Penn Annenberg Dean Sarah Banet-Weiser's message on Wallis Annenberg's passing

A central figure in our community here at ASC and an engaged philanthropist, she led the Annenberg Foundation as president and chair since 2009. Born in Philadelphia and raised in a family deeply rooted in media, philanthropy, and civic engagement, she carved her own identity in media and the arts and developed what would be a lifelong commitment to altruism, social justice, and public service. Wallis understood the connection between communication and cultural responsibility, and she championed the work of the Annenberg School for Communication.

I first met Wallis when I was a professor at USC Annenberg, and I truly got to know her when I became the Director of the School of Communication there. She has been a vital part of both Annenberg Schools for Communication. She appreciated and championed the importance and power of communication, as well as the value of institutions that have a social, public good at their core mission.

Here at Penn, Wallis fostered ASC's growth in interdisciplinary approaches and collaborations within and beyond the school through centers and joint ventures. She guided the school as it developed a range of focused research centers, including the construction and expansion of the Annenberg Public Policy Center.

Wallis was also committed to the opportunities that arise when we work together. She helped create my position as the first joint professor at the two Annenberg Schools and co-created, along with me and the Dean of USC Annenberg, Willow Bay, the Annenberg Center for Collaborative Communication. Indeed, she had a true collaborative spirit in everything she did, from the Annenberg Schools to joint programs with HBCUs, to her recognition of the importance of the arts to all people, to her work protecting wildlife.

Perhaps most of all, Wallis possessed a truly indefatigable spirit of optimism; she simply wanted to make the world better for all people. She was always looking to build things: community centers, performing arts centers, wildlife crossings, schools. Her orientation toward the world and toward people is something we aspire to at Annenberg Penn: collaboration, community building, social justice, and our responsibility to the public good.

Last year, I had the opportunity to see Wallis on a few occasions, both formal and informal. On one such occasion, she was awarded the humanitarian award from the Women’s Guild of the Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles. She gave a rousing speech about changing the narrative about aging that resonated deeply with everyone in the room. She touched my life personally in so many ways; her faith in me and her commitment to the things I value in life—compassion, care, and social good, among other things—has guided me throughout my career.

We send our condolences to her family and mourn her passing.

Warmly, and with love,
sbw

Sarah Banet-Weiser, Ph.D.
Walter H. Annenberg Dean
Lauren Berlant Professor of Communication, Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania
Research Professor, Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, University of Southern California