Professional Biography
As Chief of Staff to the Dean of Penn GSE, Dr. Kaplan provides high-level strategic support on a variety of projects and activities that are critical to achieving Penn GSE’s priorities. He works with myriad constituencies within the school and with university-wide leadership to advance Penn GSE’s most important initiatives. As a Senior Fellow, he teaches courses in enrollment management in Penn GSE’s master’s and doctoral programs.
Prior to assuming his current role, Dr. Kaplan served as Director of the Executive Doctorate in Higher Education Management where he directed all academic and administrative aspects of this cohort-based Ed.D. program for mid- to senior-level leaders in higher education, nonprofits, and industry. He also served as Penn’s Senior Director of Development and Alumni Relations for International Initiatives (2010–2013), Associate Secretary of the University (2006, 2008–2010), and Interim Dean of Admissions (2007–2008), as well as in several leadership roles in the undergraduate admissions office including Associate Dean and Director of Admissions from 1994–2003.
Dr. Kaplan led enrollment efforts as Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Lehigh University from 2003–2006. Earlier in his career, he worked in the admissions offices at Brandeis University, Boston University and Westbrook College.
Dr. Kaplan serves as a member of the Board of Trustees at Connecticut College as well as the Board of Directors of Need in Deed, an organization that partners with teachers to promote service-learning opportunities for students in the School District of Philadelphia. He is involved with the Point Foundation as a scholarship reader and served as scholar mentor, and is a participant in the 2016–17 Leadership Philadelphia Core Program.
