The University of Pennsylvania has named J. Larry Jameson as interim president to fill the vacancy left by Liz Magill, who stepped down following her disastrous appearance at a House hearing on campus antisemitism.
Dr. Jameson, the medical school dean and physician-scientist who holds M.D. and Ph.D. degrees, “has graciously agreed to serve as Interim President of the University of Pennsylvania, effectively immediately,” said Julie Beren Platt, interim chair of the Penn Board of Trustees.
Dr. Jameson, 71, has served since 2011 as Penn’s executive vice president for the University of Pennsylvania Health System and dean of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine. Together they comprise Penn Medicine.
“Penn is fortunate to have the benefit of Dr. Jameson’s experience and leadership during this time of transition,” said Ms. Platt in a Tuesday statement. “A consummate University citizen and the longest serving current dean, Dr. Jameson is a collaborative, innovative, and visionary leader with extensive engagement with each of Penn’s 12 schools.”
Ms. Platt took over as interim chair on Sunday, the day after Ms. Magill resigned as president and Scott Bok stepped down as board chair amid rising concerns about campus antisemitism following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel.
Demands for their resignations surged after Ms. Magill said at a Dec. 5 House committee hearing on campus antisemitism that whether calling for “genocide of Jews” violates campus conduct codes would depend on the context.
Dr. Jameson has “championed initiatives that promote excellence on all levels, including faculty recruitment, student success, scholarship and discovery, philanthropic giving, and a culture of inclusion and collaboration,” said the Penn statement.
“As EVP/dean, Dr. Jameson collaborated with health system leadership to spearhead the development and opening of the Penn Medicine Pavilion, a game-changing patient care facility that was the largest capital project in Penn’s history,” said the university.
J. Larry Jameson named to serve as Interim President of the University of Pennsylvania, effective immediately. https://t.co/s1bnF8XH2F
— Penn (@Penn) December 12, 2023
Before arriving at Penn, Dr. Jameson was affiliated with Northwestern University Medical School and Harvard Medical School.
He received his medical degree as well as doctoral degree in biochemistry from the University of North Carolina.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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