Andrew B. Rudczynski, B.Sc., Ph.D., MBA, was named Associate Vice President for Finance and Executive Director, Research Services. He will be responsible for managing administrative support for the growing number of research grants, which last year were in excess of $414 million. He previously worked in research administration for Rutgers and the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, after a career as a research scientist.
Louis Berneman, managing director of the Center for Technology Transfer, was elected president of the Association of University Technology Managers. AUTM is a non-profit group of more than 2,100 professionals who obtain and manage intellectual property coming from research at universities, non-profit research institutes and teaching hospitals.
Vince Marrocco has been appointed Chief Horticulturist at the Morris Arboretum. A horticulturist there since 1993, is completing a management program at Wharton. His new duties include overseeing the arboretum's horticulturists and garden volunteers.
Larry Robbins
Larry Robbins, Ph.D, was named director of the newly created Center for Teaching and Learning in the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS). Robbins, who created programs to teach communications and improve teaching in the Wharton School, will be responsible for creating programs to improve teaching in SAS. Besides providing resources and programs to improve teaching, the Center will also provide confidential, individual assistance to faculty.
Andrew Nelson was named head coach of the women's soccer team. Nelson comes to Penn from Wellesley College, where he coached the team to a 67-25-8 record during his four years of coaching. Last year Wellesley advanced to the NCAA Division III quarterfinals. Nelson will begin working with the team in the spring.
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.