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Penn Increases the Discount for Faculty and Staff Commuter Program

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The Morris Breaks Ground for Research

The Morris Arboretum & Gardens held a groundbreaking for its new Plant Science Lab.

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The Morris Breaks Ground for Research

Digging Into Science

Posted: 10/3/2024
Rendering of the Plant Science Lab

On October 1, the Morris Arboretum & Gardens held a groundbreaking for its new Plant Science Lab. The facility will incorporate a wet lab and the equipment necessary for the Morris’ team of researchers and botanical scientists to study how plants evolve and adapt in relation to climate change, with an emphasis on species found throughout Pennsylvania.

“Scientific research in botany and horticulture has been one of the pillars of the Morris Arboretum & Garden’s mission since its founding in 1932,” said William Cullina, F. Otto Haas Executive Director, to open the event, at which Morris advisory board members, Lab donors, and a variety of guests from across the University joined the plant sciences staff. “This facility will allow the Morris to use the latest technology to begin answering many of the taxonomic and ecological questions generated by more than 90 years of work, and many more research questions of biological and horticultural interest.”

Construction is expected to be complete in early 2025. The Lab is a key component of the Morris’ 20-year site plan, which includes new research greenhouses, an adjacent nursery, and, eventually, an additional science building with a teaching lab and an herbarium.

Read more about it in the Fall/Winter edition of MA&G Seasons.

Fun fact: Cullina broke ground with a 120-year-old shovel owned by Morris namesake John Morris.

Pictured (foreground, from left): Elizabeth P. McLean, emeritus member of the Morris’ Board of Advisors; Anne Papageorge, Senior Vice President, Facilities & Real Estate Services; Michael D. Scales, Vice President, Division of Business Services; Cullina.

 

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Parking & Commuter Services Moves to the Penn Bookstore

Parking & Commuter Services is now conveniently located on the first floor of the Penn Bookstore (near the Sansom Street entrance). The move from 3401 Walnut, the department’s home of nearly 30 years, coincides with the launch of an expanded menu of flexible permits and programs for new parkers, offered based on community feedback. Open weekdays from 8:30 AM to 5 PM, Parking & Commuter Services joins the PennCard Center and Onboard@Penn at the Bookstore, solidifying the site as a convenient one-stop hub for a variety of Penn services. 

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Silver Served to Penn Dining

Over the summer, Penn Dining won two silver awards at the Annual Conference for the National Association of College and University Food Services (NACUFS). The department was recognized in the following categories:

  • 2024 Wellness & Nutrition Program of the Year, for Dine Well, Eat Smart, a dietitian-led nutrition and wellness education program. Spearheaded by Sarah Goff, Bon Appétit’s Wellness Manager, the continuing series features newsletters, articles, and in-café culinary events.
  • 2024 Loyal E. Horton Award for Residential Special Event of the Year, for the Quaker Kitchen cookbook launch of Klancy Miller’s "For the Culture: Phenomenal Black Women and Femmes in Food: Interviews, Inspiration, and Recipes."

Pictured from left: Kory Samuels (past Chairperson, Rochester Institute of Technology), Sean Lewis (Bon Appétit Management Co.), Kristin Cummings (University of Pennsylvania), Sarah Goff (Bon Appétit Management Co.), Rahul Shrivastav (Chairperson, Indiana University). Not pictured: Pamela Lampitt (Director, Dining & Hospitality Services), Barbara Lea-Kruger (former Director, Communications & External Relations), Thomas MacDonald (Operations Manager, Hospitality Services).

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Penn Welcomes the Class of 2028

Penn welcomed the Class of 2028 and returning students to campus during the Academic Year Move-In, held August 17–25.

This year, 2,409 first-year students and 3,486 returning undergraduate students moved into 13 College Houses, assisted at every step by Residential and Hospitality Services staff. 

Penn Dining once again hosted families and guests of incoming first-year students for lunch and dinner, adding a successful third day of service to give even more people a taste of what the Dining team cooks up year-round.

Click here to view Class of 2028 Move-In photos.

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Recognition

Announcing 2024 Models of Excellence Award Recipients

Congratulations to this year's BSD Models of Excellence winners! Teri Scott, Director of Marketing at the Morris Arboretum and Gardens, won the individual award for spearheading the Arboretum's rebranding effort. Penn Dining’s team won for creating Penn Cooks which introduces diverse chefs and cuisines to campus dining.. The Penn Cooks Team honorees include Kristin Cummings, Pamela Lampitt, Barbara Lea-Kruger, Tom MacDonald, and Ted Morrin.

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Penn Almanac

Penn Transit Director Michael Bernhardt is recognized for promoting electric vehicles

Michael Bernhardt, Director of Penn Transit, is this year’s Penn Green Purchasing Award honoree for his work in introducing the first electric vehicles to the campus transportation fleet

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