Universities and Civilization

Last week I put out an announcement about a new role I am taking on at my alma mater, the University of Pennsylvania. I thought I’d write a few more lines on my higher education involvement. The purpose is to explain the slightly demented fervor with which I approach that involvement.

PennRamanan RaghavendranJuly 11, 2022Comment

LinkedIn Bios Are Not The Whole Story

Public domain bios, such as on LinkedIn or a company web site, hide many stories. Here I want to drill into one of my personal transitions that reads a certain way, but hides a much more complicated reality.

Oddments, PennRamanan RaghavendranDecember 31, 2021BioComment

On Belonging

Modern life doesn’t present the same opportunities for belonging that existed in generations past. It is a defining characteristic of our age. But belonging is an elemental human need, and in the modern world, we have to be very “intentional” about finding it.

Society, PennRamanan RaghavendranSeptember 12, 2020BehaviorComment

Interviewing for Penn

Every year, at about this time, I and over 10,000 of my fellow alumni interview applicants to Penn. Penn seeks to offer alumni interviews to all of its undergraduate applicants -- this year, that number is over 40,000. It's a major logistical exercise, and works only because Penn is committed to it and because alumni freely volunteer their time.

PennRamanan RaghavendranFebruary 21, 2017Comment

Penn Interview: Penn's Vice President for Public Safety, Maureen Rush

The fall semester is now upon us, which means universities across the world begin opening their doors to new (and current) students -- and anxious parents get even more anxious as the cubs leave the den. I have a special treat for Penn students and parents, especially those from international locations who may never have visited the Penn campus: Q&A with the amazing Maureen Rush, Vice President for Public Safety and Superintendent of the Penn Police Department.

PennRamanan RaghavendranAugust 21, 2015Comment

Penn Interview: Penn Admissions, Episode III

Right, it's that time of year again -- a few days before most U.S. universities announce Regular Decision admissions -- and so this blog springs to life after a while with an interview with Eric Furda, Dean of Admissions at Penn, joined once again by John McLaughlin, Senior Associate Director at Penn Admissions who covers several international locations for Penn. We've met them before here, and my thanks as always for their time, courtesy, and frankness.

PennRamanan RaghavendranMarch 20, 2015Comment

Penn Interview: Penn Admissions, Episode II

This blog features an intermittent series of posts on American universities, with a focus on Penn, my alma mater. Here I speak again with Eric Furda, Dean of Admissions at Penn, joined this time by John McLaughlin, who oversees Penn Admissions’ efforts in India. Eric also blogs here -- check out his wonderful Convocation 2014 welcome. My thanks for their time and courtesy. And because it's buried down below, I want to highlight here a free online course offered by Penn on U.S. college admissions. And now to Eric and John.

PennRamanan RaghavendranSeptember 8, 2014Comment

Penn Interview: Dean of Admissions at Penn

Great American universities, usually from a single location, foster a global presence and influence. I was an international student at the University of Pennsylvania, and so I know this from personal experience.

Eric Furda, the Dean of Admissions at Penn, was kind enough to speak with me about how Penn Admissions is "getting global". A big thank you to him for taking time out at one of the busiest times of the year for college admissions. Eric tweets here and blogs here, and is a Penn alumnus himself (C'87).

PennRamanan RaghavendranApril 16, 2014Comment