Announcements

During these first weeks of the spring semester, I have been sitting down with students, faculty, and staff who are deeply engaged in fostering a vibrant and inclusive environment on our campus. I have talked with the chairs of the Antisemitism Task Force and the Presidential Commission on Countering Hate and Building Community.

There are times when leaders should weigh in on the values and principles that guide and define an institution. Recent political cartoons make this one of them.

Just before the winter break, Interim President J. Larry Jameson convened the Presidential Commission on Countering Hate and Building Community. A full listing of the members of the Commission and their charge all can be found on the Office of the President website. We are grateful to Dr. Jameson for his leadership and share his view that hate has no home at Penn.

Welcome to a new semester and a new year at Penn!As I begin my role as Interim President, people within our University and beyond are sharing with me their deep affection for Penn. They believe in Penn’s extraordinary work and our boundless potential.I believe in Penn, too. Over the years, I have witnessed what we can do to make the world a better place.

Interim President J. Larry Jameson issues a statement on the passing of Claire M. Fagin, former interim president of the University of Pennsylvania and former dean of the School of Nursing.

I write to share that J. Larry Jameson, MD, Ph.D., has graciously agreed to serve as Interim President of the University of Pennsylvania, effective immediately. Dr. Jameson has served as Executive Vice President of the University of Pennsylvania for the Health System and dean of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine, which together comprise Penn Medicine, since 2011.

I am honored that the Board of Trustees has asked me to serve as Penn’s Interim President. I accept this responsibility clear-eyed about the challenges facing our University. Like you, I love Penn. I have dedicated many years of my life to this amazing institution. I have been honored to serve as Executive Vice President of our health system and dean of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine for more than 12 years.

Dear Members of the Penn community, We write to share that Julie Platt, the Vice Chair of the University of Pennsylvania’s Board of Trustees, has been named Interim Chair by the Board’s Executive Committee. As current Vice Chair, Julie was the clear choice, and we are grateful to her for agreeing to serve in this capacity during this time of transition. Due to her current commitment as Board Chair of the Jewish Federations of North America, Julie will only serve until a successor is appointed.

Dear members of the Penn community, I write to share that President Liz Magill has voluntarily tendered her resignation as President of the University of Pennsylvania. She will remain a tenured faculty member at Penn Carey Law. On behalf of the entire Penn community, I want to thank President Magill for her service to the University as President and wish her well. We will be in touch in the coming days to share plans for interim leadership of Penn. President Magill has agreed to stay on until an interim president is appointed.

Dear members of the Penn community, As you may be aware, I will testify today at a hearing before the U.S. House Committee on Education & the Workforce on the topic of “Holding Campus Leaders Accountable and Confronting Antisemitism.” I will be joined by Harvard University President Claudine Gay and Massachusetts Institute of Technology President Sally Kornbluth.