Spotlight: Chennai
The Penn Club of Chennai will launch on July 21 with Professor Sampath Kannan, professor and chair of the Department of Computer and Information Science, as the featured speaker. This will be the fifth club in India, joining Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Bangalore. Please visit our website, www.alumni.upenn.edu/clubs
Chicago. On Wed., July 15, with the Trustees Council of Penn Women, we are sponsoring the Penn Women’s Career Networking Event at the Free Range Office, 2141 West North Avenue. For info, email: tonia_arrington@hotmail.com.
Washington. New to DC? Save the date: our annual First September bash will take place on Sept 10. Details coming soon; contact Adam Levenson C’12 ( adamelevenson@gmail.com) if you would like to get involved.
Houston. On Aug. 9, help honor our new and returning students at our annual Send-Off Party at Jake’s Philly Cheesesteaks, 2944 Chimney Rock. For more info: pennhoustonalum@gmail.com or www.PennHouston.org
Louisiana. We are looking forward to our upcoming programs, “like” us on Facebook to learn more (PennClubOfLouisiana) or email Austin Lavin C’06, club president, at Penncluboflouisiana@gmail.com.
Memphis. New-student sendoff on Sun., Aug. 2, 2 p.m.—3:30 p.m., at the home of Deedee Perel CW’68 & Ron Perel W’66 at 6393 Wynfrey Place. Come to this casual get-together for members of the incoming Penn Class of 2019, current Penn students, and alumni; immediate families are welcome.
New York. Join us on Sat., Aug. 1, at noon, for the Second Annual PennNYC Family Activities Central Park Picnic. Bring your family, food, and beverages and have fun with other Penn families on the Great Hill; for details, email terry@penn.nyc.
Portland, Ore. Our annual Summer Lawn Party and Class of 2019 Send Off Event will be held in late July or early August at the home of one of our alumni members. Do check our website (www.pennclubofportland.org) for exact time and details, for this event and all others. Last month, we once again presented book awards to deserving students moving into their senior year at four high schools in Oregon.
San Francisco. Join us for the famous San Franciscan summers by attending our hikes, pool parties, tours, and much more. Keep visiting www.ncpennclub.com/events.html for more details.
San Diego. Join us at Petco Park to watch the Padres take on the Phillies on Aug. 8! It is also throwback replica-jersey night for the Padres. Email pennclubsd@gmail.com for payment details and to reserve tickets, $14.50 each, once payment is received. Get them before they’re gone! Join us for a lovely afternoon on Aug. 23 (1—7 p.m.), watching the finals of the Willis Allen Memorial Polo Tournament. We will have good tables in the premium tent area; there is a good caterer and bar service available. Email pennclubsd@gmail.com for the registration link and discount code.
And the Nominees Are…
Penn Alumni has nominated the following candidates to fill two Alumni Trustee
positions for five–year terms starting January 1, 2016.
Jill Topkis Weiss C’89 WG’93 is a founding partner of JJJ Fitness, LLC, a start-up, cutting edge, group-fitness concept, based in Westchester County, New York. Her previous experience includes working for Salomon Brothers and Deutsche Bank as a medical-device equity analyst, before starting her own consulting firm in which she did business-development work for hedge funds, a genetics corporation, and a start-up Internet company. From 2003 to 2010, she co-founded and ran Muse Network, LLC, a firm focused on two objectives: providing executive search for hedge funds, large banks, and private-equity firms and advising senior women on Wall Street with job transitions.
Actively involved at Penn, Jill has served as co-chair of the Penn Fund and of the Benjamin Franklin Society, and as a member of the Major Gifts Committee. She is currently co-chair of the membership committee for the Trustees Council of Penn Women, where she has been involved for 10 years. In addition, she is an Overseer for the Penn Museum, where she is the development chair. She also serves as a board member of REACH Prep, an organization that empowers young scholars by affording underserved students access to some of the country’s finest independent schools.
Along with her husband, Jeffrey, Jill has four children, one who will begin Penn in the fall, as a member of the Class of 2019.
Dhananjay M. Pai W’83 is president and COO of P. Schoenfeld Asset Management, a leading alternative asset manager based in New York. He is a member of the firm’s investment and management committees, and has oversight of its operations and marketing efforts.
Dhan started his career at Drexel Burnham Lambert. He joined PaineWebber as president of PaineWebber Capital, which initiated investments in private equity and alternative assets. Prior to joining PSAM, he was a managing director at Lightyear Capital, a New York private-equity firm.
Dhan received his MBA from the NYU Stern School of Business in 1988. Actively involved with Penn, he is an Overseer of the School of Arts & Sciences and on the advisory board of the Center for the Advanced Study of India. Along with his wife, he was co-chair of the Parents Leadership Council from 2013 to 2015. He also serves on the board of Youth, I.N.C. in New York.
Dhan was born in India, though he grew up in New York City. He and his wife, Heena, have lived there for the past 32 years. Both of their children went to Penn, with one graduating from the College of Arts & Sciences in 2012 and the other from the Vagelos Life Sciences and Management Program in 2015.
Alumni may file other nominations until August 31, 2015; these nominations must be accompanied by a petition signed by no less that 1,500 degree-holding alumni.
For Alumni Trustee nominations and any additional details write to Trina L. Middleton, Director of Penn Alumni Board Services, E. Craig Sweeten Alumni House, 3533 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6226 or email her at trinalm@upenn.edu.
