After conducting a national search, the University named one of its own, Samuel H. Preston, Ph.D., as dean of the School of Arts and Sciences Dec. 18. Preston, the Frederick J. Warren Professor of Demography, known internationally for his population studies, has been on the faculty of the Department of Sociology since 1979, and is long-time director of the Population Studies Center here.

Preston, who began his new appointment two days ago, has chaired the Department of Sociology and the graduate group in demography at Penn, and was the acting chief of the population trends and structure section of the United Nations from 1977-79.

"An exhaustive search has led us to a distinguished scholar in our own midst, and we are absolutely delighted at the result," said President Judith Rodin, adding that the combination of his extraordinary scholarship and demonstrated leadership ability "make Sam Preston the ideal candidate to lead the School of Arts and Sciences into the 21st century." Preston succeeds interim Dean Walter Wales.