Levin College Deanship Honors Family's History

A family’s history with Penn—and of support for the liberal arts—will be honored with the naming of the Stephen A. Levin Dean of the College. Three generations of the Levin family have attended Penn: Stephen Levin, C’67; his father Leonard C. Levin, W’41; and his sons Eric, C’92, and Andrew, C’14. A $5 million gift from Stephen and Petra Levin will support the activities of the College dean—currently Dennis DeTurck, Robert A. Fox Leadership Professor and Professor of Mathematics—and may also be used to support programs, departments, and new initiatives in the College.

“This gift represents the Levin family’s history at Penn and its enthusiasm and advocacy for the School of Arts and Sciences,” says SAS Dean Rebecca Bushnell. “It will enable us to further support the great work of Dennis DeTurck as dean of the College, benefiting students for years to come.”

A previous gift from Stephen Levin, in honor of his son Eric, endowed the Levin Family Dean’s Forum. Since 1984 this celebration of the liberal arts has brought leading intellectual figures to campus to speak to students and the community. The annual Forum is also the occasion to recognize the graduate and undergraduate Dean’s Scholars for their outstanding academic achievement and intellectual promise. In addition, Levin has named the Leonard Levin Library in the Lauder Career Center in honor of his father, and a classroom in Fisher-Bennett Hall.

“The leadership role of the College dean in undergraduate education is a perfect match for Stephen and Petra Levin’s steadfast support of the School of Arts and Sciences,” says Bushnell.

Stephen Levin is chairman of Gold Coast Beverage Distributors in Doral, Florida, and he and Petra serve on the boards of numerous charities. Eric T. Levin is president of Gold Coast Beverage Distributors and a scholarship donor, while Andrew G. Levin is a member of the Class of 2014. The late Leonard Levin was president of the Reading, Pennsylvania Coca-Cola Bottling Company.