Penn received a $5 million donation to establish the Wieler Family Professorship, a first-of-its-kind position dedicated to philanthropy.
The position — which has joint appointments in the School of Social Policy & Practice and the Wharton School — stems from a the gift made by Scott A. Wieler and Mary Baily Wieler. It aims to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration between business and social innovation at Penn.
Penn President Larry Jameson underscored the significance of the professorship, emphasizing its role in advancing Penn’s strategic framework to Penn Today.
“The Wieler Family Professorship will strengthen Penn’s ability to equip business leaders with the interdisciplinary skills and understanding necessary to address our world’s problems,” Jameson told Penn Today.
SP2, in partnership with Wharton, will lead the search for the inaugural holder of the position with the goal of appointing a leading scholar in the field of philanthropy. The new professorship is expected to expand SP2’s expertise in social innovation while integrating Wharton’s focus on economic growth and capital development.
“This visionary professorship builds upon SP2’s deep commitment to the study of philanthropy and the School’s interdisciplinary collaborations across the University,” SP2 Dean Sara S. Bachman told Penn Today. “It will inspire more SP2 and Wharton students and future alumni to explore the relationship between business and philanthropy, as well as the role of philanthropy as an increasingly important driver of social policies and practices that improve lives.”
The Wieler Family Professorship adds to existing initiatives at both schools, including SP2’s Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership program and the Center for High Impact Philanthropy, and has since become a leading resource for research and guidance on philanthropy’s impact on social change.
Last year, SP2 strengthened its commitment to supporting future nonprofit leaders by partnering with the Corella & Bertram F. Bonner Foundation and offering scholarships to first-generation and low-income students pursuing the NPL program.
“I see leadership at the 21st-century university as not merely about cultivating sharp minds, but also about nurturing compassionate hearts,” Scott A. Wieler said.
Wharton Dean Erika H. James expressed appreciation for the Wieler family’s support, noting that the gift aligns with Wharton’s mission of fostering innovation and social progress.
“Wharton recognizes capital development as an engine of economic growth and innovation,” James said. “With their support, we will ever more encourage exceptional faculty and the students who benefit from their teaching to apply insights beyond the academy and campus, ultimately achieving holistic progress.”
Scott A. Wieler, a 1987 graduate of Wharton’s MBA Program for Executives, has been a longtime supporter of the school, receiving Wharton’s Distinguished Service Award and serving as chair of the Wharton Graduate Executive Board. Mary Baily Wieler has a strong background in philanthropy for the arts, having led the Museum Trustee Association and served on various museum boards.
“The art of merging capitalism with philanthropy is about transforming the pursuit of profit into a force for social progress,” Wieler said. “With the new professorship, we feel that Penn can shape a world where entrepreneurship and empathy coexist, creating a brighter future for all.”
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