Organization
PFWFGE is led by a Council of women faculty representing all 12 schools and all ranks at Penn. The Council is led by three tri-chairs who serve three-year terms (as Chair-Elect, Chair, and Past Chair).
Past Leadership
Carmen E. Guerra, M.D., M.S.C.E., F.A.C.P. (2020-2023)
Dr. Carmen Guerra is the Ruth C. and Raymond G. Perelman Associate Professor of Medicine at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Guerra is a general internist and health equity researcher. She is the Vice Chair of Diversity and Inclusion for the Department of Medicine, an Advisory Dean of medical students in PSOM’s Dr. Helen O. Dickens House, and the Associate Director of Diversity and Outreach for the Abramson Cancer Center (ACC) where she also co-leads Community Outreach and Engagement. Dr. Guerra joined the PFWF leadership council in 2015 and became chair-elect in 2020.
Council Members (Current 2023-2024)
- Kathleen Boesze-Battaglia, Professor (Biochemistry and Biophysics), Dental
- Julie Nelson Davis, Professor (History of Art), SAS
- Chenoa Flippen, Associate Professor (Sociology), SAS
- Carmen Guerra, Associate Professor (Medicine), PSOM
- Femida Handy, Professor, SP2
- Amy Hillier, Associate Professor, SP2
- Nancy Hirschmann, Professor (Political Science), SAS
- Olena Jacenko, Professor (Biochemistry), Vet
- Barbara Kahn, Professor, Wharton
- Melanie Kornides, Assistant Professor, Nursing
- Vera Krymskaya, Professor (Pulmonary, Allergy & Critical Care Medicine), PSOM
- Monisha Kumar, Associate Professor (Neurology), PSOM
- Marsha Lester, Professor (Chemistry), SAS
- Jessa Lingel, Assistant Professor (Communications), Annenberg
- Janice Madden, Professor (Sociology), SAS
- Mary Hunter McDonnell, Assistant Professor (Management), Wharton
- Maria Oquendo, Professor (Psychiatry), PSOM
- Fusun Ozer, Associate Professor (Restorative Dentistry), Dental
- Elizabeth Rhoades, Associate Professor (Chemistry), SAS
- Jennifer Rothman, Professor (Intellectual Property Law), Penn Carey Law
- Amanda Shanor, Assistant Professor (Legal Studies and Business Ethics), Wharton
- Flavia Teles, Assistant Professor, Dental
- Franca Trubiano, Associate Professor, Design
- Susan Volk, Associate Professor (Small Animal Surgery), Vet
- Rachel Werner, Professor (Medicine), PSOM
- Anna Wexler, Assistant Professort (Medical Ethics), PSOM
- Shu Yang, Professor (Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering), SEAS
- Susan Yoon, Professor (Teaching, Learning, Leadership), GSE
Council Members (Past)
PFWFGE is grateful to those who have served on its leadership Council over the years.
- Stephanie Abbuhl (PSOM)
- Sherrill Adams (Dental), Professor Emeritus and past PFWF President
- Sigal Barsade (Wharton), who passed away in 2022. A summary of her career and life can be found here.
- Yuko Goto Butler (GSE)
- Samantha Butts (PSOM)
- Vanessa Chan, Practice Professor (Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Materials Science and Engineering), SEAS
- Georgette Chapman-Phillips (Wharton)
- Lois Evans (Nursing), Professor Emeritus
- Annette Fierro (Design)
- Viviane Khoury (PSOM)
- Risa Lavizzo-Mourey (PSOM, Wharton, & Nursing)
- Anh Le (Dental)
- Sophia Lee (Law)
- Susan Margulies (SEAS), currently the Directorate of Engineering of the National Science Foundation
- Ani Nenkova (SEAS)
- Sharrona Pearl (Annenberg)
- Holly Pittman (SAS)
- Laura Perna (GSE), currently the Vice Provost for Faculty
- Diana Robertson (Wharton)
- Amy Stornaiuolo (GSE)
- Salamishah Tillet (SAS)
- Claudia Valeggia (SAS)
- Barbra Mann Wall (Nursing),Professor Emeritus
- Stephanie Weirich (SEAS)
- Tess Wilkinson-Ryan (Law)
Recruiting
Thank you for your interest in the Penn Forum for Women Faculty and Gender Equity (PFWFGE) Council.
A little background about PFWFGE: founded in 2009 by and for women faculty with funding from the Provost’s Office, PFWFGE is dedicated to building an inclusive community of scholars through advocacy, professional development, networking, and community connections. Forum activities are overseen by a comprised of faculty representing all 12 schools and all ranks at Penn; this Council serves as an advisory committee to the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty. PFWFGE’s goal is to engage in actions promoting greater faculty equity, inclusion, and success. Participation is open to all Penn faculty members, regardless of gender identity, and we seek to engage in inclusive practices that recognize the intersectional identities of all faculty members.
The time commitment: PFWFGE Council meets approximately 3 times per academic year, including one meeting with the Vice Provost for Faculty. There are ample other flexible opportunities throughout the year to meet with PFWFGE Council members more informally, such as at events (approximately 7 per year), our mentoring lunch series, or our drop-in lunch series for Council members only. There are also several committees which meet on an ad-hoc basis.
The nomination process: Please submit a one-paragraph biography as well as a paragraph explaining your relevant background and interest in advocating for women faculty to our email address: forum@pobox.upenn.edu with the subject line “PFWFGE Council Member Nominee.” The Council leadership will review materials on a rolling basis and will submit approved nominees to the Council for election at the next scheduled Council meeting.