that will create a report on the University's next strategic plan as part of her "Tomorrow, Together: Penn's Next Century" initiative.
Penn appointed two new deans this semester for the Graduate School of Education and the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. Michigan State professor Katharine Strunk will serve as the new dean of GSE, following Pam Grossman, who served as dean since 2015. Similarly, law professor Sophia Lee will succeed Ted Ruger. Both professors will begin their tenure as dean on July 1.
The Annenberg School for Communication is also searching for a new dean, as current dean John L. Jackson Jr. takes on the role of the University’s next provost starting June 1. Jackson will be succeeding former Provost Wendell Pritchett. The position of provost, whose responsibilities include serving as Penn's chief academic officer, is currently occupied in an interim capacity by Beth Winkelstein.
As provost, Jackson will oversee a team of multiple vice provosts, including Hikaru “Karu” Kozuma, who began his tenure as vice provost for University Life on May 1. Kozuma follows Mamta Accapadi, who resigned last June. Tamara Greenfield King served in the position in an interim capacity until Kozuma took office. The vice provost for University Life is responsible for offering support to students and cultural groups.
Penn also named Jordan Pascucci as the new director of admissions and Elise Scioscia as the Penn Violence Prevention director after a nearly year-long vacancy for that role. In addition, the Penn Women’s Center appointed Interim Director Elisa Foster as the permanent director, and Carolyn Ureña was named the new College director of Academic Advising.
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