U. of Pennsylvania to Name Amy Gutmann of Princeton as Its New President

The University of Pennsylvania is expected this morning to name Amy Gutmann, Princeton University’s provost, as its next president.

Ms. Gutmann, 54, is a professor of political philosophy, the author of many books and articles, and the founding director of Princeton’s University Center for Human Values.

She will succeed Judith Rodin, Penn’s president since 1994, on July 1. Ms. Rodin had announced last summer that she planned to step down this year.

The head of the search committee that chose Ms. Gutmann and the chairman of Penn’s trustees, James S. Riepe, had nothing but praise for Ms. Gutmann. “Amy is a brilliant scholar with a demonstrated commitment to undergraduate and graduate education, a proven and skilled administrator who understands the challenges of running a major research university, and an articulate spokesperson about the essential role of higher education in our lives and in the future of our society,” he said.

Ms. Gutmann said she was “tremendously excited” at the opportunity to lead Penn and move to Philadelphia.

Three years ago, Professor Gutmann was said to have been among the finalists to become the president of Harvard University, where she received her Ph.D. Lawrence H. Summers, an economist and former treasury secretary, got the job.

Ms. Gutmann, who has taught at Princeton since 1976, has also served as its dean of the faculty. She also holds degrees from Radcliffe College and the London School of Economics and Political Science.

As a scholar, Ms. Gutmann has written widely on religious freedom, race and affirmative action, ethics, and public affairs. Her most notable recent books include Identity in Democracy (Princeton University Press, 2003); Democratic Education (second edition, Princeton, 1999); Democracy and Disagreement (Harvard University Press, 1996), written with Dennis Thompson; and Color Conscious (Princeton, 1996), written with K. Anthony Appiah.

She is also known for having played a key role in enticing Mr. Appiah to leave Harvard for Princeton, in 2002. Penn evidently hopes she will work similar magic there. A news release issued by the university cited her “proven ability to recruit faculty of the highest stature.”

Background articles from The Chronicle:

• Rodin to Resign From Penn Presidency (7/4/2003)
• Harvard Black-Studies Scholar Defects to Princeton (2/8/2002)
• Top 2 Leaders at Princeton Are Women (7/20/2001)
• Harvard Picks Former Treasury Secretary as Its Next President (3/23/2001)
• An Ivy League First: Woman to Lead U. of Pennsylvania (12/15/1993)