U. names interim head of 21st Century Project

Assistant to the President Steven Steinberg will serve as interim director of the University's 21st Century Project until the end of the academic year, temporarily filling a post vacated last July, officials announced yesterday. Steinberg will work closely with the as-yet-unnamed interim provost following Provost Stanley Chodorow's departure December 31. While serving as the project's interim director, Steinberg will also continue in his current position as executive director of the Penn National Commission on Society, Culture and Community. "The 21st Century Project is well in motion," Steinberg said. "I expect to continue the progress Chodorow has made and make sure others are coordinated and moving forward." In his post, Steinberg will oversee the project's academic initiatives, such as Foreign Languages Across the Curriculum, as well as the upcoming overhaul of residential life. The search for a permanent coordinator of the project is ongoing and should likely wrap up in the next six months, Chodorow said. Steinberg said he has not considered whether he would continue in the post for a longer time period, adding that he has "every reason to believe" the position will be filled permanently by June. But officials have had difficulty attracting a new coordinator since Susan Albertine left the University last July. In September, Chodorow appointed Julia Aguilar, coordinator of Spanish language instruction, to fill the academic post. But Aguilar declined the position one day later, citing "personal reasons." Steinberg's role as coordinator will differ from Albertine's, Chodorow said. "Albertine was more of a solo player," he said. "She did both coordinating and staffing jobs. [Steinberg] will mostly be the coordinator." Chodorow said Steinberg's involvement with next week's Penn National Commission conference prevented him from taking on the position earlier. "Had I been able to choose him at any time, I would have," Chodorow said. "He has been deeply involved with undergraduate education here and has all the characteristics necessary for someone in this job." The 21st Century Project is the University's broad academic initiative to incorporate research opportunities for undergraduates and to emphasize interdisciplinary study. It is part of the administration's larger Agenda for Excellence. Coordinating the project will bring Steinberg into contact with administrators, faculty and heads of undergraduate academic and residential advisory boards. "My job will be to be in touch with and meet with that whole set of people, making sure things don't fall between the cracks," he said. Steinberg has held administrative and teaching positions at Penn since 1978. He has worked closely with administrators on undergraduate education since 1986, when he coordinated the Council of Undergraduate Deans. Steinberg received a doctorate in philosophy from Penn in 1989 and also holds degrees from Columbia University and the University of Michigan. He specializes in 20th century European philosophy.

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