As part of our regular “We Are!” feature, we recognize 21 Penn Staters who have gone above and beyond what’s asked of them in their work at the University.
Elizabeth Wright, regional chancellor for Penn State Hazleton, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, will step down from her role as leader of the University’s three northeast Commonwealth Campuses, effective Aug. 31. She will remain at Penn State as associate professor of English. Durell Johnson, chief academic officer at Penn State Scranton, will serve as interim regional chancellor beginning Sept. 1.
Five faculty members were honored with awards at the end of the spring semester – three given by the University College for research, teaching and service, and two from the Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses in recognition of innovative teaching practices to enhance student learning.
Penn State University Libraries presented the 2025 Undergraduate Research Awards: Excellence in Information Literacy honors to 104 students at 20 undergraduate Penn State campuses this spring.
Stephen Kadar Jr., a 1982 alumnus and longtime Penn State supporter, has given back to the University with gifts supporting the Hamer Center for Community Design in the Stuckeman School and the Penn State University Commonwealth Campus Libraries.
During finals week, De-stress Fest takes place at five branch libraries across the University Park campus and at six Penn State campuses, offering free snacks, games and activities. At Pattee Library, visit the Leisure Reading Room in Central Pattee Library from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday, May 4, through Tuesday, May 6, for free coffee, snacks and crafts.
Danielle Symons Downs, Tammy Spevak and Pauline Thompson have been selected as 2025-25 Administrative Fellows. The program offers Penn State faculty and staff the opportunity to work with senior University officers to gain knowledge and experiences pertaining to leadership in the academic community.
Swipe Out Hunger will run from Sunday, April 20, through the end of the spring 2025 semester for students to continue to donate their leftover dining dollars.
Faculty and students at Penn State Wilkes-Barre and Penn State Wilkes-Barre are collaborating to develop virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) applications for use in geospatial education.
Six Penn State faculty members have received the 2025 George W. Atherton Award for Excellence in Teaching. The award, named after Penn State’s seventh president, honors excellence in teaching at the undergraduate level.
