Volume 111, No. 5
FEATURES
Going Global
Penn has a longstanding commitment to global engagement, dating all the way back to Ben Franklin. That commitment is now stronger than ever with the recent appointment of a vice provost for global initiatives and the creation of a five-year strategy to increase understanding of global challenges, foster international engagement by students and faculty, and maximize Penn’s impact around the world. By Molly Petrilla
Seeds of a Quiet Revolution
Lots of aid projects in the developing world provide materials—from latrines to laptops—but little in the way of involvement or input for the people they are supposed to benefit. In Nicaragua a group of Penn alumni, faculty, and students are trying a different approach in a rural education effort that emphasizes sustainability and collaboration over technology. By Nathaniel Popkin
The Spy Who Owned the Yankees
Alumnus Michael Burke’s life reads like an adventure story—several of them, actually. By Dennis Drabelle
On a Roll
How the Penn alumnus behind Humanistic Robotics, Inc. is saving the world one landmine at a time—and making money doing it. By Kathryn Levy Feldman
Practically Subversive
Showtime CEO Matt Blank has used boundary-pushing programming, cutting-edge marketing, and smart management to build his cable network into a national powerhouse. By Susan Karlin
DEPARTMENTS
First Person: Essays
Notes from the Undergrad Dad rocks
Alumni Voices Captain Noah speaks
Elsewhere Alone with the screen
Expert Opinion “What will Pope Francis do? Good question”
Gazetteer: News & Sports
IUR hosts path-breaking “Feeding Cities” Conference
Admit rate lowest ever; costs up 3.9 percent for 2013-14
Inviting Controversy: Richard Dawkins at the Penn Museum
Lectures by the slice, second, and more
Q&A with new Arts & Sciences Dean Steven Fluharty
Joe Biden to speak at Commencement
New Health System policy: No smokers need apply
After 10 years, genetic medicine mostly a “desert”
Take Back the Night’s emotional kaleidoscope
$25 million for Perelman Center for Political Science and Economics
New entrepreneurial twist: Y-Prize focuses on commercial applications
Penn’s underdog club rugby team has big dreams
Post-season play for women’s basketball; champion fencer Michael Mills
Scoreboard
Arts
ART Show of bullfighting prints marks Ross Gallery’s 30th anniversary
ART James Irvine Swinden W’76 champions California Impressionism
ART Amaranth Ehrenhalt FA’51 still ready to “Jump in and Move Around”
BRIEFLY NOTED
ARTS CALENDAR
Alumni: Profiles
Keith Bank W’82 can improve your golf game (or at least your clubs)
Suzie Brown G’09 sings—and practices medicine—from the heart
Jonathan Moyal W’10 and Nate Echeverria GCP’11 started Lucky Ant
Meredith Stiehm C’90 is leaving Homeland for The Bridge
Alumni rowers—average age 58—won a grueling race in Monaco
: Events
: Notes
: Obituaries