Key Hackney aide leaving U.

Assistant to the President William Epstein, who has been with the University for over four years, will leave the University this month for a post in a local engineering company. Epstein, who has worked in the president's office since 1987, will become Director of Government Affairs for Roy F. Weston, Inc., a West Chester-based environmental engineering company. Epstein is the private company's first full-time government liaison. The 1987 Wharton alumnus directed government and press relations for President Sheldon Hackney, and assisted the president with his community service work in West Philadelphia. Epstein, who has started work at Weston, said yesterday that he will empty his office within the next two weeks. Over the two weeks, Epstein, who graduated from Wharton's graduate program, will split his time between Weston and the University. Hackney said he may reorganize his office before hiring Epstein's replacement. He said he is looking for someone who understands community affairs. Before joining the University, Epstein spent several years with Congressman William Gray in Washington, D.C., experience which he says will help him on his new venture. Epstein's time spent on Capitol Hill appealed to Hackney when the president was searching for an assistant four years ago. "He understands issues quickly and understands how the world outside the University works," Hackney said, adding that Epstein's knowledge of national and city politics made a "great contribution" to the University. Epstein said he has always planned to move to the private sector to make use of his Wharton education. In his new position, Epstein will help various department heads in their dealings with the government and will monitor federal legislation for Weston, which does much of its environmental work for government clients. But Epstein said he plans to remain involved with the University. "I've come to admire and enjoy the issues and the people I've come to work with," Epstein said. "It was a very challenging and enjoyable position." Assistant Vice President of Policy Planning David Morse, who has worked with Epstein since the beginning of his short stay in the president's office, said last night that Epstein's "sensitivity" and "thoughtfulness" made him a success at the University. "Bill was very effective and very helpful and someone who could understand both the nature of the outside community and how the University functions and sees itself," Morse said. Morse added that Epstein's new position at Weston is a "very good move for him."

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