Mark Wolff has been reappointed dean of the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine through June 30, 2030, subject to approval of the Board of Trustees.
The announcement was made by Interim President J. Larry Jameson and Provost John L. Jackson Jr.
The reappointment follows a comprehensive review of the major accomplishments of Wolff’s first term as dean, along with an assessment of the new challenges and strategic opportunities that may face the School during the next five years, especially in support of the objectives articulated in the University’s new strategic framework, In Principle and Practice.
“Provost Jackson and I are delighted that Dean Wolff will continue his exemplary leadership of Penn Dental,” Jameson said. “The consultative committee unanimously supported his reappointment and highlighted his many accomplishments that have dramatically advanced the work of the Dental School while also providing recommendations to further strengthen the School going forward. He has been an exceptional advocate for our University and has worked tirelessly with colleagues across campus to increase the stature and impact of Penn.”
The reappointment review committee cited specific accomplishments of Wolff’s first term across a wide range of areas, including:
Creating a powerful new mission and vision statement for the School focused on core values of legacy, empowerment, aspiration, discovery, and social consciousness
Launching new programs in Advanced Dental Studies, Oral Health Sciences, and Advanced Education in General Dentistry, which trains dental residents to provide care to medically complex patients and persons with disabilities.
Expanding the scope of clinical education, including state-of-the-art programs in digital and implant dentistry
Developing four new interdisciplinary centers that have distinguished the School in bringing together accessibility, cutting-edge research, community engagement, and global visibility
Doubling research funding in the first five years of his tenure and expanded licensing of innovative products based on faculty research, including 24 new patents
Increasing both the size and diversity of the faculty while furthering career development pathways for clinical faculty members
Improving and expanding clinical facilities, which serve community members across our region, including the Care Center for Persons with Disabilities
Completing a highly successful reaccreditation by the Commission on Dental Accreditation, which recommended no needed areas of improvement in any of the Penn Dental programs it reviewed
Advancing an inclusive environment where, in the words of the School’s new vision statement, “each individual in our diverse community is valued, respected, and empowered,” and confronting important issues of racism, sexual harassment, and Islamophobia; and chairing the University Task Force on Antisemitism, which published its recommendations in May.
At its next meeting, the Board of Trustees will receive a resolution to reappoint Wolff.
