Dear Colleagues, Students, Alumni, and Friends,
I have been with the University for 44 years: six years as a student, 18 as a faculty member, and another 20 years in academic administration with 16 and a half as president. New leadership has come on to the board of trustees, and I feel the time is right to announce my retirement. This will be effective August 31, 2011.
In my years as president, I am proud of what has been accomplished, from tripling our operating budget to almost quadrupling the endowment. We’ve doubled the size of our student body, doubled our academic offerings, and created five separate colleges under the umbrella of a university. Physically, the University has grown to 22 buildings over 36 acres, creating an urban learning campus with residential living and palpable student life. We have even elevated our athletics to NCAA Division II status. All this, and we have always remained financially sound.
To reach these accomplishments, we needed to create and execute transformative change. This produced three strategic plans and one workout plan. The result was four visible and sustainable periods of transformation:
- Converting from Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science to the full-fledged University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
- Creating a campus environment
- Building out academic programs and new schools
- And in the worst of economic times—through the hardest and most grueling work we have ever done—creating efficiencies; redeploying, realigning, and rebalancing resources; updating our aging facilities; improving technologies; enhancing marketing, development, and enrollment management functions; and putting a plan in place to strengthen our platforms and collaborations that position the University for competitive challenges and clear the path for the next level and era of growth
My retirement comes at a time of transition on our board of trustees as well. Marvin Samson was elected the new board chair along with vice chair Richard Howard. Marvin replaces Delbert S. Payne, who less than a month after announcing his retirement passed away on May 30, 2011. Del’s passing is a great loss to the University and to me personally.
Between now and August 31, I will be working with Marvin and the board executive committee on transition matters. My departure provides that team the opportunity to attract new, inspired leadership to the University and to take the University to the next horizon.
I want to thank my leadership team and cabinet, whom I truly respect, for their relentless and skilled efforts to make the University a premier institution and their patience with my impatience. My sincerest and eternal thanks to the board and the board leadership for allowing me the privilege to serve at the helm of this diamond of an institution—which I dearly love—for these many years. And of course, to the faculty, staff, students, and alumni who are the lifeblood of this venerable institution, you will remain as part of my DNA. I will look forward to making continued contributions to this great University.
After a little time off, I look forward to the next phase of my career that will allow me time to pursue my interest in consulting, writing, and sharing my knowledge and experience on the boards of other organizations.
Thank you all so very much.
Sincerely,
Philip P. Gerbino
P’69, PharmD’70
President
Alumni, and Friends,
I have been with the University for
44 years: six years as a student,
18 as a faculty member, and
another 20 years in academic
administration with 16 and a half
as president. New leadership has
come on to the board of trustees,
and I feel the time is right to
announce my retirement. This
will be effective August 31, 2011.
In my years as president, I am
proud of what has been
accomplished, from tripling our
operating budget to almost
quadrupling the endowment.
We’ve doubled the size of our
student body, doubled our
academic offerings, and created
five separate colleges under the
umbrella of a university. Physically,
the University has grown to 22
buildings over 36 acres, creating
an urban learning campus with
residential living and palpable
student life. We have even
elevated our athletics to NCAA
Division II status. All this, and
we have always remained
financially sound.
To reach these accomplishments,
we needed to create and execute
transformative change. This
produced three strategic plans
and one workout plan. The result
was four visible and sustainable
periods of transformation:
• Converting from Philadelphia
College of Pharmacy and
Science to the full-fledged
University of the Sciences
in Philadelphia
• Creating a campus environment
• Building out academic
programs and new schools
• And in the worst of economic
times—through the hardest
and most grueling work we
have ever done—creating
efficiencies; redeploying,
realigning, and rebalancing
resources; updating our aging
facilities; improving technologies;
enhancing marketing,
development, and enrollment
management functions; and
putting a plan in place to
strengthen our platforms and
collaborations that position the
University for competitive
challenges and clear the path
for the next level and era
of growth
My retirement comes at a time
of transition on our board of
trustees as well. Marvin Samson
was elected the new board chair
along with vice chair Richard
Howard. Marvin replaces Delbert
S. Payne, who less than a month
after announcing his retirement
passed away on May 30, 2011.
Del’s passing is a great loss to the
University and to me personally.
Between now and August 31,
I will be working with Marvin
and the board executive
committee on transition matters.
My departure provides that
team the opportunity to attract
new, inspired leadership to
the University and to take the
University to the next horizon.
I want to thank my leadership
team and cabinet, whom I truly
respect, for their relentless and
skilled efforts to make the
University a premier institution
and their patience with my
impatience. My sincerest and
eternal thanks to the board and
the board leadership for allowing
me the privilege to serve at
the helm of this diamond of an
institution—which I dearly
love—for these many years.
And of course, to the faculty,
staff, students, and alumni who
are the lifeblood of this venerable
institution, you will remain as
part of my DNA. I will look forward
to making continued contributions
to this great University.
After a little time off, I look
forward to the next phase of my
career that will allow me time to
pursue my interest in consulting,
writing, and sharing my knowledge
and experience on the
boards of other organizations.
Thank you all so very much.
Sincerely,
PHILIP P. GERBINO