By Ayana Chari and Ethan Young
Penn’s Vice Provost for Climate Science, Policy, and Action Michael Mann announced his resignation from the role on Monday after an almost 11-month term.
In a Sept. 29 announcement made on his personal website, Mann stated that his scientific advocacy work conflicts with Penn’s “established institutional neutrality policy.” The announcement came two weeks after Sen. Dave McCormick (R-Pa.) called for Penn to take action against Mann in light of his social media activity — including reposts and a since-deleted post of his own — regarding the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
A request for comment was left with Mann. McCormick did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Mann was named the inaugural vice provost in climate in November 2024. Two months before his appointment, Penn President Larry Jameson announced a policy of institutional neutrality — meaning that University leaders will not issue public statements on local or global events that do not have a direct impact on Penn.
In the Monday announcement, he wrote that his commitment to climate advocacy “at times feels in conflict with the nonpartisan role” of serving in as a University administrator.
“Particularly at this moment in time, I don’t feel that I can forsake the public scholarship and advocacy that I am doing and have thus decided to step down from the VPC role,” Mann stated.
Mann wrote to the DP that the decision was motivated primarily by the release of his new book, “Science Under Siege,” and his ongoing book tour. The book, Mann said, is “very critical of some political figures.”
Provost John Jackson told The Daily Pennsylvanian that Mann was neither fired nor “driven-out” of the position.
