The following is a list of the presidents of theUniversity of Pennsylvania, which began operating in 1751 as a secondary school, theAcademy of Philadelphia, and added an institution of higher learning in 1755, theCollege of Philadelphia.
No. | Image | Provost[note 1] | Birth–death | Years as provost | Name of institution | Refs. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Leaders of predecessor non-collegiate schools 1740–1754 | ||||||
– | ![]() | The ReverendGeorge Whitefield[note 2] | 1714–1770 | 1740–1749 | Unnamed Charity School[note 3] | |
– | ![]() | Benjamin Franklin[note 4] | 1706–1790 | 1749–1754 | Academy of Philadelphia | |
Provosts 1754–1930[1] | ||||||
1 | The ReverendWilliam Smith[note 5] | 1727–1803 | 1754–1779 | College of Philadelphia | [2] | |
2 | ![]() | The ReverendJohn Ewing[note 5] | 1732–1802 | 1779–1802 | University of Pennsylvania | [3] |
Position vacant 1802–1806[1] | ||||||
3 | The Reverend John McDowell | 1820–1820 | 1807–1810 | University of Pennsylvania | [4] | |
4 | ![]() | The ReverendJohn Andrews | 1746–1813 | 1810–1813 | University of Pennsylvania | [5] |
5 | The ReverendFrederick Beasley | 1777–1845 | 1813–1828 | University of Pennsylvania | [6] | |
6 | ![]() | The Right ReverendWilliam Heathcote DeLancey | 1797–1865 | 1828–1834 | University of Pennsylvania | [7] |
7 | The ReverendJohn Ludlow | 1793–1857 | 1834–1852 | University of Pennsylvania | [8] | |
8 | ![]() | The ReverendHenry Vethake | 1790–1866 | 1853–1859 | University of Pennsylvania | [9] |
9 | ![]() | The ReverendDaniel Raynes Goodwin | 1811–1890 | 1860–1868 | University of Pennsylvania | [10] |
10 | ![]() | Charles Janeway Stillé | 1819–1899 | 1868–1880 | University of Pennsylvania | [11] |
11 | ![]() | William Pepper | 1843–1898 | 1881–1894 | University of Pennsylvania | [12] |
12 | ![]() | Charles Custis Harrison | 1844–1929 | 1894–1910 | University of Pennsylvania | [13] |
13 | ![]() | Edgar Fahs Smith | 1854–1928 | 1910–1920 | University of Pennsylvania | [14] |
Interim | Josiah Harmar Penniman | 1868–1940 | July 1, 1920 – January 15, 1923 | University of Pennsylvania | [15][16] | |
14 | January 15, 1923 – June 30, 1930 | [15][17][18] |
The following persons had led the University since 1930 as president:[19]
No. | Image | President | Term start | Term end | Refs. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | Thomas Sovereign Gates | July 1, 1930 | June 30, 1944 | [20][18] |
2 | ![]() | George William McClelland | June 30, 1944 | September 19, 1948 | [21][22] |
3 | ![]() | Harold Stassen | September 20, 1948 | January 20, 1953 | [23][24][25] |
Acting | ![]() | William Hagan DuBarry | January 21, 1953 | May 24, 1953 | [25] |
4 | ![]() | Gaylord Probasco Harnwell | May 25, 1953 | August 31, 1970 | [26][27][28] |
5 | ![]() | Martin Meyerson | September 1, 1970 | January 31, 1981 | [29] |
6 | ![]() | Sheldon Hackney | February 1, 1981 | June 30, 1993 | [30] |
Interim | ![]() | Claire Fagin | July 1, 1993 | June 30, 1994 | [31] |
7 | ![]() | Judith Rodin | July 1, 1994 | June 30, 2004 | [32][33] |
8 | ![]() | Amy Gutmann | July 1, 2004 | February 8, 2022 | [34][35] |
Interim | ![]() | Wendell Pritchett | February 9, 2022 | June 30, 2022 | [36] |
9 | ![]() | M. Elizabeth Magill[note 6] | July 1, 2022 | December 9, 2023 | [37][38][39] |
Interim | ![]() | J. Larry Jameson | December 12, 2023 | March 13, 2025 | [40] |
10 | March 13, 2025 | Present | [41] |
The appointment of Dr. Josiah II. Penniman as acting provost of the University of Pennsylvania was announced yesterday by Edward H. Mumford. secretary to the Board of Trustees, following a special meeting of that body.
Appointment of Dr. Josiah II. Fenniman as the fourteenth provost of the University of Pennsylvania was confirmed yesterday by the board of trustees at a meeting in Houston Hall, Pending the choice of a president, he will be sole administrator of the University.
The exact time at which the Philadelphia banker proposes to take up his duties at the University was not announced at the time that his acceptance of the post was made public. nor has any subsequent notice been given. It is understood. however, that it will be on or near July 1 of this year.
The most radical change in the administration organization of the University of Pennsylvania since its foundation was made public yesterday with the announcement that Thomas Sovereign Gates, partner in the firms of Drexel Company of this city and P. Morgan Company of New York, has accepted the position of president of the institution. In that capacity, he will act as chief executive officer of the University corporation, and all other officers of the institution will be responsible to and to the board of trustees, Mr. Gates, who now is chairman of the executive committee of the board of trustees, will also become chairman of the entire board... Dr. Josiah H. Penniman, provost of the University since 1923, successor to the late Dr. Edgar Fahs Smith, and a member of the faculty for the last thirty-eight years, will continue in that position. As Provost, his "immediate and specific, responsibilities," as construed by the report of the committee which recommended the creation of the University presidency, will be in the educational aspects of administration.
Dr. Thomas S. Gates, president of the University of Pennsylvania since 1930 will assume the newly created position of Chairman of the University on June 30, the Board of Trustees announced yesterday. Dr. Gates, who will continue as chief officer of the University, will be succeeded as president by Dr. George W. McClelland, the present provost, who will be charged with the administration of the University.
Harold E. Stassen has been offered the presidency of the University of Pennsylvania, it was reported last night... Stassen has not yet announced a decision, but if he should accept he would succeed Dr. George W. McClelland, 68, who has been considering retirement because of his health. Dr. McClelland became president in 1944, succeeding the late Thomas S. Gates.
Harold E. Stassen. 41-year-old former Governor of Minnesota, yesterday was formally elected president of the University of Pennsylvania at a special meeting of the trustees in Houston Hail, 3417 Spruce st. Stassen succeeds Dr. George William McClelland, who was elected chairman of the university after serving as its president for four years. He will assume his new duties Monday morning, with offices in College Hall, in the center of the campus.
The trustees of the University of Pennsylvania yesterday paid tribute to Harold E. Stassen as he gave up the presidency of the university to assume his post as director of the Mutual Security Agency, to which he was appointed last Nov. 21 by President-elect Eisenhower. Stassen, former Governor of Minnesota, who served as administrative head of the university since Sept. 17, 1948, acknowledged the tribute and made a final report at the trustees' meeting on his stewardship of the university's affairs. William H. DuBarry, executive vice president, became acting president, pending the selection of Stassen's successor, in accordance with the university statutes.