President's Center

The mission of the President's Center is to support the President, the trustees, and the officers of the University; to assist the faculty, students, and staff in their teaching, research, and service activities; and to advance excellence at Penn. In addition to the President's Office, the President's Center includes the following units:

Commencement procession crossing the 38th St bridge

Office of the President

The Office of the President provides administrative leadership and support for the President’s initiatives. The Office aids in policy development and also plans and executes activities and events that support the institution’s mission. Members of the staff represent the President on a variety of University committees; advise the President on policy matters; serve as liaisons between the President and members of the University community; and assist students, parents, faculty, staff, trustees, alumni, members of the community, and others.

J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD
Interim President
1 College Hall, Rm 100/6380
215-898-7221
president@upenn.edu

Mike Citro
Vice President and Chief of Staff
1 College Hall, Rm 100/6380
215-898-7221
citro@upenn.edu

David A. Asch
Senior Vice President for Strategic Initiatives
1 College Hall, Rm 100/6380
215-746-2705
asch@upenn.edu

Joann Mitchell
Senior Vice President for Institutional Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer
1 College Hall, Rm 100/6380
215-898-6630
joannm@upenn.edu

African-American Resource Center

The African-American Resource Center seeks to enhance the quality of life for African-American administrators, faculty, staff and students. The staff works to create a teaching and learning community that is harmonious and diverse. The services of AARC include information and referral, workshops, consultation, support groups, counseling, problem-solving, assistance with workplace concerns, advocacy, and co-sponsorship of events to promote dialogue on race and diversity issues.

Valerie Dorsey Allen
Director
3643 Locust Walk/3199
215.898.0104
aarc@pobox.upenn.edu

Almanac

Almanac is Penn's journal of record, opinion, and news and has been published weekly during the academic year since 1971. Almanac publishes proposals; responses; policies and procedures; advance notices; agendas and summaries of meetings of governance bodies; notices that advise faculty and staff of their rights and benefits; and weekly and annual crime reports. Almanac also provides the University community with a forum for open expression, through its "Speaking Out" column.

Editor
215.898.5274
Fax: 215.898.9137
almanac@upenn.edu

Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Programs

The Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Programs provides central leadership and support for the University's efforts to achieve an educational and work environment that is diverse in race, ethnicity, interests, abilities, and perspectives. The Office will ensure the implementation of equal opportunity, affirmative action, and non-discrimination policies through education, training and active partnership with others on campus and the broader Philadelphia community.

Sam Starks
Executive Director
Suite 421, Franklin Building
3451 Walnut Street/6205
215.898.6993 (Voice)
215.898.7803 (TDD)
oaaeop@pobox.upenn.edu

Office of the Associate Vice President for Equity and Title IX Officer

The Office of the Associate Vice President for Equity and Title IX Officer (AVP) is responsible for providing strategic leadership of the University’s efforts to comply with Title IX and also oversees the investigation of complaints against students enrolled at Penn, faculty, and staff alleging violations of the University’s Sexual Misconduct Policy.  The office also collaborates with other campus offices to educate students, faculty, and staff about available resources for support and advice and options for making complaints.

Michele Rovinsky-Mayer
Associate Vice President for Equity and Title IX Officer
3901 Walnut Street, Suite 300/6205
215.898.2887

Office of General Counsel

The Office of the General Counsel represents the University as a corporate entity in legal matters. The Office handles all legal matters generated by the activities of the University, including its schools, departments, operating units and subsidiaries, and by initiating action to forestall problems and manage risks. All matters requiring legal action are to be referred to the Office of the General Counsel.

Wendy White
Senior Vice President and General Counsel for the University of Pennsylvania and University of Pennsylvania Health System
Suite 400, 2929 Walnut St./5099
215.746.5200
wendy.white@ogc.upenn.edu

Office of Institutional Research & Analysis

The Office of Institutional Research & Analysis (IR&A) provides statistical analyses integral to the University's strategic planning process. IR&A serves the executive administration, as well as the broader University community, through the provision of data and information about Penn and its peer institutions. IR&A also responds to information requests from a wide variety of external constituents, coordinates the submission of reports to external agencies and accrediting bodies, and participates in several higher education consortia on behalf of the University.

Stacey Lopez
Vice President
3401 Walnut Street, 352B/6106
215.573.5836
215.573.5839 (Fax)
IRAmail@pobox.upenn.edu

Office of Government and Community Affairs

The Office of Government and Community Affairs coordinates activities related to the University's interactions with its surrounding communities, the City of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the federal government. Such interactions include political, regulatory, and external funding issues affecting Penn as a leading research university and a key player in the greater Philadelphia area. The Office includes Community Relations, the Center for Community Partnerships, City and Commonwealth Relations, and Federal Relations.

Jeffrey Cooper
Vice President
3901 Walnut St., Suite 400/3682
215.898.1388
jeffcoop@upenn.edu

Office of the Ombuds

The idea of an "ombudsman," defined as a person for all people, originated in Sweden in the 19th century. Penn's Office of the Ombuds was established in 1971 to assist individuals in finding solutions to problems they might not have been able to resolve through traditional channels. The Ombuds acts as a sounding board for concerns from members of the Penn community and as an impartial mediator of conflicts. The Office is accessible to all members of the University community with the exception of unionized workers and employees of the University's Health System.

113 Duhring/6273
215.898.8261

Jennifer Pinto-Martin
Ombuds
ombuds@pobox.upenn.edu

Waged Jafer
Deputy Ombuds
ombuds@pobox.upenn.edu

Office of Social Equity & Community

The Office of Social Equity & Community mission is to advance Penn's pursuit of social justice on and around campus by working to name and overcome systemic barriers while building awareness, connection, and understanding. We are committed to identifying opportunities for progress while also celebrating work that is already underway through the heads, hearts, and hands of the many dedicated people who bring Penn to life.

Rev. Charles (Chaz) Lattimore Howard
University Chaplain and Vice President
3417 Spruce St/4298
secinfo@sec.upenn.edu

Office of the University Secretary

The Office of the University Secretary supports the University's governing bodies in furtherance of the long-term strategic interests of the University. The Office ensures the continuity of strong volunteer leadership of the University, manages Trustee Affairs, Board of Advisors, and University Council. The office oversees key ceremonial programs including Commencement, Convocation, inaugurations, and the selection process for honorary degree recipients. The Office also issues diplomas, maintains custody of the University seal, and authorizes the use of Penn's name, trademarks and insignia.

Medha Narvekar
Vice President and University Secretary
1 College Hall, Rm 211/6303
215.898.7005
narvekar@upenn.edu

Office of University Communications

University Communications is Penn’s central office for University news, media relations, visual identity, and public affairs. The Office expands and enhances Penn’s visibility locally, nationally, and internationally, while promoting and reinforcing Penn’s reputation as a world-renowned research university. University Communications tells Penn's story, highlighting the accomplishments of faculty, staff, and students across myriad communications platforms, both traditional and emerging.

The Office oversees the central Penn website; the Penn Today website; Penn’s social media sites on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Tumblr, Flickr and Instagram; produces the electronic newswires Penn Today, Penn News Weekly and Penn News for Parents; and the development of other specialty publications such as Research at Penn. The office also has responsibility for WXPN, the non-commercial public radio service of the University of Pennsylvania.

Stephen J. MacCarthy
Interim Vice President
3901 Walnut St., Suite 200/3682
215.898.8724
smaccar@upenn.edu

WXPN

WXPN is a nationally recognized leader in Triple A radio programming and the premier guide for discovering new and significant artists in rock, blues, roots, and folk. As the non-commercial, member-supported radio service of the University of Pennsylvania, WXPN offers handcrafted curation of broadcast and digital programming, events, and local music journalism.  WXPN produces World Cafe, public radio’s most popular program of popular music that is distributed by NPR to more than 200 U.S. radio stations, and the Peabody Award-winning Kids Corner. WXPN serves the greater Philadelphia area at 88.5 FM, the Lehigh Valley at 104.9 FM, Worton/Baltimore at 90.5 FM, Lancaster/York at 88.7 FM, Harrisburg at 99.7 FM, North Jersey/Poconos at 91.9 FM, and the world via online streaming on smart speaker devices and at XPN.org.​ 

Roger LaMay
General Manager
3025 Walnut Street/3402
215.898.6677
roger@xpn.org