Sphinx Senior Society Honorary Members

Each year, the membership of Sphinx selects someone from the Penn community whom they feel embodies the qualities that Sphinx represents—achievement, leadership, commitment, and character—through his or her service to the University. This individual is honored at the spring banquet every April, and becomes an honorary life member of the Sphinx Senior Society.

The following is a partial list of honorary Sphinx members. The year in which they were honored is noted, if known.

Note: This listing is not complete.

If you know of honorary members that are not on this list, or you know some now missing details such as year of induction and/or job title, please let us know at sphinxseniorsociety@gmail.com.

  • 2025

    William Atkins — Associate Vice Provost for University Life

  • 2024

    Drew Weissman — Professor, Perelman School of Medicine and 2022 Nobel Prize Winner for Medicine

  • 2023

    Dorothy Roberts — Professor, Penn-Carey School of Law, College of Arts & Sciences, Department of Africana Studies

  • 2022

    Erika James — Dean, Wharton School of Business

  • 2019

    Laurie McCall — Director of the Platt Student Performing Arts House

  • 2018

    Dr. Valerie Swain Cade McCollum — Vice Provost for University Life

    Frederick “Hoopes” Wampler — Alumni Member, ED’14; Associate Vice President and Head of Penn Alumni Relations

  • 2017

    Jessica Mertz — Director, Sexual Violence Prevention

    Robert Sandler — W’52, Distinguished Penn Alumnus

  • 2016

    Dr. Vincent Price — Penn Provost; Steven H. Chaffee Professor of Communication in the Annenberg School for Communication and Professor of Political Science in the School of Arts & Sciences

    Dr. L. Larry Jameson — Dean, Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine; Executive VP, Penn Health System

  • 2015

    Justin McDaniel — Professor of Religious Studies; Chair, Department of Religious Studies; Undergraduate Studies Chair

  • 2014

    Eduardo D. Glandt — Nemirovsky Family Dean, School of Engineering and Applied Science

  • 2013

    Ezekiel “Zeke” J. Emanuel — Vice Provost for Global Initiatives; Chair of Department of Medical Ethics & Health Policy

  • 2012

    Craig Carnaroli — Executive Vice President of the University

  • 2011

    Jon Huntsman, Jr. — Governor of Utah, U.S. Ambassador to Singapore and China

    Hikaru Kozuma — Director of Office of Student Affairs

  • 2010

    David Cohen — Chairman of University Board of Trustees

  • 2009

    Maureen Rush — Director of Division of Public Safety

  • 2008

    Bob Schoenberg — LGBT Center Director

  • 2006

    John J. DiIulio, Jr. — Frederic Fox Leadership Professor of Politics, Religion, and Civil Society; Fox Leadership Program Director

  • 2005

    Amy Gutmann — University President

  • 2004

    Afaf Meleis — Margaret Bond Simon Dean of Nursing

  • 2002

    Rodney Robinson — Associate Director of Office of Student Affairs

  • 2001

    Art Casciato

  • 2000

    Robert Barchi — University Provost

  • 1999

    Beth Hagosky

  • 1997

    David Grossman

  • 1996

    Robert Lucid — Professor of English

  • 1995

    Judith Seitz Rodin — Penn President (1994–2004)

  • 1989

    Michael Aiken — University Provost

    David Brownlee — Professor of Art and Architecture History

  • 1939

    Herbert F. Goodrich — Vice President of Penn Law

    Arnold K. Henry — Director of Admissions at Penn

    Harl McDonald — Director of Penn Glee Club, Manager of the Philadelphia Orchestra

    Oliver H. Perry Pepper — Professor from 1892–1910, U.S. Senator (1922–1927)

  • 1903

    Persifor Frazer — Professor of Chemistry; Pioneering Chemist/Geologist/Naturalist

    Henry Laussat Geyelin — University Provost (1894–1910)

    Charles Custis Harrison — University Provost (1894–1910)

    Clayton Fetteral McMichael — Founder of the Mask & Wig Club

    J. Hartley Merrick — Secretary to the Board of Trustees

    Charles S.W. Packard

    Josiah Harmer Penniman — First modern University Provost (1921–1939)

    Thomas Reath — Professor of Medicine at Penn, President of the American College of Physicians

    Joseph George Rosengarten — University Trustee

    Edgar Fahs Smith

    J. William White — President of Penn’s Athletic Association, University Trustee

  • Unknown Years

    C. Louis Borie III — Penn graduate and architect

    Dr. Frank Bacon Hancock — Former Medical Advisor to Penn athletic teams