UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Tuesday November 19, 2019 Volume 66 Number 14 www.upenn.edu/almanac

$25 Million Gift to Create Data Science Building at Penn Penn President The University of Pennsylvania School of Amy Gutmann, Engineering and Applied Science announced alumnus the largest gift in the School’s history—a $25 Harlan M. million commitment from Harlan M. Stone, Stone, and Penn (C’80, PAR’13) to support the construction of a Engineering new Data Science Building. Nemirovsky The building, which will be located at the cor- Family Dean ner of 34th and Chestnut Streets, will serve as a Vijay Kumar hub for cross-disciplinary collaborations that har- (left to right) at ness expertise, research, and data across Penn’s the gift agree- 12 schools and numerous academic centers. ment signing to Upon completion, the Data Science Building will support the con- centralize resources that will advance the work struction of a of scholars across a wide variety of fields while new Data Sci- making the tools and concepts of data analysis ence Building at more accessible to the entire Penn community. the University of “We are profoundly grateful to Harlan Stone Pennsylvania. for this exceptional gift,” said Penn President Amy Gutmann. “As a loyal Penn alumnus and a longtime friend of Penn Engineering, his vi- Photograph by Eric Sucar, University Communications Photograph by Eric Sucar, sion and leadership are truly inspirational. The Data Science Building will promote collabora- Revitalized Penn Squash Center tions across disciplines as scholars harness data responsibly to discover innovative solutions for crucial issues facing the world. Applying knowledge to create real-world impact is why Benjamin Franklin founded our University, and Harlan Stone’s leadership gift strengthens the very heart of The Power of Penn campaign.” Planned features for the Data Science Build- ing include active-learning classrooms; col- laborative spaces for student projects; a data science hub for the entire Penn community; re- search centers for new, socially aware data sci- ence methodologies and novel, bio-inspired par- adigms for computing; and laboratories that will develop data-driven, evidence-based solutions for safer and more cost-effective health care. “I feel very strongly that rigorous application of engineering principles can benefit humanity, especially data science,” said Mr. Stone. “The possibilities for utilizing data to improve lives around the world are virtually endless and excit- ing to think about. There is no better place than Penn Engineering for this to be accomplished and I am humbled to help make this a reality.” “Data-driven approaches and methodology are being used to drive decision-making and pro- Photograph by Eric Sucar, University Communications Photograph by Eric Sucar, pel innovation in virtually every academic dis- During Homecoming Weekend, the Penn Squash Center played host to the Ivy Scrimmages to open cipline and business,” said Penn Engineering the squash season. The College Squash Association Individual Championships will be held at the Nemirovsky Family Dean Vijay Kumar. “Harlan facility in March. Stone’s vision and generosity in supporting this The Penn Squash Center, located between Services, EwingCole and LF Driscoll, the for- new educational and research facility will elevate the Palestra and Franklin Field, celebrated the mer Ringe Squash Courts have been replaced data science to greater prominence on our cam- completion of its major renovation over Home- with a new structure that features more natu- pus, fueling Penn Engineering to the forefront of coming Weekend. ral light and thus better visibility, and is tech- a field that is central to the future of humanity.” Over the past year, the Squash Center has nologically sound, spectator-friendly and ADA- (continued on page 2) been transformed into what Director of Squash compliant. It features air conditioning and better INSIDE Jack Wyant calls “if not the best squash facility heating so that it can operate year-round and 2 From the President and Provost: Advancing Health in the country, certainly one of them.” He add- better connection between the two structures. and Wellness at Penn; Deaths 3 Honors & Other Things ed, “two show courts of the same size, right next New team rooms, coaches’ offices, rest- 4 PSOM Awards of Excellence to each other, will allow us to play the men’s rooms, two extra international courts and a pair 6 HR: Upcoming Programs; Holiday Reminder; matches and women’s concurrently.” of four-glass-wall courts are also fresh ameni- One Step Ahead; Call for Summer Camps 7 Penn’s Way; Holiday Garden Railway; CrimeStats; Through a partnership involving Penn Ath- ties in the redesigned center, as well as an up- MLK Awards Deadline Extended letics, the Division of Facilities & Real Estate graded seating and viewing area. 8 Talk About Teaching and Learning ALMANAC November 19, 2019 www.upenn.edu/almanac 1 $25 Million Gift to Create Data From the President and Provost Science Building (continued from page 1) Advancing Health and Wellness at Penn Mr. Stone’s gift supporting the Data Science A Message to the Penn Community: Building helps Penn Engineering achieve one We are writing today to let you know about a significant new initiative to advance health and of its major objectives for The Power of Penn wellness at Penn. Wellness, as you know, is one of our highest priorities for the Penn campus. We Engineering: Inventing The Future campaign. have a profound shared responsibility to care for each other, to look out for each other and to help Through the campaign, the School is adding cut- all members of the Penn community forge lives of purpose and meaning on our campus. ting-edge spaces for education, research, and Over the past two years, we have advanced several initiatives to achieve these essential goals, includ- technology innovation; growing its distinguished ing the appointment of the first Chief Wellness Officer in the Ivy League, a comprehensive operational -re faculty, including new endowed positions; and view of CAPS and the development of a Wellness at Penn website and ongoing series of Community Con- cultivating innovation and entrepreneurship versations about wellness. Building on these initiatives, we will now take the next step of integrating all of among students by creating opportunities for net- our health and wellness resources, including CAPS and SHS, into a comprehensive Health and Wellness working within Philadelphia’s tech ecosystem. unit of the Provost’s Office. This unit will be overseen directly by the Provost in partnership with our Chief Mr. Stone is the CEO of HMTX Industries, Wellness Officer, Dr. Benoit Dubé, who will report to him as an Associate Provost. a global flooring manufacturer whose brands This reconceived structure will help us to better understand and to promote wellness as a holistic, service a diverse cross-section of the construction multi-dimensional process. It will bring together Campus Health, CAPS, SHS and programs to sup- marketplace. An alumnus of the School of port students with challenges involving alcohol or other drugs to more explicitly inform and com- Arts & Sciences, he serves on the Penn plement each other’s work. It will integrate them more fully into the core educational missions of Engineering Board of Overseers and is currently the Provost’s Office, encompassing our Vice Provosts for Education, Faculty, Global Initiatives and chair of its Academic Life Committee. He also Research, as well as such areas as College Houses, New Student Orientation and Athletics & Rec- chairs the newly formed Penn Engineering reation. And it will create more effective partnerships with the vitally important wellness and work/ Technical Advisory Board. life balance programs developed in Human Resources for our faculty and staff. His past philanthropy to Penn At the same time, the new organization will be streamlined to give our outstanding clinicians Engineering has advanced the School’s more time to focus on their work in health and wellness, reducing the amount of time they spend highest strategic priorities, including an on administration. CAPS and SHS, which both provide essential care for our students, will be more endowed professorship, financial aid support tightly integrated under the leadership of the Chief Wellness Officer, working closely with the senior for undergraduate and graduate students, and medical and clinical directors of those areas. an interactive animation theater in the Digital We are grateful to all of you for the extraordinary community that we create together every day Media Design program. Mr. Stone is also at Penn. We know that you will join us in our ongoing efforts to ensure that every member of our active at Penn Medicine, serving as a member community has the support and resources to thrive on our campus. of the Abramson Cancer Center Innovation —Amy Gutmann, President Advisory Board and supporting the Basser —Wendell Pritchett, Provost Center for BRCA and the Tumor Sequencing Deaths and Analytics Fund. George Breen, Swimming Olympic International Operations Committee, a Lois Johnson-Hamerman, Medicine George Breen, Olympic medalist and former Board of Directors member for Middle Atlan- Lois Johnson-Hamerman, a retired clinical Penn swimming coach, died on November 9 af- tic Swimming and a member of the USA Swim- professor from Penn’s School of Medicine and ter battling pancreatic cancer. He was 84. ming Board of Directors as Coach Vice Presi- Pennsylvania Hospital neonatologist, died Au- A native of Buffalo, New York, Mr. Breen at- dent of USA Swimming. He was also inducted gust 10 of pneumonia at Penn Hospice at Rit- tended SUNY Cortland and earned a master’s in into several halls of fame: the American Swim- tenhouse. She was 91. education from Indiana University. He did not ming Coaches Association, Cortland State and Dr. Johnson-Hamerman was born in New- begin his competitive swimming career until his the Helms Foundation. He was inducted into the comb, a small town in the New York Adiron- freshman year at Cortland. While there, he was International Swimming Hall of Fame in 1975. dacks. After graduating from Newcomb Cen- guided by legendary coach Doc Counsilman. He tral School, she earned a bachelor’s degree from went on to be a 22-time national champion who Charmaine Hamilton, Registrar Cornell University in 1949 and a medical de- established six world records during his career. Charmaine Hamil- gree from the University of Rochester School Mr. Breen was a member of the 1956 and ton, registrar support of Medicine in 1952. She completed an intern- 1960 Olympic teams and served as captain of specialist at Penn, died ship in adult medicine at the University of Min- Team USA in 1960. In 1956, he set a world re- November 5 at Penn nesota Hospital and residencies in pediatrics at cord in the preliminaries of the 1500 freestyle Presbyterian Hospital. Children’s Hospital in Cincinnati. From 1955 but settled for the bronze medal, and he also She was 60. to 1958, she pursued advanced study at SUNY won a bronze medal in the 400 freestyle and a Ms. Hamilton grad- Brooklyn. Her focus was bilirubin-dependent silver medal as a member of the 800 freestyle uated from University brain damage and the genesis of kernicterus. relay. In the 1960 Olympics, he won another City High School and In 1958, she became an associate physician at bronze in the 1500 free. A year earlier, at the earned a master’s of Albert Einstein Hospital. In 1963, she moved to Pan American Games, Mr. Breen was the gold Charmaine arts in human services Philadelphia and joined Penn’s faculty as an as- medalist in the 400 freestyle and the silver med- Hamilton from Lincoln Universi- sociate professor in pediatrics and also served as alist in the 1500 freestyle. He was a three-time ty in 1994. an associate physician at both CHOP and Penn- All-American and was a national champion 15 Ms. Hamilton spent most of her professional sylvania Hospital. She remained at Pennsylva- times between 1955 and 1960. career in human services supporting adults with nia Hospital for 40 years while holding various Mr. Breen went on to coach the Vesper’s disabilities and managing teams at Community teaching positions at Penn and at Thomas Jeffer- Swim Club before coming to Penn. He was the Interactions, Inc. in Delaware County and Unit- son University. She retired from Penn in 1999. coach of the University of Pennsylvania men’s ed Cerebral Palsy of Philadelphia & Vicinity. She was closely affiliated with Parents of swimming team 1966-1982 and was also super- She joined Penn in 2016 as a registrar specialist Infants and Children with Kernicterus (PICK). visor of aquatics, in charge of both the men’s in finance and student registration. In 2018, she She developed the Kernicterus Data Registry, and women’s programs. During that time, “Penn was given the department’s best in class award which helped spur awareness of the need to swimming was more successful than at any oth- for “Going Above and Beyond.” She was also routinely screen newborns for jaundice before er time in the sport’s history at the University,” involved with the Women of Color at Penn and discharging them from the hospital. She also according to records in his file. His wife, Nancy, the Penn Knitting Circle. conducted early research into retinopathy as it was the Penn women’s swimming coach. She is survived by her husband, Charles D. occurs in premature infants. He was also coach and manager of several Hamilton; parents, Ruth and Leon Evans; sis- In 1996, Dr. Johnson-Hamerman was award- US National teams, was appointed head manag- ters, Ruth Salters (Frederick), Sarah Evans and ed the Bilirubin Club Award for her leadership er of the 1980 US Olympic team, and served as Myra Evans; brothers, James Evans, Leon Ev- in research on newborn jaundice and prevention a television commentator. ans, Alfonzo Evans and Anthony Evans; uncle, of bilirubin injury. His other achievements included serving as William Whitehurst (Catherine); aunt, Evelyn She is survived by her daughter, Sylvia president of the American Swimming Coach- Nelson; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, Hamerman-Brown; a granddaughter; a brother; es Association, chair of the USA Swimming relatives and friends. and a sister. 2 www.upenn.edu/almanac ALMANAC November 19, 2019 Honors & Other Things Penn’s 2019 Alumni Award of Merit Gala Awards Penn honored seven distinguished alumni at the James Brister, Penn’s first African-American gradu- ni Interview Program. recent Alumni Award of Merit Gala. ate. Beginning in 2013, he served a two-year term as In 2014, she helped the Creative Spirit Award the society’s co-chair, helping to hone the group’s pri- Class of 1989 achieve Award-winning com- orities, reconfigure programming and reach out to a the Class Award of Merit poser Jennifer Higdon re- broad range of alumni. Most recently, in addition to for its fundraising efforts. ceived the 2019 Creative serving on his class’s reunion committee, he has been In addition, as an active Spirit Award for her life- active in the Brister Society’s efforts to support first- member of the Trustees’ long commitment to and generation/low-income students. Council of Penn Women excellence in the arts. Nursing alumna Andrea “Andie” Berry Laporte, (TCPW), she has served She received her PhD and class of 1969, is a trustee as co-chair of the Miami emerita. She joined the Regional Event Commit- master’s degrees from Stacey Deutsch Shoer Penn following a cer- Board of Trustees as an tee and the Leadership tificate from the Curtis alumni trustee in 2010 Committee, creating signature events for Homecom- Institute of Music and and in 2015 was named ing Weekend, volunteer leadership retreats and twice- bachelor’s from Bowl- Jennifer Higdon a Term Trustee. In addi- yearly TCPW conferences. Her Penn alumni family ing Green State University. A Pulitzer Prize and tion, she has served on members include sister, Alison Schonwald; husband, two-time Grammy Award winner, Dr. Higdon is one the Penn Alumni Board Howard Shoe; and sons, Carter and Maxwell. of this country’s most frequently performed living of Directors, as a mem- Shannon Hedvat holds composers. As the Milton L. Rock Chair in Compo- ber and chair of the Board three Penn degrees. She of Overseers of the Insti- earned her undergraduate sition at the Curtis Institute of Music and a frequent Andie Laporte composer-in-residence at universities throughout tute for Contemporary Art and master’s degrees in the country, she is known as a dynamic and commit- (ICA) and as a member and chair of the Penn Nurs- engineering in 2007 and ted teacher. One of the nation’s most distinguished ing Board of Overseers. Her philanthropic support 2008 before graduating queer composers, she has also been an engaging role spans Nursing, the ICA and the School of Dental from Penn Law in 2011. model for the LGBT community. In addition to re- Medicine. At Nursing, she helped to endow the The- As an intellectual proper- turning to Penn for music department colloquia and resa I. Lynch Fund and established the Killebrew- ty attorney, she has won University talks, she welcomed Penn students into Laporte Center for Admissions & Student Affairs awards for her commit- a behind-the-scenes experience at Opera Philadel- and the Andrea B. Laporte Endowed Professorship, ment to pro bono work. Shannon Hedvat phia’s production of her opera, Cold Mountain. as well as supporting the Center for Global Wom- Her volunteerism at Penn en’s Health. At the ICA, she created the Andrea B. began while an undergraduate. She earned a Penn Alumni Award of Merit Laporte Curator Fund. The daughter of Penn alum- Alumni Student Award of Merit in 2007 for service William W. M. Cheung, a 1982 alumnus of the ni Dorothy Thornburg Berry and Harrison M. Ber- as president of both the Kite and Key Society and the School of Dental Med- ry, Jr., she recently honored her father’s 30-year ten- Engineering Student Activities Council and as co- icine, has developed a ure at Penn Dental with the creation of an endowed chair for the University Honor Council and the Class thriving dental practice scholarship in his name. Having served on the Uni- of 2007 Gift Drive. She continues to volunteer for in his native Hong Kong versity’s steering committee for the Making History Penn Law Admissions, the Alumni Interview Pro- while serving Penn as a Campaign, she currently serves in the same capacity gram, Host Committees for various Penn events and leader and global bridge on The Power of Penn campaign. The Penn Fund Executive Board. Her service to the builder. An emeritus trust- Wharton Class of 1978 Class of 2007 includes leadership roles such as vice ee, his leadership extends alum Jeffrey L. Seltzer has, president of the class and gift chair. She has also been to two decades of service since 2003, served as an a guest lecturer on the legal aspects of entrepreneur- as a member of the Penn overseer for the Universi- ship and been a mentor to current engineering stu- Dental Board of Over- ty Libraries. In this capac- dents. Together, with her active alumni siblings, sis- seers, including a tenure William Cheung ity, he helped to cultivate ter, Lauren; and brother, Brandon, she established the as chair. Currently, he a strong bond between Mikail Hedvat Ijadi Family Scholarship. serves as campaign co-chair for the Power of Penn the Penn Libraries and Dental Medicine campaign. His own philanthropy Other Awards his class, negotiating such In addition to the individual awards, the Class includes gifts to Penn Dental, funding the Cheung gifts as the Class of 1978 Advanced Dental Care Center and the Cheung Au- Orrery Pavilion to house of 1994 received the Class Award of Merit and the ditorium and creating the Cheung Family World Class of 1989 received the David N. Tyre Award the David Rittenhouse Jeffrey Seltzer Scholars. Expanding Penn’s global reach and en- Orrery, the Class of 1978 for Excellence in Class Communications. A spe- gagement in East Asia has been a part of his lega- Group Study Room and the Library Scholars Alcove. cial acknowledgement was made to the Penn Club cy, recruiting internationally recognized faculty and His generosity to Penn includes establishing the Selt- of Southwest Florida for outstanding leadership fortifying the Cheung Center’s curriculum. He also zer Family Digital Media Awards, the Seltzer Family and alumni engagement within its region. oversaw Penn’s establishment of the Hong Kong eMedicine Fund and the Seltzer Family Studio, home Faculty Award of Merit Foundation and was a key supporter in the devel- to Penn’s student radio station, WQHS. In 1998, as The Faculty Award of Merit went to Gwen- opment of the Penn Wharton China Center. He is a member of the Advisory Board for what has be- dolyn DuBois Shaw father to two involved alumnae, Stefani and Liana. come the Huntsman Program, he established the Selt- Dean A. Henry is a of the School of Arts zer Family International Studies and Business Schol- and Sciences. Asso- member of the Wharton arship. Since 2005, he has provided his expertise in Class of 1974. After retir- ciate professor in the sports management to the Alumni Advisory Commit- history of art, Dr. Du- ing from a distinguished tee for the Wharton Sports Business Initiative and has career in information tech- for nearly two decades participated in the Penn Alum- Bois Shaw is a schol- nology, he started a busi- ni Interview Program. In addition to making other ar and a curator who ness specializing in Afri- contributions to Penn Medicine, he joined with fam- explores race, gender, can-American genealogy. ily in establishing the Dr. Ramon Sifre Prize for Ex- sexuality and class in Inspired by the gradua- cellence in Diagnostic Medicine honoring his father- art from the United tion of his daughter Kris- in-law and grandfather-in-law, both alumni of what is States, Latin Ameri- Gwendolyn DuBois Shaw ten from Penn in 2004 and now the Perelman School of Medicine. ca and the Caribbean. by Penn President Amy Dean Henry Stacey Deutsch Shoer, Class of 1989, began vol- She has engaged alumni in numerous ways: as a Gutmann’s Penn Compact with its emphasis on di- unteering her time at Penn as a student guide for the faculty host for Penn Alumni Travel for 10 years, versity and inclusion, he became an active member of Kite and Key Society. As an alumna, she has en- leading trips to Peru, Spain, Portugal, France, the Black Alumni Society. Soon after he joined and hanced Penn’s presence in South Florida. Serving as Argentina, Chile, Cuba and the Caribbean; as took up leading roles in the James Brister Society, the the president of the Penn Club of Miami, she has ex- a speaker at Trustees’ Council of Penn Women alumni group dedicated to improving the campus ex- panded the membership of the club, quadrupling the perience for students, faculty and administrators of and Penn Spectrum events; and as part of Experi- number of members in her first year. She also serves ence Penn, accompanying alumni on behind-the- color. In 2006, Mr. Henry chaired the Finance Com- as the Alumni Interview Committee chair for the Mi- mittee for the 125th Anniversary Commemoration of scenes tours at the Contemporary Arts Center in ami area as part of her involvement with the Alum- New Orleans and Art Basel in Miami. ALMANAC November 19, 2019 www.upenn.edu/almanac 3 2019 Perelman School of Medicine Awards of Excellence The following faculty members will receive this year’s Perelman School of Medicine Awards of Excellence at the 24th annual dinner on Monday, November 25. The awards recognize outstanding performance by faculty in the research, clinical and mentoring areas.

Sara Cherry, pro- Rebecca Hubbard, associate professor of bio- Allison Willis, as- fessor of microbiol- statistics in biosta- sociate professor of ogy, is the winner of tistics and epidemi- neurology and of epi- this year’s Stanley N. ology at HUP, is the demiology, is the re- Cohen Biomedical recipient of this year’s cipient of this year’s Research Award. Dr. Samuel Martin Health Marjorie A. Bowman Cherry’s research cen- Evaluation Sciences New Investigator Re- ters on the discovery Research Award. Dr. search Award. Dr. Wil- of novel pathways in- Hubbard’s research lis is a pioneer and in- volved in the replica- focuses on the devel- novator in the field of tion of diverse viruses. opment and applica- translational neuroep- Vector-borne diseas- tion of methods to im- idemiology and neu- es are globally respon- prove analyses using rology health services sible for more than healthcare databases, research, a discipline 725,000 deaths annu- including electronic Sara Cherry that has substantial Allison Willis ally, disproportionately health records (EHR) Rebecca Hubbard implications for the affecting underprivileged individuals. There are no and health insurance growing population of adults and children with specific chemotherapeutics for these diseases and claims data, with emphasis on improving our un- neurological disorders, particularly older adults only a handful of approved vaccines. Dr. Cherry has derstanding of the use, performance and results of who are at risk for a neurodegenerative disease. Dr. made fundamental discoveries on virus-host interac- cancer screening tests. She has made key contri- Willis combines her skills in analytical and spatial tions and is widely regarded as a leader in the appli- butions to research that directly informs national epidemiology to produce research focused on trans- cation of functional genomic cell-based screening to screening guidelines for breast and colorectal can- lational neuroepidemiology research questions to identify host factors that control viral infections. She cer. Through collaborations with national and in- inform basic science research, health care practic- pioneered the development of genetic and small mol- ternational screening and surveillance networks, es and healthcare policy. She is an emergent leader ecule screens against viruses from each of the fami- she has advanced high-quality assessment and in health services, pharmacoepidemiology and out- lies of human arboviruses, including Zika virus. She evaluation of cancer screening programs around comes research in neurology. Dr. Willis published has made fundamental discoveries in the role of nu- the world. In addition, Dr. Hubbard has worked to one of the first studies demonstrating that there are trient signaling and autophagy in antiviral defens- develop and apply statistical methods to improve substantial gaps in guideline adherent care for Par- es. The Cherry Lab has also discovered that many the validity of inference in research using health- kinson’s disease (PD), even among uniformly in- cellular RNA binding proteins have antiviral activ- care databases across a range of clinical research sured populations. She then quantified the burden ity against arboviruses and initiated the use of Dro- areas. Her methodologic contributions to the anal- of avoidable health events associated therewith, sophila to study enterovirus infection. Dr. Cherry has ysis of EHR data have helped to open up a ma- and identified specific targets for reducing these had a transformative impact on the scientific com- jor new frontier in clinical and health services re- disparities. She recently led a PCORI-funded team munity across the University through her role as the search. In recognition of her contributions, Dr. to build a 10-site research network for the study of inaugural scientific director of the High-Throughput Hubbard was elected a Fellow of the American sex differences and disparities in PD, the Women Screening Core and her initiation of a new precision Statistical Association in 2019. and PD Teams to Advance Learning and Knowl- oncology program in the Penn Center for Precision Jorge Henao-Me- edge (Women and PD TALK). Dr. Willis received Medicine. Her accomplishments have brought her jia, assistant profes- the 2015 American Academy of Neurology’s Jon significant national and international recognition, sor of pathology and Stolk Award, given annually to the most outstand- including a Burroughs Wellcome Fund Investigator laboratory medicine, ing young clinician-scientist in Movement Disor- Award in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease. is the winner of this ders in the United States. Yvette I. Sheline, year’s Michael S. Joel M. Gelfand, McLure Professor of Brown New Investi- professor of derma- Psychiatry and Behav- gator Research Award. tology and epidemiol- ioral Research, is the Dr. Henao-Mejia’s ogy, is the winner of winner of this year’s work at Penn and this year’s Lady Bar- William Osler Patient CHOP integrates two bara Colyton Prize Oriented Research broad areas: gene ex- for Autoimmune Re- Award. Dr. Sheline is pression regulation by search. Dr. Gelfand’s known for her pioneer- non-coding RNAs and research program fo- ing studies, widely cited how these molecules cuses on observation- in psychiatric literature, control inflammatory Jorge Henao-Mejia al and experimen- of hippocampal volume processes in the context of inflammatory disorders. tal studies primarily loss in major depressive His research explores the biochemical mecha- in patients with pso- disorder (MDD) and nisms that control the duration and intensity of im- riasis, a chronic, im- the moderating effects mune responses and how their dysregulation pro- Yvette Sheline mune mediated dis- of antidepressant treat- motes the development of chronic inflammation ease that affects over Joel Gelfand ment. She and her group were also the first to show in the context of modern human pathologies such 125 million people worldwide. In addition to his that depressed patients had overactive responses to as obesity, type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, auto- work in the clinical development of the immuno- emotional face stimuli in fMRI studies of the amyg- immunity, neurodegenerative disorders and can- modulating drugs used to treat psoriasis, he was dala, and subsequent work incorporated the effects of cer. His recent studies on long non-coding RNAs the first to rigorously establish psoriasis as an in- comorbid illness, depression effects on white matter represent a critical building block for illuminating dependent risk factor for major adverse cardiovas- tracts and integrated neuropsychological measures in an uncharted landscape of regulatory mechanisms cular events. As a result of Dr. Gelfand’s research, studies of depression treatment response. Her recent that are critical for immune and tissue homeosta- it is now accepted that psoriasis patients, especial- research has focused on three areas: dimensional as- sis. They are the foundation for ongoing studies ly those with more severe skin presentations, have pects of mood dysregulation across disorders, brain aimed to elucidate the mechanisms by which these an increased risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, mechanisms of depression treatment effects, and the molecules control gene expression, the nature of diabetes, chronic kidney disease and a decrease in potential for SSRIs to lower brain amyloid in pre-clin- the signals that regulate them and the identity of life expectancy. Dr. Gelfand’s work has directly re- ical Alzheimer’s disease. With the receipt of a Human novel non-coding RNAs that control resident im- sulted in the reclassification of psoriasis as a sys- Connectome grant, these efforts will culminate in the mune cells in different tissues. In addition to this temic disease and has led to improved standards of development of biomarkers improving personalized research, Dr. Henao-Mejia was one of the pioneers care for patients. Clinicians are now recommended interventions. Her most recent work employs neu- in adopting the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing sys- to counsel their psoriasis patients about and moni- roimaging to examine treatment effects of cognitive tem for targeting one-cell mouse embryos for the tor them for cardiometabolic diseases and other co- behavioral therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation purpose of generating new genetically engineered morbidities. Dr. Gelfand is now conducting trans- and real time fMRI feedback, as well as the effects mouse models. He has generated over 150 new lational and mechanistic clinical trials to determine of elevated levels of inflammation in hampering suc- mouse models for 60 researchers at Penn/CHOP how immune-targeted treatments impact vascular cessful treatment in major depression. and nationwide. (continued on page 5) 4 www.upenn.edu/almanac ALMANAC November 19, 2019 (continued from page 4) inflammation, lipid metabolism, glucose metabo- Stephen J. Schus- Daniel Licht, pro- lism and serum biomarkers of inflammation linked ter, Robert and Mar- fessor of neurology at to cardiovascular events. Dr. Gelfand is a recipient garita Louis-Dreyfus the Children’s Hos- of the American Skin Association’s Psoriasis Re- Professor in Chron- pital of Philadelphia search Award and the National Psoriasis Founda- ic Lymphocytic Leu- (CHOP), is the recipi- tion’s Excellence in Research Award. kemia and Lympho- ent of the Luigi Mas- Scott D. Halpern, ma Clinical Care and troianni, Jr., Clinical professor of medi- Research, is the win- Innovator Award. Dr. cine, epidemiology ner of this year’s Lou- Licht’s research fo- and medical ethics and is Duhring Outstand- cuses on the impact health policy, is the re- ing Clinical Specialist of critical congenital cipient of this year’s Award. Dr. Schuster is heart disease on fe- Arthur Asbury Out- an internationally re- tal brain development standing Faculty Men- nowned lymphoma ex- and how this increases tor Award. Dr. Halp- pert who combines ex- Stephen Schuster the risk for neonatal Daniel Licht ern is a pulmonary and ceptional patient care white matter brain in- critical care special- with innovative investigation and a deep commit- jury that occurs at the time of a patient’s first heart ist who is among the ment to teaching and mentoring. His track record as surgery. Dr. Licht uses novel diffuse optical instru- world’s leading schol- a clinical investigator and translational researcher ments, developed here at Penn, to assess cerebral ars in the areas of or- has been exceptional and, over his 25-year career, he blood flow and cerebral oxygen delivery in neona- ganization and deliv- has changed the trajectory and outcome for patients tal critical congenital heart disease, with the goal ery of critical care; the Scott Halpern with lymphoma. He has developed and led innova- of increasing our understanding of the impact that management of decisions at the end of life; research tive clinical trials, including therapeutic monoclo- abnormal oxygenation has on the developing brain. ethics; and tobacco cessation. He is the founding nal antibody-based therapies for B cell lymphomas Utilizing diffuse optics, Dr. Licht’s group found director of the Palliative and Advanced Illness Re- as well as therapeutic vaccine strategies. He played that the risk for white matter brain injury increas- search Center. His uncompromising pursuit of ex- a key role in the development of anti-PD-1 therapy es with time from birth to heart surgery. As a re- cellence in these areas also defines his approach Nivolumab for patients with lymphoma as well as sult, the CHOP Cardiac Center is altering its surgi- to mentorship, which is distinguished not just for other new agents, and is recognized as the go-to per- cal practice to correct heart defects within the first his generosity, empathy and caring, but also for the son in the world for using CAR T cell therapy for week of life, with the goal of decreasing the risk discipline and rigor he applies to the process. He lymphomas. Dr. Schuster led the pivotal, multi-cen- of white matter brain injury. Dr. Licht is among has been the single most sought-after dry-bench re- ter trial that resulted in FDA approval for tisagenle- the first clinician-scientists to combine MRI and search mentor at Penn Medicine. Dr. Halpern ap- cleucel, a genetically modified CAR T cell therapy, optics to evaluate cerebral oxygen metabolism in proaches mentorship as a skill that can be improved and continues to be a leader in this field, investigat- clinically relevant scenarios, which is important with study and experience, soliciting advice from ing the next generation of approaches for cellular for patient care and outcomes. His work is the first colleagues on ways to surmount challenges in men- therapy. In addition to his clinical research activi- integration of combined optical measurements of toring. He has created and implemented several ties, he has an extraordinary ability to connect with cerebral blood flow, hemoglobin concentration innovative mentoring programs, including a flex- his patients and their loved ones and he is sought out and blood oxygen saturation in neonatal congeni- ible approach to scheduling mentor-mentee meet- by patients from all over the world for his expertise tal heart disease patients, which he applied to the ings. He also developed the Junior Faculty Visit- in managing the most complex lymphoma cases. assessment of heart surgery and treatment efficacy. ing Professor Program in Pulmonary and Critical John M. Bruza, Sindhu Srinivas, Care Medicine, which spans eight leading academ- associate professor associate professor of ic medical centers across North America. of clinical medicine, obstetrics and gyne- Kristy L. Weber, is the winner of this cology at HUP, is the Abramson Family Pro- year’s Sylvan Eisman winner of this year’s fessor in Sarcoma Care Outstanding Primary Alfred Stengel Health Excellence, is the first Care Physician Award. System Champion recipient of the Dun- Since joining Penn Award. Since her ap- can Van Dusen Profes- Medicine in 1997, Dr. pointment as direc- sionalism Award for Bruza has provided tor of obstetrical ser- Faculty. Dr. Weber is primary care to old- vices in 2012 and as a skilled and compas- er adults who range vice chair for quali- sionate physician who from vibrant to frail ty and safety in 2015, has dedicated her life to in a variety of settings Dr. Srinivas has had a including ambulato- transformative impact adults and children af- John Bruza flicted with benign and ry Penn Medicine Ge- on safety culture, and Sindhu Srinivas malignant bone and soft riatric clinics in West Philadelphia and Radnor, and on the development and implementation of clinical tissue tumors, as well as Kristy Weber in long-term care nursing facilities. In each setting, pathways/guidelines that serve as a model for Penn patients with metastatic he delivers outstanding care that takes into account Medicine. Among her many accomplishments, she bone disease. Her maturity and commitment to excel- the patient’s goals and care preferences, consistent- implemented and now oversees a system-wide OB lence in everything she does has had a positive influ- ly providing high-quality care to patients, including quality and safety reorganization designed to stan- ence on Penn Medicine. She has an unwavering com- those with complex multiple chronic conditions. He dardize care across all Penn Medicine OB pro- mitment to diversity, she has built bridges to CHOP has been consistently named a Top Doctor in geriat- grams. Under her leadership, a comprehensive as a faculty academic mentor and has helped build ric medicine by Philadelphia Magazine since 2011 postpartum hemorrhage prevention and treatment the sarcoma clinical and research program as a col- and has earned the esteem of his patients and their program was developed. She was the champion of laborative effort with Penn Veterinary Medicine and families, as well as of his colleagues. As medical di- the Performance Improvement in Action project: CHOP. Dr. Weber epitomizes the core values of the rector for the Acute Care for Elders (ACE) unit at “Improving Handoffs between Triage and Labor & award: professionalism, respect, integrity and person- Penn Presbyterian, he plays a pivotal role in the train- Delivery.” There is now a resident rotation devot- al accountability. Noted for her precise and detailed ing of residents and medical students who receive ge- ed exclusively to obstetrical triage, 24/7 coverage communication skills, she sets high expectations for riatrics training on the ACE unit. As vice chief for by a nurse practitioner or midwife and significant- herself and her team, and she is honest, fair and an ex- clinical affairs for the division of geriatrics, he su- ly increased involvement by attending physicians ceptional role model. One colleague noted, “Impor- pervises all care provided and has led the charge to in the Perinatal Evaluation Center. As a result, pa- tantly, she is not only a role model about how to be transform the delivery of care by serving as the phy- tients receive streamlined care by providers with a great doctor, teacher and researcher; she is a great sician lead for the implementation of Comprehensive appropriate levels of experience, promoting better role model because she models for us every day how Primary Care Plus, a Centers for Medicare and Med- clinical outcomes and improved satisfaction by pa- we should treat one another.” icaid pilot program. tients and staff.

ALMANAC November 19, 2019 www.upenn.edu/almanac 5 Fall, Winter and Spring Holidays Reminder As you plan for the end of the calendar year and the 2020 Spring Term, here’s a reminder of Penn’s upcoming holiday observances. Holidays Thanksgiving—Thursday and Friday, November 28 & 29, 2019 Christmas Day—Wednesday, December 25, 2019 Another tip in a series provided by the New Year’s Day—Wednesday, January 1, 2020 Offices of Information Systems & Computing Martin Luther King, Jr. Day—Monday, January 20, 2020 and Audit, Compliance & Privacy Memorial Day—Monday, May 25, 2020 Special Winter Vacation Duo Mobile and Each year, the President, Provost and EVP assess the feasibility of observing Penn’s tradi- Two-Step Verification tional Special Winter Vacation. Based on this assessment, the Special Winter Vacation grant- Two-Step Verification adds an addi- ed to faculty and staff will be December 26, 27, 30 and 31, 2019. tional layer of security to help keep your For a complete list of this fiscal year’s holidays and details on policies regarding work data and Penn’s data safe. If you use a over Special Winter Vacation, visit https://almanac.upenn.edu/articles/recognized-holidays- smartphone, using the Duo Mobile app for-fiscal-year-2020 makes using Two-Step as fast and easy as a tap on your smartphone screen. It also allows you to use Two-Step in areas where you may not have a data or WiFi December Human Resources: Upcoming Programs connection. Professional and Personal Development Penn Healthy You Workshops You can use Duo Mobile when you Programs Open to faculty and staff. initially enroll in Two-Step Verification, Open to faculty and staff. Register at www.hr.upenn.edu/registration or you can add it after you have enrolled. Register at http://knowledgelink.upenn.edu Survival Skills for Holiday Eating Workshop; Download Duo Mobile from your Mindful Communication; 12/2; 12:30-1:45 12/3; noon-1 p.m. Join Meghan Anderson, reg- smartphone’s app store. It’s available for p.m. Mindfulness is “paying attention, on pur- istered dietician from Family Food, for this nu- Android on the Google Play Store and for pose, in the present moment, non-judgmental- trition education workshop. Holidays are filled iPhone and iPad on the App Store. ly,” said Jon Kabat-Zinn. Mindful communica- with celebrations and food. Come learn tools It’s free! Follow the setup instruc- tion practices shine awareness on our intentions that will keep you on track during the holidays tions in the Two-Step dashboard. Now in communication. We learn: how to be inten- while still enjoying yourself. You will leave when you need to use a second verifica- tional, stay present, observe our thoughts and with a clear plan to reach your health goals over tion step, you only need to tap “Approve” manage our feelings for both listening and being the holidays. in the Duo Mobile app. (Never tap “Ap- heard—true communication. In this experiential Gentle Yoga; 12/5; 11 a.m.-noon. Let your prove” for any push notification that you workshop, you’ll see how mindful communi- body reward itself with movement. Explore the have not initiated). cation can help you become more intentional, natural movements of the spine with slow and Benefits of using Duo Mobile instead engaged and effective both at home and in the fluid moving bends and soft twists. You will of text: workplace. No prior meditation or mindfulness flow into modified sun salutations that loosen • Duo Mobile is a “one tap” time- experience necessary. those tightened muscles and joints of the low- saving solution—no need to type in veri- Psychology of Job Performance; 12/3; 12:30- er back, neck, shoulders and wrists. You’ll get fication codes. 1:30 p.m. Successfully overcoming performance a workout in the process. Mats and props will • Duo Mobile works even when you issues in the workplace requires a basic under- be provided. have a poor data or WiFi signal. standing of how the human mind works. In this December Wellness Walk; 12/6; noon-1 p.m. • Saves the University money, since hour-long session, we will discuss how job per- Our wellness walks encourage participants to in- each text message or phone call gener- formance intersects with concepts within the crease their physical activity by stepping outside ates a cost for Penn. field of psychology, such as behavioral science to pump up their heart rate by walking through If the Duo Mobile app is migrated to and motivation. We will discuss how these con- Penn’s beautiful campus. What better way to get a new phone, or a new SIM card is in- cepts form a framework that can be used to di- motivated and gain energy for the day! Meet the stalled, the migrated University of Penn- agnose performance issues and realize the most Center for Public Health Initiatives staff in front sylvania profile must be removed and efficient and effective ways to overcome them. of College Hall by the Ben Franklin statue. The then the phone re-enrolled via the Two- Assertiveness Skills; 12/4; 12:30-1:30 p.m. walk will be approximately 2 miles and we will Step dashboard. For information on add- You may experience situations when you need inform you when we have reached the 1-mile ing Duo Push, or reconfiguring Two-Step to utilize assertiveness to complete a task, goal mark if you need to exit the walk early. Bring Verification on a replacement phone, see: or project. In this class, we will identify person- your water bottle, and don’t forget to bring along https://www.isc.upenn.edu/how-to/two- al blocks to assertiveness, identify both asser- a colleague and your sneakers! step-verification-configuring-replace- tive and non-assertive language and behaviors Body Pump; 12/13, 11 a.m.-noon. A toning ment-phone and learn ways to use assertiveness in everyday and conditioning class with weights that is for ev- For more information on Duo Mo- situations. erybody. It’s perfect for anyone who wants to add bile and Two-Step Verification, see: strength training into their aerobic workout. You https://www.isc.upenn.edu/how-to/two- Work-life Workshops step-verification-detailed-instructions Open to faculty and staff. won’t know if you don’t go. So meet the chal- lenge and reap the rewards. To access the Two-Step dashboard, Register at www.hr.upenn.edu/registration see: https://twostep.apps.upenn.edu/ Healthy Coping Methods for Holiday Cele- Spinning; 12/18; 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Ped- brations and Stress; 12/11; 11 a.m.-noon. The al your way to a fantastic workout indoors! With holidays can be a magical time filled with fam- the use of stationary cycles, each class is led on ily, food, fellowship, gifts and laughter. How- a “virtual” outdoor road, complete with a variety For additional tips, see the ever, the season can also be filled with sadness of exercises. This class will give you an energiz- One Step Ahead link on the and stress due to countless factors. Quite often ing, calorie-burning, fun workout, and it is great Information Security website: we are not equipped to manage the impact of for all fitness levels because you will always ride https://www.isc.upenn.edu/security/ these issues. Many people will increase their al- at a self-directed pace. news-alerts#One-Step-Ahead cohol and drug use to cope with the social de- —Division of Human Resources mands of holiday parties, the complexity of Calling All Summer Camps and Programs family dynamics and expectations of perfection. Almanac publishes a supplement every January featuring the camps and programs taking place at This presentation focuses on ways to prepare for Penn over the summer. Offerings listed are camps for children, teens and young adults for an array the breadth of emotion often associated with the of activities, from academics, enrichment and recreation—including anthropology, business, law, vet- holidays. It will provide effective ways of cop- erinary medicine and music—to numerous sports camps. To submit a camp, email almanac@upenn. ing with stress and practical self-care options to edu with the following information: name of camp; dates held (if multiple sessions, indicate dates for replace unhealthy modes of coping. each); age range; summary of 35 words or less; cost (note any discounts); link to enrollment/application forms; deadline, if applicable, to apply/enroll; link, email and/or phone number for more information. 6 www.upenn.edu/almanac ALMANAC November 19, 2019 Penn’s Way 2020 – Raffle Prize Drawings Week Six Winners Philadelphia Eagles—Dallas Goedert auto- graphed photo ($100 value): John Lennon, HUP Philadelphia Eagles—Jalen Mills auto- graphed jersey ($100 value): Jerome Pugh, HUP Penn Museum—Four gift passes to Museum ($72 value): Karen Swider, CPUP Fearless Restaurants—Louie Louie gift card ($100 value): Quyen Nguyen, Pennsylvania Hospital Business Services—Penn­ fashion scarf ($90 value): Abigail McGee, CPUP eCity Interactive—Two tickets to Verdi’s Requiem, Opera Philadelphia, January 31, 2020 ($100 value): Peter Morgans, VPUL Digital Color Graphics—Oyster House gift card ($100 value): Jenna Kessler, HUP Holiday Garden Railway Nights at Morris Arboretum Visit http://pennsway.upenn.edu for more in- Morris Arboretum’s popular Holiday Garden and items inspired by nature. Gifts for children formation about the raffle and making a pledge. Railway Nights returns this year on Friday eve- to engage and inspire young minds are plentiful. There is still time to participate in this year’s nings December 20, 27; Saturday evenings De- And for the person on your list who has every- campaign and enter to win the Grand Prize. cember 7, 14, 21, 28; and Sunday evenings De- thing, give the gift of a Morris Arboretum mem- cember 15, 22 29 from 4:30 until 7:30 p.m. bership, the gift that lasts all year long. Grand Prize (December 2 Drawing) Set against the darkening winter sky, Holi- The Garden Railway is supported, in 2020 Phillies Game in the Penn Medicine day Garden Railway Nights features the model part, through the generosity of Gwen and Ed Club Box for You & 15 Friends! trains in action, decorated for the holidays with Asplundh and by a gift given in memory of Joe thousands of twinkling lights as they zip around Shuttleworth. an outdoor quarter-mile track. Famous Philadel- This is a separate admission from daytime MLK Awards Deadline Extended phia historic buildings adorned in winter finery visits and advanced tickets are required for The deadline for the MLK Community In- surround the tracks to create a magical minia- Holiday Garden Railway Nights. Arboretum volvement Recognition Awards (Almanac ture holiday village. Pack a flashlight and have Member-Adult: $15, and Arboretum Member- October 8, 2019) has been extended to November your children help lead the way through the gar- Child: $8, Non-member-Adult: $20, Non-mem- 20. Elec-tronic submissions at www.upenn.edu/ den as night falls. New this year, on your way ber-Child: $10. Tickets are available at https:// aarc/mlk/award.htm are preferred but, not to the Holiday Garden Railway, discover a for- experience.morrisarboretum.org/ For more in- required. If you prefer sending by mail, please est of trees made of lights up to 12 feet tall. The formation about this event, visit morrisarb.org send to the African- American Resource Center, Compton Café will be open during these events or call (215) 247-5777. attn: Colleen Winn, 3643 Locust Walk, with hot cocoa or coffee to warm-up your walk Philadelphia, PA 19104-6230. Should you have along with various tasty snacks for purchase. any questions, please contact the African- While on site, pick up a few holiday gifts at American Resource Center at (215) 898-0104 or The Shop at Morris Arboretum that specializes 3910 Chestnut Street, 2nd floor [email protected] in, environmentally-friendly reuse of materials Philadelphia, PA 19104-3111 Phone: (215) 898-5274 or 5275 FAX: (215) 898-9137 Email: [email protected] The University of Pennsylvania Police Department URL: www.upenn.edu/almanac

Community Crime Report The University of Pennsylvania’s journal of record, opinion and news is published Tuesdays during the academic year, and About the Crime Report: Below are the Crimes Against Persons or Crimes Against Society from as needed during summer and holiday breaks. Its electronic edi- the campus report for November 4-10, 2019. Also reported were 20 crimes against property (5 bike thefts, 5 tions on the Internet (accessible through the Penn website) include thefts from building, 2 retail thefts, 2 thefts from vehicle, 1 burglary, 1 DUI, 1 fraud, 1 theft other and 2 other HTML, Acrobat and mobile versions of the print edition, and interim offenses) with 3 arrests. Full reports are available at: https://almanac.upenn.edu/sections/crimes Prior weeks’ information may be posted in electronic-only form. Guidelines for reports are also online. –Eds. readers and contributors are available on request and online. EDITOR Marguerite F. Miller This summary is prepared by the Division of Public Safety and includes all criminal incidents reported ASSOCIATE EDITOR Louise Emerick and made known to the University Police Department between the dates of November 4-10, 2019. The Uni- ASSISTANT EDITOR Alisha George versity Police actively patrol from Market St to Baltimore Avenue and from the Schuylkill River to 43rd St in STUDENT ASSISTANTS Justin Greenman conjunction with the Philadelphia Police. In this effort to provide you with a thorough and accurate report on Emily Liu public safety concerns, we hope that your increased awareness will lessen the opportunity for crime. For any Elizabeth Meisenzahl concerns or suggestions regarding this report, please call the Division of Public Safety at (215) 898-4482. Joelis Paula Farah Sayed 11/05/19 6:55 PM 4109 Walnut St Threats received by phone 11/07/19 1:34 AM 3900 Chestnut St Intoxicated male/Arrest ALMANAC ADVISORY BOARD: For the Faculty Senate: 11/07/19 12:05 PM 4000 Ludlow St Complainant assaulted by unknown juveniles Martin Pring (chair), Sunday Akintoye, Christine Bradway, Daniel 11/07/19 5:23 PM 3925 Walnut St Male cited for prohibited knife Cohen, Al Filreis, Cary Mazer. For the Administration: Stephen 11/10/19 3:27 AM 3400 Spruce St Nurse assaulted by patient MacCarthy. For the Staff Assemblies: Jon Shaw, PPSA; Marcia Dotson, WPPSA; Rachelle R. Nelson, Librarians Assembly.

18th District The University of Pennsylvania values diversity and seeks tal- Below are the Crimes Against Persons from the 18th District: 9 incidents (7 assaults, 1 domestic ented students, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds. The assault and 1 robbery) with 2 arrests were reported for November 4-10, 2019 by the 18th District covering University of Pennsylvania does not discriminate on the basis the Schuylkill River to 49th Street & Market Street to Woodland Avenue. of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, 11/04/19 9:17 AM 4700 Baltimore Ave Assault veteran status or any other legally protected class status in the 11/05/19 1:02 AM 4200 Walnut St Assault/Arrest administration of its admissions, financial aid, educational or ath- 11/05/19 9:29 AM 4800 Locust St Assault letic programs, or other University-administered programs or in 11/05/19 6:02 PM 2930 Chestnut St Assault its employment practices. Questions or complaints regarding this policy should be directed to Sam 11/05/19 8:18 PM 4828 Sansom St Domestic Assault Starks, Executive Director of the 11/07/19 1:07 PM 4000 Ludlow St Assault Office of Affirmative Action and 11/07/19 7:42 PM 4300 Pine St Robbery Equal Opportunity Programs, 421 11/07/19 9:53 PM 4700 Locust St Assault/Arrest Franklin Building, 3451 Walnut 11/10/19 4:07 AM 3400 Spruce St Assault Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104- 6205; or (215) 898-6993 (Voice).

ALMANAC November 19, 2019 www.upenn.edu/almanac 7 TALK ABOUT TEACHING AND LEARNING

But Why Do I Have to Take This Class? Making Required Courses More Meaningful Francesca Russello Ammon

Many instructors have occasion to teach a required course to students this way gives students agency in focusing their own deeper investigations who are unconvinced about why they must be there. For me, that course within the breadth of the survey format, while also exposing them to por- is Introduction to City & Regional Planning: Past and Present. This is a tions of both spatial tracks through the lectures. It is particularly relevant survey of the history of city planning, taught through lectures, discussions for us to offer geographic choice given that roughly a third of our students and walking tours—all integrated into the typical twice-weekly lecture are foreign-born. Further, our students have diverse goals about where they time slots. The majority of the enrolled students are completing the first hope to practice planning one day—practice that begins as early as their semester of their two-year master’s degree in the department of city & re- second-year studio courses, which are regularly based in a variety of re- gional planning. Teaching a course like this, to a large number of students gions and countries. In another course and another department, the appro- who might not otherwise have chosen to be there, offers both challenges priate dimensions of choice could take on other forms entirely. and opportunities. For example, how can we motivate all students around Second, even though this is a history course, we design the curriculum this required subject? And, does this motivational challenge invite—even, with students’ largely contemporary urban interests in mind. At multiple perhaps, require—the opportunity for pedagogical experimentation? By points in the semester, we lead the students on guided walking tours of giving students some choice in their work, focusing on why the content Philadelphia neighborhoods to help them examine the relationships be- matters to them, and taking them seriously as students of history, we aim tween past plans and contemporary urban conditions. These walking tours to make our required course as meaningful to them as possible. also provide our graduate teaching assistants with valuable pedagogical Most students in this course have come to Penn to become profession- experience in leading what are effectively mobile interactive lectures. By als in the city planning field. In their first year in the degree program, we taking students on site, we help to translate a more traditionally class- require them to gain basic proficiency in statistical methods, Geographic room-bound subject into an instructional format with which they may be Information Systems and the process of developing a neighborhood plan. more familiar as planners. Compared to these other areas of their training, planning history may not Our students’ aims as contemporary planners also shape the course’s seem as relevant to their future careers. It would, after all, be the rare job scope and assignments. During the second two- thirds of the semester, in urban design, community and economic development, transportation our lectures—and those of our colleagues whom we invite to come speak planning, property development, environmental planning or smart cities about their current research—bring historical topics up to the present. that specifically lists familiarity with planning history as a qualification This helps set the context for an essay assignment in which we require for the position. students to trace the history of their specific planning subfield, showing But the course offers many valuable qualitative skills in reading, writ- how past practices and ideas relate to the present. The goal throughout ing and critical thinking, alongside substantive knowledge about the de- is for each student to construct a usable history to take away with them velopment of their chosen field. I aim to help students appreciate all of from the course. This is not to suggest that history for non-historians must these, both during their tenure in the course, and later as they progress be presentist in its orientation. Rather, where appropriate, we simply en- throughout their careers. deavor to make the connections between past and present more visible to It is critical to note that I did not develop—and do not teach—this students for whom the inherent value of history may seem less obvious. course on my own. My collaborator and co-instructor is Domenic Viti- Lastly, we aim to give planning students the skills historians use. This ello, associate professor of city & regional planning and urban studies. In means that we introduce historiographical debates on day one, as one crafting the curriculum together, we have also built upon the work of our would in any graduate history seminar. We also teach the methods of in- colleague Eugenie Birch, Lawrence C. Nussdorf Professor of Urban Re- terpreting primary sources throughout the semester. This occurs by ex- search & Education, who developed her own version of the course before ample in lectures, followed by hands-on learning through close readings us. The course we teach today is the product of all of our successive ideas of historical plans, drawings, photographs, maps and contemporary built and experimentation. While the resultant strategies I describe below relate environments. In this way, we aim to teach not only what happened in his- specifically to the teaching of planning history, they should also suggest tory and why, but also how we come to know and understand that history analogues that could apply to other required courses in different disci- itself. By providing this opportunity for our students to think as historians plines and for different audiences. themselves, we hope they will come to understand history as much more We have no illusions or aspirations of converting our students to be- than just a set of facts, but also as an interpretive approach to reconstruct- lated history majors. Rather, an overriding goal has been to impart to them ing the past. We hope this helps prepare them to contextualize change as it the value of history and of historical thinking as a basis for their future- continues across space and time. oriented planning work. We hope the course will help them decipher the When we offered the first iteration of this course six years ago, it in- evolution of planning ideas and understand how those ideas have shaped cluded only a few of the above elements. These curricular designs devel- landscapes and lives when implemented on the ground. We aim to do this oped over time, as Professor Vitiello and I responded to student feedback in at least three key ways. and our own learning objectives to more effectively tailor the subject mat- First, we aim to help students see the course as more than just a require- ter to the interests and needs of our specific students. Similarly, none of ment imposed upon them by giving them choices to tailor the experience to these ideas are uniquely appropriate to teaching students in a required their specific interests. Recognizing the students’ varied geographic back- course. They represent pedagogical practices that I would apply to teach- grounds, and also cognizant of the fact that we cannot do justice to both ing a humanities subject to non-majors, to professional degree candidates, international and US planning history in the space of just one semester, we and to students more broadly. But I only came to recognize these ap- allow each student to choose either a domestic or comparative internation- proaches through the challenge and opportunity of bringing my expertise al geographic focus at the outset. This drives their subsequent selections in urban and planning history to a classroom full of potentially skeptical of readings and assignments throughout the term. Dividing the material in graduate students.

Francesca Russello Ammon is associate professor of city and regional planning and historic preservation at the Weitzman School of Design.

This essay continues the series that began in the fall of 1994 as the joint creation of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Center for Teaching and Learning and the Lindback Society for Distinguished Teaching.

See https://almanac.upenn.edu/talk-about-teaching-and-learning-archive for previous essays. 8 www.upenn.edu/almanac ALMANAC November 19, 2019