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‘A Revolution in Rhyme’
Professor Fatema Shams and book cover

Poet Fatemeh Shams, assistant professor in the Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations Department, has published a new book in English about politics and poetry in modern Iran. She has rebuilt the Persian language and studies program during her four years at Penn. 

‘A Revolution in Rhyme’

While building the Persian language and studies program at Penn, Fatemeh Shams draws from the millennium-old Persian literary tradition to write a new book about poetry and politics in modern Iran. She will embark on her next book project during an upcoming fellowship in Berlin. 
Untapped insights, network dynamics, and a unique approach to NBA scouting
Damon Centola in front of a blackboard.

Damon Centola is a professor in the Annenberg School for Communication and the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and director of the Network Dynamics Group.

(Image: Courtesy of Annenberg School for Communication)

Untapped insights, network dynamics, and a unique approach to NBA scouting

A new book from Annenberg’s Damon Centola describes why some ideas succeed while others fail and uses case studies to illustrate the science behind what drives change.

Michele W. Berger , Julie Sloane

Six from Penn elected to American Academy of Arts & Sciences
Headshots of six people, in a grid, two rows of three.

Six faculty from Penn were elected to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. The honorees include (clockwise from top left) Cristina Bicchieri, Michael Hanchard, Vijay Kumar, Kenneth Zaret, Sarah Tishkoff, and Stanley Plotkin. They join more than 250 honorees for 2021, recognized for their efforts to help solve some of the world’s most urgent challenges.

Six from Penn elected to American Academy of Arts & Sciences

Faculty from the School of Arts & Sciences, the School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the Perelman School of Medicine are honored for their efforts to help solve some of the world’s most urgent challenges.

Michele W. Berger

Marilyn Jordan Taylor on Moynihan Train Hall
Main lobby inside Moynihan Train Hall

Moynihan Train Hall just before its public opening. (Image: Courtesy of the Office of Governor Andrew Cuomo)

Marilyn Jordan Taylor on Moynihan Train Hall

The Weitzman Schools former dean and professor of architecture and urban design talks about her experience with the multidecade Train Hall project, working with Weitzman students on subway, rail and airport projects, and the prospects for more infrastructure investment in the U.S. 

From the Weitzman School of Design

Increasing access for students on ‘Faculty Fridays’
Amy Gutmann meets with students virtually on Zoom

Increasing access for students on ‘Faculty Fridays’

For the past few years, PennCAP has hosted “Faculty Fridays” as a means to better connect first generation, lower-income students with the University’s professors. These efforts have continued virtually during COVID-19.

Lauren Hertzler

Toorjo Ghose receives Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to India
Torju Ghose smiling on a sidewalk in the sunlight.

Toorju Ghose, associate professor at the School of Social Policy & Practice. (Image: Michael Scott Whitson)

Toorjo Ghose receives Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award to India

Ghose will be hosted by Presidency University in Kolkata as part of a project to document and teach about the strategies deployed by sex workers to negotiate the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jessica Bautista

Cancer cell therapy pioneer Carl June receives the Sanford Lorraine Cross Award
carl june

Cancer cell therapy pioneer Carl June receives the Sanford Lorraine Cross Award

The Richard W. Vague Professor in Immunotherapy in the department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in the Perelman School of Medicine and director of the Center for Cellular Immunotherapies at Penn’s Abramson Cancer Center received the award for his work in developing chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy.

Steve Graff

From ‘Indiana Jones’ to medieval robots
Professor Elly Truitt standing on Penn's campus

In her work and her teaching, historian of science Elly Truitt challenges assumptions. “The people who lived in the Middle Ages were definitely no less intelligent than we are, and they didn’t think they were living in the middle of anything,” she says. 

From ‘Indiana Jones’ to medieval robots

Historian of science Elly Truitt’s multidisciplinary investigations of the Middle Ages challenge assumptions about the period as a dark time in innovation and prompt a rethink of notions of ‘modern’ science.

Katherine Unger Baillie

Julie Nelson Davis named a 2021 Guggenheim Fellow
Julie Nelson Davis smiles for portrait outside her office

Julie Nelson Davis, a history of art professor in the School of Arts & Sciences, has been named a 2021 Guggenheim Fellow in the fine arts research humanities category. Considered a foremost authority on Japanese prints and illustrated books, she teaches a wide range of courses on East Asian art and material culture.

Julie Nelson Davis named a 2021 Guggenheim Fellow

Considered a foremost authority on Japanese prints and illustrated books, the history of art professor teaches a wide range of courses on East Asian art and material culture.
Penn extends terms of Education and Law deans
Pam Grossman with arms crossed in front of a GSE building on Penn’s campus at left, Ted Ruger in his office at right.

Pam Grossman, dean of the Graduate School of Education, and Ted Ruger, dean of the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, have had their terms extended through 2023.

Penn extends terms of Education and Law deans

Pam Grossman, dean of the Graduate School of Education, and Ted Ruger, dean of the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, will now serve until June 30, 2023,