Title
Honoring and recognizing the contributions and accomplishments of Dr. Judith Rodin, who will complete her term as President of the University of Pennsylvania in June 2004.
Body
WHEREAS, Dr. Rodin became the first woman to be named to the presidency of an Ivy League institution, and the first Penn alumna to be named president of the University when she began her duties on July 1, 1994, after serving 22 years on the faculty of Yale University, where she served as Provost from 1992 through 1994. She graduated in 1966 with a B.A. in Psychology and holds faculty appointments as a professor of psychology in the School of Arts and Sciences and as a professor of medicine and psychiatry in the School of Medicine; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Rodin guided the University through a period of unprecedented growth and development that transformed Penn's academic core and enhanced the quality of life on campus and in the surrounding community. Under her leadership, Penn doubled its research funding and tripled both its annual fundraising and the size of its endowment, attracted record numbers of undergraduate applicants, and rose in the U.S. News & World Report rankings of top national research universities to 5th in 2003. In addition, Dr. Rodin's presidency has also marked the largest capital construction period in Penn's history, with more than $1 billion invested in new buildings, renovations and restorations; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Rodin launched a comprehensive and widely acclaimed neighborhood revitalization program, creating a dynamic new model for urban neighborhood renewal. She shaped the vision, upheld the commitment, and delivered the hard work necessary to rebuild West Philadelphia’s social and economic capacity by simultaneously and aggressively advancing initiatives on five fronts:
Creating clean and safe streets: Dr. Rodin, by working in collaboration with neighbors, the City and institutional partners, helped provide new lighting, tree planting, street cleaning, a special services district, and an increased police presence to transform the atmosphere of the campus and community;
Increasing Housing and Home Ownership: Dr. Rodin, by investing resources, provided guaranteed and enhanced mortgages for nearly 400 Penn faculty and staff families, and raised money to upgrade and maintain moderate cost existing rental housing, and she attracted private sector investments to build and renovate new rental housing, such as The Left Bank;
Promoting Commercial Development: Dr. Rodin, by making the largest commercial investment in West Philadelphia history, has sparked development that now features top-rated restaurants, a full-service hotel, high-quality supermarket, multi-screen movie theater, and a vibrant mix of retail stores;
Fostering Economic Inclusion: Dr. Rodin, by enriching Penn’s role as the largest private employer in the City, has leveraged assets to provide new economic opportunities for minority- and women-owned businesses and stimulating job growth for local residents; and finally
Fortifying Public Education: Dr. Rodin was instrumental in building a new model for innovation in public education with the creation of the Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander University of Pennsylvania Partnership School; she also strengthened partnerships with Lea, Wilson and Bryant elementary schools, which was evident of Penn’s commitment to academically based community service initiatives across the University; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor and recognize the countless contributions and accomplishments that Dr. Judith Rodin, Philadelphia native and Girls’ High graduate, has achieved in dedication and service to our City; and
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Judith Rodin, Ph.D. as evidence of the high esteem and sincere gratitude of this legislative body.
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