Liberal Arts Experiences

Each Liberal Arts Experience is unique

But they all share similar traits: a sense of curiosity and exploration, a desire to learn and grow, and a yearning to make the world a better place. Experience some of that “experience” yourself through the stories of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

Student Experiences

Read stories about our students making a difference on campus and in the community, and their experiences inside and beyond the classroom.

Coming to the College of the Liberal Arts has really helped ease the stress of paying for college because no one wants that to be their main worry while they're [in Egypt]. I’ve been able to take advantage of so many more opportunities thanks to Liberal Arts enrichment funding and academic scholarships.

Lauren Fetterhoff

InternshipSpanishUndergrad Research

Anna Raquel Duiker

’26

Spanish

Human Development and Family Studies

Spanish

Human Development and Family Studies

Anna completed her Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE) fellowship in Puerto Rico, where she studied how some people switch between English and Spanish when they speak. She looked at how often this happens, how likely people are to switch languages in different situations and how this affects the way they learn and use both languages.

Career Enrichment Network

Nathan Noel

’25

Psychology

Sociology (minor)

Psychology

Sociology (minor)

Through resume review events and one-on-one career coaching with Career Enrichment Network staff members like Dayna Wenger and Lauren Granese, he was able to refine his graduate school application. “Lauren Granese was especially helpful with my personal statement. The network played a huge role in my application process.”

Grad ResearchInternational StudentPublic Policy

Halima Binte Islam

’25

Public Policy (master's degree)

One of the highlights of her time at Penn State has been the opportunity to engage in hands-on research. Halima is especially focused on projects related to digital inclusion and AI privacy policy. She is currently conducting a systematic review on smartphone ownership in developing regions, exploring how access to technology can empower communities.

PsychologyUndergrad Research

Cameryn Allen

’25

Psychology

Cameryn has worked in several research labs, including the Survey Research Center in the Social Science Research Institute and the Parent-to-Child Anxiety Transmission Lab and the Gene Environment Interplay Across the Lifespan Lab in the College of the Liberal Arts. “Research teaches you so much more than how to collect and analyze data. It builds leadership, communication, teamwork and project management skills — things you can take anywhere.”

Chaiken CenterFirst-Gen

Cameryn Allen

’25

Psychology

Cameryn joined the Liberal Arts First-Generation Committee, which quickly became a cornerstone of her experience. “Getting involved with the First-Gen Committee changed everything. It gave me community, leadership experience and honestly, I think it’s one of the biggest reasons I’ve been so successful academically.”

InternshipPolitical SciencePublic Policy

Dan Bransfield

’25

Political Science

Economics (minor)

Public Policy (master's degree)

Political Science

Economics (minor)

Public Policy (master's degree)

In summer 2024, Dan interned with Team Pennsylvania in Harrisburg, working in agricultural policy — a field he had not previously explored. He gained hands-on experience by researching policy topics, visiting facilities and connecting with professionals in the field. One of his most memorable moments was attending a board meeting at Governor Josh Shapiro’s residence, where he met Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi and other University leaders.

InternshipSpanishUndergrad Research

Anna Raquel Duiker

’26

Spanish

Human Development and Family Studies

Spanish

Human Development and Family Studies

Career Enrichment Network

Nathan Noel

’25

Psychology

Sociology (minor)

Psychology

Sociology (minor)

Grad ResearchInternational StudentPublic Policy

Halima Binte Islam

’25

Public Policy (master's degree)

PsychologyUndergrad Research

Cameryn Allen

’25

Psychology

Chaiken CenterFirst-Gen

Cameryn Allen

’25

Psychology

InternshipPolitical SciencePublic Policy

Dan Bransfield

’25

Political Science

Economics (minor)

Public Policy (master's degree)

Political Science

Economics (minor)

Public Policy (master's degree)

InternshipSpanishUndergrad Research

Anna Raquel Duiker

’26

Spanish

Human Development and Family Studies

Spanish

Human Development and Family Studies

5,500

undergraduate students

800

students participating in out-of-classroom experiences

870

graduate students

1,500

undergraduates met with a career coach

events hosted by the Career Enrichment Network

of students identity as a member of a minority group

Most diverse college at Penn State University Park

Majors of Our Students

76%

social sciences

13%

humanities

languages

area and interdisciplinary studies

Faculty and Staff Experiences

Read stories about our faculty and the amazing work they do examining the past in order to make meaningful changes in the present that lead to a promising future, and the incredible staff who are so deeply committed to student, faculty, and alumni success.

Faculty Research

James Doyle

Associate Research Professor of Anthropology

Director of the Matson Museum of Anthropology

Associate Research Professor of Anthropology

Director of the Matson Museum of Anthropology

The Matson Museum of Anthropology received a $9,333 Preservation Assistance Grant for Smaller Institutions that funded a consulting conservator who examined the condition of the museum’s collection of over 800 global textiles.

Faculty AchievementFaculty Research

Peter Arnett

Penn State Distinguished Professor of Psychology

Peter Arnett received Reitan Clinical Excellence Award from he National Academy of Neuropsychology. Recipients of the award are recognized for their long-term impact in the field of clinical neuropsychology.

Faculty Research

Hil Malatino

Associate Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Philosophy

Joyce L. and Douglas S. Sherwin Early Career Professor in the Rock Ethics Institute

Associate Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Philosophy

Joyce L. and Douglas S. Sherwin Early Career Professor in the Rock Ethics Institute

While conducting research, Hil Malatino, came to the realization that a vast trove of archival documents devoted to trans history had yet to be unearthed and analyzed by contemporary scholars. That insight led Malatino to conceive the project, “Widening the Arc of Trans History: Archival Research for Public Storytelling,” which recently received a $500,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Faculty AchievementFaculty Research

Bradford Vivian

Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences

Bradford Vivian received two awards, the National Communication Association’s (NCA) 2024 Franklyn S. Haiman Award for Distinguished Scholarship in Freedom of Expression, and the Distinguished Alumni Award in English from George Mason University’s College of Humanities and Social Sciences.

Faculty Research

Elizabeth Kadetsky

Professor of English

Elizabeth Kadetsky received a $60,000 Public Scholars grant for her current non-fiction book project chronicling her journey to trace the whereabouts of the Tanesar sculptures, a series of sixth-century stone figures, most of them mother goddesses that are also called matrikas, that were stolen from a temple in southwestern Rajasthan, India, during the early 1960s and ended up in the collections of high-profile art collectors and several prominent museums.

Faculty Research

Tawny Holm

Head of the Department of Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies (CAMS)

Associate Professor of CAMS and Jewish studies

Head of the Department of Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies (CAMS)

Associate Professor of CAMS and Jewish studies

Tawny Holm and her colleague, University of Notre Dame faculty member Dan Machiela, received a $50,000 Collaborative Research grant for their project, “The Aramaic Dead Sea Scrolls at the Crossroads of Empire: Negotiating Jewish Life under Foreign Rule.”

Faculty Research

James Doyle

Associate Research Professor of Anthropology

Director of the Matson Museum of Anthropology

Associate Research Professor of Anthropology

Director of the Matson Museum of Anthropology

Faculty AchievementFaculty Research

Peter Arnett

Penn State Distinguished Professor of Psychology

Faculty Research

Hil Malatino

Associate Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Philosophy

Joyce L. and Douglas S. Sherwin Early Career Professor in the Rock Ethics Institute

Associate Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Philosophy

Joyce L. and Douglas S. Sherwin Early Career Professor in the Rock Ethics Institute

Faculty AchievementFaculty Research

Bradford Vivian

Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences

Faculty Research

Elizabeth Kadetsky

Professor of English

Faculty Research

Tawny Holm

Head of the Department of Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies (CAMS)

Associate Professor of CAMS and Jewish studies

Head of the Department of Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies (CAMS)

Associate Professor of CAMS and Jewish studies

Faculty Research

James Doyle

Associate Research Professor of Anthropology

Director of the Matson Museum of Anthropology

Associate Research Professor of Anthropology

Director of the Matson Museum of Anthropology

782 full-time faculty

325

tenured faculty

tenure-track faculty

374

non-tenure track faculty (full-time)

159

non-tenure track faculty (part-time)

122 Named and Distinguished Professors

named professors

Liberal Arts professors

distinguished professors

Sparks professors

early career professors and
career development professors

University
endowed fellows

Evan Pugh University
Professors

named deans chairs
and directorships

305

full-time staff

Alumni Experiences

Read stories about the incredible impact our alumni have on their alma mater, their professions, and the communities in which they live through their leadership, engagement, and philanthropy.

Ernst and Manfred were longtime members of the German department and revered among their colleagues and students. This fund is not merely a financial contribution; it is a celebration of the passion these professors brought to their roles. We are incredibly grateful for this endowment that will help our graduate students realize a comprehensive Penn State experience.

Carrie Jackson

Alumni SpotlightGiving

Cassandra Matos

’11

2008 Political Science

2011 Penn State Dickinson Law

2008 Political Science

2011 Penn State Dickinson Law

Committing $34,000, Penn State College of the Liberal Arts alumna Cassandra Matos has supported a program that played a fundamental role in shaping her experience as a student and future professional. Her gift to World in Conversation (WinC) will help the program to engage the Penn State community in honest conversations on difficult topics through facilitated dialogues across the University and beyond.

Comparative LiteratureSchwartz Fellows

Anshuta Beeram

’25

Comparative Literature

Premedicine

Comparative Literature

Premedicine

Anshuta Beeram, who was awarded the 2025 Schwartz Fellowship, will use their funding to address social isolation in nursing homes via poetry. They will lead poetry workshops in nursing homes to foster creative expression among residents.

MentorshipStudent Organizations

Muhammad Nazaruddin bin Mohd Salleh

’25

Economics

Labor and Human Resources (minor and certificate)

Economics

Labor and Human Resources (minor and certificate)

Through his roles as a peer adviser and treasurer for the Next Gen Leadership Academy, Muhammad has gained a deeper understanding of what it means to be a leader, he said. He believes leadership begins with empathy and active listening. “Understanding others’ concerns and aspirations allows me to provide meaningful support and guidance.”

First-GenMentorship

Amanda Demuth

’27

Philosophy

Art History

Philosophy

Art History

As a first-generation college student, Amanda understands the challenges of adjusting to the academic world and is passionate about helping other students make that transition. Amanda serves as a Learning Edge Academic Program (LEAP) mentor, where she supported first-year students navigating college life. “Being a mentor allowed me to provide the support I wish I had when I first came to Penn State.”

Mentorship

Jayden Foxx

’25

Political Science

Crime, Law, and Psychology (minor)

African American Studies (minor)

Political Science

Crime, Law, and Psychology (minor)

African American Studies (minor)

Jayden is both a mentor and a mentee. Through the Liberal Arts Alumni Mentor Program, she has gained invaluable insights, allowing her to forge a meaningful connection with her mentor and helped her define her career options. During her second year at Penn State she was an academic peer mentor in the Division of Undergraduate Studies where she drew from her own experiences with time management and study strategies in high school, and felt compelled to support students facing similar challenges.

Giving

Mary Kay Paterno Hort

Director of Prospect Engagement and Operations for Principal Gifts in Penn State’s Office of University Development

Inspired by the work of longtime College of the Liberal Arts alumni relations and development employee, Mary Kay Paterno Hort, an anonymous donor recently presented the college with a lead gift of $25,000 to create an endowment in honor of Hort for her many years of service and leadership in Liberal Arts.

Alumni SpotlightGiving

Cassandra Matos

’11

2008 Political Science

2011 Penn State Dickinson Law

2008 Political Science

2011 Penn State Dickinson Law

Comparative LiteratureSchwartz Fellows

Anshuta Beeram

’25

Comparative Literature

Premedicine

Comparative Literature

Premedicine

MentorshipStudent Organizations

Muhammad Nazaruddin bin Mohd Salleh

’25

Economics

Labor and Human Resources (minor and certificate)

Economics

Labor and Human Resources (minor and certificate)

First-GenMentorship

Amanda Demuth

’27

Philosophy

Art History

Philosophy

Art History

Mentorship

Jayden Foxx

’25

Political Science

Crime, Law, and Psychology (minor)

African American Studies (minor)

Political Science

Crime, Law, and Psychology (minor)

African American Studies (minor)

Giving

Mary Kay Paterno Hort

Director of Prospect Engagement and Operations for Principal Gifts in Penn State’s Office of University Development

Alumni SpotlightGiving

Cassandra Matos

’11

2008 Political Science

2011 Penn State Dickinson Law

2008 Political Science

2011 Penn State Dickinson Law

213

student/alumni mentoring relationships

100K

liberal arts alumni

760

donor-funded accounts in the college

$ 0 M+

provided in scholarships (2021–22)

$ 0 k

provided in enrichment funding last year

Liberal Arts Experiences

Each Liberal Arts Experience is unique

Student Experiences

Nathan Noel

Faculty and Staff Experiences

Peter Arnett

Alumni Experiences

Anshuta Beeram

Want to see more Liberal Arts Experiences? Follow us on social media!

Academics

Admissions

Academics

Funding

Beyond the Classroom

Professional Development

Student Services

Admissions

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging

African Studies Global Virtual Forum: Decoloniality and Southern Epistemologies—Peter De Costa

Trending Pages

Diversity, Equity,
Inclusion, and Belonging