Announcements

Earlier today, President Biden nominated me to serve as United States Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany. I cannot overstate what a meaningful and extraordinary honor it is to be nominated by the President for this important position of service to our country.

No one is more deserving of this recognition than Amy Gutmann. She is one of the most highly regarded academic leaders in the world and has led the University of Pennsylvania to new heights of eminence. Amy has been a superb President for Penn and we have total confidence that she will remain fully focused on advancing Penn’s agenda until the conclusion of her time at the University.

Penn will be fully reopening campus for the fall semester, while continuing to be guided by best practices in public health.

As we complete an extraordinary academic year, we write to extend our profound thanks to all colleagues—Penn’s unsurpassed faculty and staff—for your individual and collaborative efforts in serving our community through the pandemic while working both on-campus and remotely.

Juneteenth marks the 156th anniversary of the date when enslaved people in Texas finally received word that President Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation more than two and a half years earlier. As our country and University continue to reckon with and work to address the systemic racism and discrimination that are the legacy of slavery, Penn should and will redouble its efforts to foster justice and equity.

Our country has recently witnessed a deeply disturbing increase in anti-Semitism and instances of prejudice and bigotry directed toward people of Asian or African descent and other diverse groups. This is wholly unacceptable anywhere. It is all the more unconscionable in a free and educated nation that anyone should fear for their safety or be forced to endure the vile rantings and sickening symbols of bigotry.

The single most important measure each of us can take to protect ourselves along with those on campus is to get vaccinated. Therefore, all current faculty, staff, and postdoctoral trainees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no later than August 1, 2021.

Vijay Kumar, the Nemirovsky Family Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science, has been reappointed for a second term, to run through June 30, 2027.

With the academic year and Commencement now successfully concluded, and with continued positive progress being made within our community in controlling COVID-19, Penn will be easing restrictions during the summer relating to both on-campus activities and University travel. These are important steps as we continue to transition toward the fall semester, and our expectation of a more normal, on-campus experience for our students, faculty, staff, and researchers. 

I am writing to share with you the news that our dear friend and colleague, Provost Wendell Pritchett, will be taking a medical leave of absence from his responsibilities here at Penn, beginning July 1, 2021 through the end of the fall 2021 semester. Wendell has been dealing with some health issues that, while not life-threatening, require greater attention over the coming months.