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Over spring break, Penn State Liberal Arts students traveled to Belize and Guatemala to visit ancient Maya archaeological sites and learn about local cultures.
Thirty-one Penn State graduate students earned awards at the 2026 Graduate Exhibition — the premier annual community showcase for graduate student research, scholarship and creative activity across the University — hosted by the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School on Friday, March 27, on the University Park campus.
The College of Arts and Architecture’s Woskob Family Gallery, located at 146 S. Allen Street in downtown State College, will host a cross-disciplinary faculty panel to discuss the current migration landscape, asylum and refugee law and on-the-ground advocacy efforts at 4 p.m. on April 16.
For Schreyer Scholars, one of the key parts of an honors education at Penn State are the relationships they build with the faculty. From small honors courses to research projects, to ultimately creating a thesis, faculty support Scholars throughout their education.
The College of the Liberal Arts has named Cherish Graham, a psychology student and mental health advocate, as the 2026 Schwartz Fellow. This prestigious fellowship recognizes outstanding undergraduates for their academic achievements and contributions to the humanities.
Grant Risha, distinguished professor of mechanical engineering at Penn State Altoona; Maria Truglio, professor of Italian and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies in the College of the Liberal Arts; and Boni Wozolek, associate professor of early childhood/elementary education at Penn State Abington, have received the Alumni/Student Award for Excellence in Teaching and have been named 2026 Penn State Teaching Fellows.
Asher Rosinger, associate professor of biobehavioral health and anthropology as well as the environmental health sciences program area leader in the College of Health and Human Development, is the recipient of the 2026 W. LaMarr Kopp International Achievement Award. Established in 1995, the award recognizes faculty members who have contributed significantly to the advancement of the international mission of the University. Kopp was the deputy vice president for international programs.
Sinfree Makoni, Liberal Arts professor of African studies and applied linguistics and director of the African Studies program in the College of the Liberal Arts, has been awarded the 2026 President’s Award for Excellence in Academic Integration. The award is given to a full-time faculty member who has exhibited extraordinary achievement in the integration of teaching, research, or creative accomplishment and service.
Six University faculty members have received 2026 Faculty Scholar Medals for Outstanding Achievement: Amy Bridger, assistant research professor of higher education strategy at Penn State Behrend; Cui-Zu Chang, professor of physics in the Eberly College of Science; Alexander Hristov, distinguished professor of dairy nutrition in the College of Agricultural Sciences; Michelle Newman, professor of psychology and psychiatry in the College of the Liberal Arts; Xingjie Ni, associate professor of electrical engineering in the College of Engineering; and David Witwer, distinguished professor of Ame
Anthropology and art history student Laenee McCoy is pursuing a career in museum curation through hands-on experience and interdisciplinary study focused on preserving and sharing cultural narratives.
Emily Danczyk, fourth-year Penn State student double-majoring in political science and media studies with a minor in legal studies, was recently named a diversity fellow for the American Political Science Association.
The “Moral Fragmentations and Boundaries” event will be held at the Penn State Innovation Hub and on Zoom April 19-20.
“Writing in Displacement: Focus on Palestinian Writers” will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 10 in the HUB-Robeson Center’s Heritage Hall at Penn State University Park.
Brooke Hubsch, a third-year doctoral student in communication arts and sciences, is the recipient of the 2026 Eleanor Roosevelt Memorial Fellowship in the McCourtney Institute for Democracy.
Mayuri Purani’s Penn State journey has been marked by diverse academics and gratifying leadership and internship experiences.
Experts from across the nation will gather to foster cross-disciplinary idea exchange and spark new collaborations in an April 13-14 workshop on artificial intelligence’s transformative impact on the economy and society. Registration is required for this free workshop — the first in a new “AI and the Economy Initiative” — which is open to the Penn State community.
