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Phoebe S. Leboy Lecture

The Phoebe S. Leboy Lecture is awarded annually to an outstanding scholar who catalyzes opportunities for women in academia; the lectureship was created in 2013 by the Penn Forum for Women Faculty.

Phoebe S. Leboy was a Professor of Biochemistry at Penn Dental Medicine and was a faculty member from 1966 to 2005. A tireless advocate for women in academia, Dr. Leboy served on many University-wide committees on equity and was Chair of the Faculty Senate. She received the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching in 2005. After her retirement from Penn, she served as President of the Association for Women in Science.

All past Leboy Lecturers are listed below.

Opening Doors: A Shared Responsibility

Friday, April 19, 2024 at 2pm

Speaker: Susan S. Margulies, Assistant Director at the National Science Foundation (NSF), Penn faculty emerita, and founding member of PFWF
(Hall of Flags, Houston Hall; will also be live-streamed)
The Leboy Lecture is awarded annually to an outstanding scholar who catalyzes opportunities for women in academia.

Remembering not to Forget

Tuesday, October 25 at 3pm
Penn Veterinary Medicine
Room 130 Hill Pavilion

“Remembering Not to Forget: Reflections on the Last Half Century of Penn Women”

Featuring Drew Faust, President Emerita of Harvard

Watch Video Here

Climate, Oceans and Human Health

Thursday, October 22, 3pm

About the lecture: The Phoebe S. Leboy Lecture is awarded annually to an outstanding scholar who catalyzes opportunities for women in academia; the lectureship was created in 2013 by the Penn Forum for Women Faculty in honor of the late Penn faculty member Phoebe S. Leboy.

About this year’s speaker, Rita Colwell: Rita Colwell is a Distinguished University Professor at the University of Maryland at College Park and at Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, senior advisor and chairman emeritus at Canon US Life Sciences, Inc., and president and chairman of CosmosID, Inc. Dr. Rita Colwell’s interests are focused on global infectious diseases, water, and health. Dr. Colwell developed an international network to address emerging infectious diseases and water issues, including safe drinking water for both the developed and developing world, in collaboration with Safe Water Network, headquartered in New York City. She served as the eleventh director of the National Science Foundation (NSF) from 1998 to 2004. In her capacity as NSF director, she served as co-chair of the Committee on Science of the National Science and Technology Council. Before joining NSF, Dr. Colwell was president of the University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute and a professor of microbiology and biotechnology. She was also a member of the National Science Board from 1984 to 1990.

One of Colwell’s major interests is K-12 science and mathematics education, graduate science and engineering education, and the increased participation of women and minorities in science and engineering. She has held many advisory positions in the U.S. government, nonprofit science policy organizations, and private foundations, as well as in the international scientific research community. Colwell is a nationally-respected scientist and educator, and has authored or co-authored 19 books and more than 800 scientific publications. She produced the award-winning film, “Invisible Seas,” and has served on editorial boards of numerous scientific journals, including GeoHealth, which she founded at AGU in 2015.

About Phoebe Leboy: Phoebe S. Leboy was a Professor of Biochemistry at PSOM and was a faculty member from 1966 to 2005. A tireless advocate for women in academia, Dr. Leboy served on many University-wide committees on equity and was Chair of the Faculty Senate. She received the Lindback Award for Distinguished Teaching in 2005. After her retirement from Penn, she served as President of the Association for Women in Science.

SPEAKER: Rita Colwell, PhD

The Power of Resilience

April 10, 2019

A lecture by a renowned scholar on “The Power of Resilience: Women’s Leadership in the 21stCentury.”

The Leboy Lecture is awarded annually to an outstanding scholar who catalyzes opportunities for women in academia

Speaker: President Emerita Judith Rodin

Leading Change: A conversation about health and health care

Tuesday, May 8 at 4:oo pm

Speaker: Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, MBA

Please join us for a conversation between Risa Lavizzo-Mourey. the 19th Penn Integrates Knowledge Professor with appointments in the Perelman School of Medicine, The Wharton School, and the School of Nursing, and Taunya English, MSJ, WHYY’s Senior Health Writer.