News Archives

Rubenstein named EVP and dean

The new executive vice president for the Health System and dean of the School of Medicine is an accomplished medical researcher and administrator. But Arthur H. Rubenstein, M.D., is still a teacher at heart. “It’s in my bones and blood,” he said at a July 31 news conference. “I hope to teach in any way I can” while running the system. Rubenstein, 63, was named to the dual posts July 30.

Chinese opera meets Western symphony

May 26: We arrived at Tsinghua University in the late afternoon for our first rehearsal in China. This was our first time rehearsing with our guest musicians, Zhao Yihua and Li Yiping playing, respectively, the jinghu and the pipa, two traditional Chinese instruments. Sun Ping, Dr. Averbach, and the orchestra had all grown relatively accustomed to one another through our many rehearsals at Penn, but Mr. Zhao and Mr. Li were new to this cross-cultural music. They had to understand how they were to mesh with the orchestra, Sun Ping, and Dr. Averbach.

A minute or two on...

After taking last summer off for the Republican Convention, Summer Programs’ popular 60-Second Lecture Series returned to campus this summer, featuring some of Penn’s best faculty speaking — briefly — on subjects of interest. Excerpts from the best of this summer’s lectures appear below.

A tale of two thespians

This is a tale of two thespians. One is a major in theater arts and English. The other started out in pre-med and quickly switched to anthropology. One knew she wanted to explore acting from the age of 9. The other joined a Penn student-theater company because it sounded like something interesting to do. Now, both of them — actress Gabriela Ianoale (C’02) and technician Alison Fair (C’02) — are on their way to professional careers in the theater after spending this summer gaining new skills on Jane Wallace Memorial Theatre Internship Scholarships.

Richard Gelles Named Interim Dean Of School Of Social Work At University Of Pennsylvania

PHILADELPHIA Richard Gelles has been named interim dean of the School of the Social Work at the University of Pennsylvania, effective Sept. 1. His appointment was announced today by Judith Rodin, Penn president, and Robert Barchi, the provost.Gelles, the Joanne T. and Raymond B. Welsh Professor in Child Welfare and Family Violence, is, Rodin said, "an accomplished scholar, outstanding researcher and experienced administrator."

Sabloff named to Smithsonian panel

In an effort to sharpen its scientific research, the Smithsonian Institution has appointed Jeremy Sabloff chairman of its science advisory commission. Sabloff, the Williams Director of the University’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, and 17 other commission members will explore various topics, including the relationship between research and public programming. The commission members, whose areas of expertise span studies from anthropology to zoology, were selected by nationally recognized leaders in the scientific and academic community.

To the lighthouse in the garden

Rambo rises

When the University’s police department needed a new chief, it knew it did not have to look very far. On July 9, Thomas A. Rambo, a 15-year veteran of the Penn police, replaced Maureen Rush as chief of police. Rush, who is now vice president for public safety, said, “I knew from the get-go that we had the talent inside the department so I limited the application pool to the Penn police department.” Rush said the choice was based on recommendations gathered from area law enforcement agencies and University safety and security committees.

Bioengineering gets $14 million

Penn’s Department of Bioengineering has received a $14 million dollar Leadership Development Award from the Whitaker Foundation. “This is one of the largest grants ever received by the School [of Engineering and Applied Science],” said SEAS Dean Eduardo Glandt. This multi-year grant will boost the department’s existing research and teaching strengths in orthopedic, cardiovascular and injury bioengineering and neuroengineering by providing new facilities and at least seven new researchers. The University is committed to matching this sum with $42.8 million.

Hot times, hot reads

Whether it’s on the subway, right before bed at night, or during a lunch break on Locust Walk, Penn staff and faculty are squeezing in the last bit of summer reading. From contemporary fiction and local newspapers to sociological studies and, yes, even children’s literature, the Penn community is reading it all. For suggestions on what to read and what to strenuously avoid, check out what these Penn members had to say. Irene Laird, Intern, VHUP