As Rodin begins U. presidency, significant changes expected

President Judith Rodin moved into her new office in July, promising great change in the year to come. During her first week as president, Rodin made some significant changes in the office staff, adding one new official, and letting another go. Several officials within the president's office say they are unsure of their respective futures at the University because they serve in positions which are at the pleasure of the president. "I think that Dr. Rodin has a great deal of flexibility in terms of how she shapes her immediate staff and that's necessary," said Executive Director of the Office of the President Linda Hyatt. "It's part of the political reality of working in this office." Hyatt added that she is unaware of Rodin's long-term plans for the office. Rodin's first official appointment as president was Jean Morse, who was named deputy to the president. Morse, who said she is "very excited" about her new job, most recently served as the associate dean for administration of New York University's School of Law. But she also held several positions at the University between 1989 and 1993 -- including deputy associate dean of the School of Arts and Sciences and acting assistant provost. And, she is the wife of Stephen Morse, who is a professor in the Law School. Rodin said this week that Morse's principle duties will include carrying out many of the decisions made in the president's office and serving as Rodin's representative "on certain committees where before the president was really ex officio and not present." "I would like to play a more active participatory role and this is a way to spread myself around a bit," Rodin said. "It's the first of the changes I'll be making." Gone from the president's office is Nicholas Constan, an assistant to the president in the Sheldon Hackney and Claire Fagin administrations. Constan, who left his position July 1, would not comment on why he left or on his immediate future except to say that his future is still "to be determined." Constan is also an adjunct professor of legal studies. While Rodin said there are more changes forthcoming in both the president's and the provost's offices, no one is quite sure yet what those changes will entail or who they will affect. Also during her first week, Rodin reportedly spent 14 hours a day working, doing everything from discussing federal research funding to obtaining her PENNCard. "It was really wonderful," Rodin said of her first week in office. "I didn't think I could feel more enthusiastic about taking on this position than I did during the transition but after the first week, I do." During her first week, Rodin tackled such issues as appropriations from the federal and state governments and higher education strategies. In addition, she placed calls to other local university and college presidents to introduce herself, met several times with Provost Stanley Chodorow, and had meetings with several faculty and administrative groups. She even made time to get her picture taken for her PENNCard, and apply for a Network ID to the University's Internet connection. "It's been a real combination of reading and meeting and thinking and trying to get to know people on campus as well," Rodin said. "It was a very satisfying week in which I feel we got a lot accomplished."

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.