“Iain impressed us as a passionate, energetic educator who is sincere about his focus on the holistic development of young adults,” Calhoun said. “In addition to his head coaching experience, he was an instructor at his four previous institutions and brings Ivy League knowledge from his time at Columbia. We look forward to Iain continuing the positive momentum of the Penn volleyball program.”
Braddak began his collegiate coaching career at Culver-Stockton College in 2012 as a head coach tasked with starting the men’s volleyball program. In his first season, he recruited 18 student-athletes and laid the foundation for the future of the program. He also served as an assistant for the women’s volleyball program.
He then moved to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) as the head women’s volleyball coach for two seasons, compiling a 32-14 overall record. Braddak led USMMA to its first winning season in eight years in 2013 and the first consecutive winning seasons since 2003 and 2004.
In 2015 and 2016, Braddak was the head women’s volleyball coach at Smith College before serving as an assistant coach at Ivy League rival Columbia in 2017.
“I am honored and excited to join Penn Athletics as its next head volleyball coach,” Braddak said. “Penn is an inspiring institution and an impressive community of student-athletes, faculty, and staff. I am thrilled to join this department so dedicated to developing champions holistically. I want to thank Dr. Calhoun, [Associate Athletic Director] Scott Ward, and everyone involved in this process for their confidence in my ability to lead this program forward. Penn volleyball has a rich tradition, phenomenal potential, and a strong foundation, and I look forward to guiding this program to the next level.”
In Senegal, the ambitious Dakar Greenbelt project seeks to create an extensive network of ecological infrastructure in and around the city to sustainably address environmental concerns and enhance urban life. With support from David Gouverneur and Ellen Neises, Ph.D. candidate Rob Levinthal in the Weitzman School of Design led two courses that included a field trip to Dakar, that culminated in students presenting their visions for parts of the Greenbelt.
From a desert to an oasis: Penn engages in ambitious greening effort in the Sahel
Students from the Weitzman School of Design journeyed to Senegal to help with a massive ecological and infrastructural greening effort as part of their coursework. The Dakar Greenbelt aims to combat desertification and promote sustainable urban growth.
As part of an undergraduate course, Penn faculty and students curated an Arthur Ross Gallery exhibition of works from the Neumann family’s extensive collection of modern and contemporary art.
The University’s nexus for technology transfer supports researchers in their innovative efforts, from CAR T to mRNA advancements that have dramatically reshaped the world.
