Ahead of Independence Day, Penn President Larry Jameson reflected on parallels between Benjamin Franklin’s life and the current era in a Thursday message to the University community.
The July 2 statement described the importance of unity, excellence, and advancing knowledge within the University community. Jameson highlighted Penn community members’ roles in advancing “our nation’s founding ideals” and pointed to the University’s founder as a continuing source of inspiration.
“No individual embodies the connection between Penn and the founding of the nation better than Benjamin Franklin,” Jameson wrote.
The message is Jameson’s first campus-wide announcement since writing that he will step down from his post in June 2027, as planned.
He added that Franklin “confronted rapid political, social, and technological change” within his lifetime — and pointed to “enduring questions” on “unity amid deep differences,” equality, and the manner in which knowledge is taught.
The email comes amid a prolonged period of campus turmoil, administrative turnover, and federal scrutiny on campus.
Jameson also described the importance of “cooperation across differences” in a democracy, noting Franklin’s role in upholding “principled compromise” during the Constitutional Convention.
In March, Jameson issued a similar statement centered on the Declaration of Independence that reaffirmed the University’s commitment to “access and inclusion.” He also emphasized the value of diversity of background and thought.
He extended those ideas into his address at Penn’s 270th Commencement — which he mentioned in the July 2 message.
“As I shared with our graduating Class of 2026, when in doubt, choose people,” Jameson wrote. “Our social connections and networks are powerful vehicles for the problem-solving championed by Franklin.”
Jameson further referenced the Declaration of Independence by describing how the United States has “moved closer to fulfilling its founding promise, though the path has been uneven.” Characterizing “self-improvement” as an everlasting goal, he pointed to recent Juneteenth celebrations as a reminder of the country’s progress.
Last month, the Penn Museum combined its annual Juneteenth celebration with an initiative from the Wharton School and Penn Medicine to host a free festival for Philadelphia culture. The event was created to accompany the University’s America 250 programming.
Jameson also emphasized “Franklin’s commitment to ‘useful knowledge,’” which he wrote “offered a vision of education markedly different from other schools at the time.”
“This ethos thrives in the countless ways Penn scholars, students, alumni, and staff contribute to our collective knowledge and the common good,” Jameson wrote. “Together, through Penn Forward, we are extending Franklin’s vision of creating and disseminating useful knowledge for a changing world.”
Unveiled last September, the Penn Forward strategic initiative has been one of Jameson’s defining efforts during his tenure as president. In April, he revealed nine key initiatives from the framework — focusing on building trust, enabling discovery, and extending the University’s reach.
According to University Board of Trustees Chair Ramanan Raghavendran, Jameson will dedicate part of his remaining time as University president to Penn Forward.
Staff reporter James Wan covers academic affairs and can be reached at wan@thedp.com. At Penn, he studies communication and computer science. Follow him on X @JamesWan__.
