Philly Managing Director Michael DiBerardinis Leaving for Gig at Penn

Current deputy managing director Brian Abernathy will succeed DiBerardinis, whom Mayor Kenney called “an integral part of my team.”

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Philadelphia managing director Michael DiBerardinis will say goodbye to City Hall in January.

DiBerardinis will leave his city oversight position to join the University of Pennsylvania as a professor of practice at the Fels Institute of Government starting next year.

As the city’s managing director for roughly three years, DiBerardinis held a spot in Mayor Jim Kenney’s inner circle, functioning as the city’s chief operating officer and almost always appearing at the podiums of major press conferences, park openings and general announcements.

Before stepping into his current role, DeBerardinis worked as the city’s Parks and Recreation commissioner, as well as the deputy mayor for environmental and community resources and a special adviser to the Free Library of Philadelphia. Plus, he ran the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources under former Gov. Ed Rendell.

In a statement, Mayor Jim Kenney referred to DiBerardinis affectionately as “Mike D.” and said he “cannot thank him enough for being an integral part of my team the last few years.”

“His experience and leadership have helped to successfully restore a strong managing director system to the government which will serve the City well in the future,” Kenney said. “I wish him nothing but the best and believe the students at Fels will benefit greatly from his wisdom and expertise.”

We are pleased to announce Michael DiBerardinis, @PhiladelphiaGov Managing Director will be joining Fels in January 2019 as a Professor of Practice! https://t.co/IiFxhOKwEH — Fels Institute (@PennFels) September 24, 2018

In his role at Penn, DiBerardinis will teach and help lead a mentoring program for Fels students.

Philly.com reports that the announcement comes amid controversy at Fels. According to the publication, more than 200 alumni recently sent a letter to Penn’s School of Arts and Sciences, which houses Fels, questioning whether the institute was straying from its mission to provide students not just with academic theory but with “multi-disciplinary academic rigor” and “the practical skills and professional opportunities needed for effective governance and problem-solving.”

In a statement regarding DiBerardinis’s hire, professor of political science Matt Levendusky said DiBerardinis “will serve as a bridge between the standing faculty and the practitioner community and ensure that Fels continues to produce outstanding public-sector leaders.”

Current deputy managing director Brian Abernathy will succeed DiBerardinis next year. Abernathy said he is “extremely grateful for the opportunity.”

Meanwhile, DiBerardinis’s son Justin DiBerardinis (former aide and legislative director for 7th District City Councilwoman Maria Quiñones-Sánchez) is gearing up for a possible City Council run in 2019.