Staff Editorial: A long, successful tenure at the top

In most professions, 10 years is a long time to remain in the same position. In higher education, 10 years is an eternity.

So it will undoubtedly be difficult for the Penn community to adjust to a new leader in College Hall. But for the first time in a decade, students, faculty and staff will have to do just that when Judith Rodin steps down as president in July.

It has been a successful tenure for Rodin on many fronts. Over the past decade, Penn's reputation has improved dramatically, as evidenced by increasing applicant numbers, a declining admission rate and a tremendous climb in national rankings. Under Rodin's stewardship, Penn has gone from "party Ivy" to top-five school.

Part of the reason for that rise can be attributed to Rodin's ability to raise money for Penn. She has proven to be a master fundraiser in her time in office, and despite a few hiccups, Penn's endowment has experienced slow but steady growth as a result. Along with that growth has come a renewed emphasis on research, which has shown tremendous strides over the past 10 years.

Rodin's influence can be seen on and around campus as well. On campus, she has overseen the overhaul of the entire Quadrangle and the newly remodeled Hamilton College House. She has also watched with a careful eye as the Penn Bookstore, Huntsman Hall and the Pottruck Center have added to the West Philadelphia skyline.

Her impact is perhaps even stronger off campus. With the creation of the University City District and the installation of the Penn Police Department, the area surrounding campus has undergone a transformation. Gone are the days when it was unsafe to trek beyond 40th Street.

But Rodin's tenure is not without its flaws. While relations with West Philadelphia community members have improved, they remain strained at best over the belief that Penn will ignore its pledge to remain within the confines of 40th Street.

In addition, while many construction projects are now complete, the road to completion was not always pretty. The Bridge movie theater almost didn't make it to campus, and the initial $380 million dorm and dining renovations never got off the paper.

There are also some lingering issues that will likely outlast the Rodin presidency. While the Wharton and Engineering schools have reaped the fruits of her fundraising labor, the remaining schools on campus struggle to finance their construction projects. And the College House System is being undermined by the new grab-as-you-go style meal plans that are offered.

Perhaps the biggest dent in Rodin's armor, though, has been her lack of accessibility to the student body. Her impact on this university has come largely from behind closed doors, and she is rarely seen outside of her College Hall office. It has proven very difficult for students at Penn to connect with or even to speak to their president, and that remains a major issue even in her final year.

Still, there is no question that Penn is a much better place for having had Judith Rodin serve as president for the past decade. She has done all of us a tremendous service and has taken this university to elite status. Her place in Penn history is secure, and we can only hope that her successor learns from her example.

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