Sandy Smith

Hillary Aisenstein (C'99) arrived at Penn from Las Vegas, full of vague notions about community service and involvement. Then, last year, she saw the light, and learned a lot about University City in the process. This summer, she decided to help turn her new neighborhood green, and has learned even more about University City and Philadelphia.

Jamal Harris (C'98) always knew he wanted to pursue a career in medicine. But it took a bunch of West Philadelphia schoolchildren to show him that what he really wanted to do was promote health, not cure sickness.

As the man who outfits Penn for Commencement, Bill Petrick gets to meet dignitaries and celebrities. But he takes the greatest pride in helping people through a hectic experience. Photo by Candace diCarlo

General Colin Powell can rest easy: Penn's graduation speakers this year did his work for him. Besides former President Jimmy Carter's Commencement call to service, at least four other graduation speakers urged students to consider public service as they make their way in the world.

Once a year, I take advantage of the opportunity to check out people from all over in colorful costumes, sample foods not normally found in these precincts, examine merchandise from the tacky to the sublime, and subject myself to a sales pitch or two, all right here on campus.

Good leadership skills and smart decision-making are important for anyone in an organization, no matter what level they occupy, says Management Professor Michael Useem. You never know when the fate of an entire nation might turn on them.

It helps to know the local language.

Photo by Candace diCarlo

Three members of the faculty of the School of Arts and Sciences were among the 60 new members of the National Academy of Sciences elected this year.

Judge Learned Hand got it wrong when he said, "The academic who becomes engaged in social issues will find that he is selling his birthright for a mess of pottage." But scholars can benefit from research and teaching tied to current community issues.