Thanks to a gift from a prominent Philadelphia broadcaster, Penn has a new center for criminology.

The Jerry Lee Center for Criminology brings together researchers engaged in work on crime, violence and crime prevention in several schools of the University, including Arts and Sciences, Education, Medicine, Social Work and Wharton.

An official dedication ceremony on Oct. 15 will feature an address by former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, who will receive the first Jerry Lee Award on Research-Based Crime Reduction at the event.

The center, which began operations in January, is endowed through a $1 million gift from Jerry Lee, president of radio station WBEB (B-101, 101.1 FM).

The center is housed in the Fels Center of Government. Fels Center Director Lawrence Sherman serves as its head. Lee has an ongoing interest in crime prevention and was impressed by Sherman’s research on the subject.

“We see ourselves as not only doing basic research but also increasing the impact of research on public policy,” Sherman said.