Penn Alumnus Establishes New GSE Scholarship

December 6, 2012 - A man of wide-ranging pursuits, Dr. Joshua Berlin is a proud Penn alumnus with a degree from Wharton, a thriving medical practice, and a long-standing interest in education. Having endowed the Berlin Family Scholarship for undergraduate students during his 15th reunion year, Josh recently expanded both his giving and his leadership by establishing the Joshua M. Berlin, MD, W'95 Scholarship at the Graduate School of Education (GSE), where he is one of the youngest Overseers in the School's history.

GSE's interdisciplinary perspective and commitment to teacher education and research were instrumental in attracting Josh's participation. The School actively collaborates across the University to develop programs and initiatives that break down the barriers between education and other fields of endeavor. Partnering with educational entities locally and around the globe, GSE is markedly entrepreneurial in finding ways to connect research with practice, a fact that also spoke directly to Josh's concerns. "After my niece was diagnosed with autism," Josh said, "I read voraciously about this growing epidemic and was taken aback by the lack of research being done on how to educate teachers on the best methods to teach children on the autism spectrum."

Josh was also drawn to Dean Andrew Porter's vision for future developments at GSE. "He is genuinely interested in coming up with novel concepts that will make a difference in this country," Josh noted. With his recent gift—which garnered an Abramson Challenge Grant match of an additional $125,000 for GSE—Dr. Joshua Berlin is helping to assure that the Graduate School of Education continues to provide opportunities for practicing and emerging professionals to develop innovative teaching methods and explore new paradigms of learning.

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"The Graduate School of Education is a place that supports innovations that will change the landscape of education in this country. I encourage all alumni, no matter what your field, to help GSE in their efforts."
– Joshua M. Berlin, MD