Author: Elise Betz
Penn Tree Planting on Campus
Eleven years ago, when I walked on to this campus for the first time as a University of Pennsylvania employee, I was terrified. This was Penn!!! Growing up in Bryn Mawr with two teachers for parents, I knew that Penn was the gold standard of academia. And there I was. Quickly though, my fear turned into fascination as I navigated this dynamic, complex, and extraordinary place. That fascination has now turned into love. Yep, I said it. I love Penn. I love the work I do. I love the people, the buildings, and the energy. I even love the smell of mulch in mid-March that surrounds the campus. To help you understand my love for this place, here are just a handful of things I have experienced through Penn in just the last two weeks:
- “Minorities in the Media in the Age of Reality TV” panel featuring Richard Gay, Executive Vice President for Strategy at MTV and V, and Penn alum at Penn Spectrum On the Road.
- “Life in the World of Theatre Today” event with seven Penn alumni in the theatre business in New York.
- The Penn Traditions “Class of 2011 Tree Planting” where we planted a Legacy Sugar Maple in the heart of College Green in honor of the senior class.
- A discussion by four faculty members about restorative justice around the world.
- A panel of undergraduate students, organized for our Gift Officers, who talked about their life at Penn, facilitated by me.
- Sitting in the audience at the “Models of Excellence” ceremony highlighting the remarkable achievements of Penn staff.
- A yPenn young alumni event that drew 150 of our most recent graduates to celebrate Penn.
- A tour of the murals in West Philadelphia preceded by a lecture by Jane Golden, Penn faculty member and Executive Director of the Mural Arts program.
And by the way, I also met the love of my life at Penn five years ago. How’s that for a bonus?
Frankly Penn 