Big Questions. Bold Research. Real Impact.
At the Penn State College of the Liberal Arts, research begins with exploring what it means to be human—how we think, connect, and shape the world. Our faculty and students work across disciplines to understand the past, address today’s challenges, and imagine a better future.
Through innovative centers and collaborative inquiry, we advance policy, promote well-being, and drive societal change. Ranked sixth nationally in federal funding for social and behavioral science research, we’re fulfilling Penn State’s land-grant mission through research that makes a real difference.
Areas of Impact
Our research drives positive change, strengthens communities, shapes cultural narratives, and transforms sectors, reflecting the diverse overlap between disciplines and areas of impact inherent in our interdisciplinary approach.
Enacting Social Change
Insights from liberal arts research help shape policies related to social justice, human rights, and community development, addressing complex societal issues. By amplifying marginalized voices and fostering inclusive dialogue, this research raises awareness and inspires action. Ultimately, it empowers communities to challenge inequities and work toward a more equitable society.
Faculty Research
Scott Burnett
Assistant professor of African studies and WGSS
Assistant professor of African studies and WGSS
Scott Burnett’s work critically examines how fascist and ethnonationalist ideologies manipulate gender and reproductive politics, which contributes to understanding and challenging systems of oppression. By bringing these issues to light through the Sawyer Seminar, the research promotes equity, historical awareness, and the pursuit of justice, while also encouraging dialogue and policy change that can lead to broader social transformation.
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 Research
P. Gabrielle Foreman
Professor of African American Studies
Professor of African American Studies
Penn State’s Center for Black Digital Research (CBDR), Douglass Day has proven to be a highly creative and effective way to transcribe a vast trove of digitized African American historical documents — including the writings of its namesake, iconic abolitionist and social reformer Frederick Douglass. Now the program has a new three-year partnership with the Library of Congress.
Faculty Research
Jes Matsick
Associate Professor of Psychology and WGSS
Associate Professor of Psychology and WGSS
Jes Matsick’s research explores how a sense of belonging impacts the mental and physical health of LGBTQ+ people, emphasizing that structural and interpersonal support are key to individual well-being. Through her work at the Underrepresented Perspectives Lab, Matsick is advancing research that helps LGBTQ+ individuals not only survive but thrive.
Faculty Research
Julie Reed
Associate Professor of History
Associate Professor of History
Julie Reed’s research centers on Cherokee history, Indigenous education, and the ways Native communities preserve and transmit knowledge across generations. Through her Mellon-funded training in applied Southeastern archaeology, she’s expanding her scholarship to include non-invasive archaeological methods that honor and elevate Indigenous voices. Her work reframes dominant narratives about Cherokee educational history and sovereignty while fostering more ethical, collaborative approaches to research with Native communities.
Faculty Research
Mary Stuckey
Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences
Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences
Mary E. Stuckey’s research examines how presidential rhetoric shapes national identity and influences how people see themselves within political communities. Her work highlights how political language—through symbols like national parks or the Declaration of Independence—both reflects and shapes who we are as a nation.
Faculty Research
Scott Burnett
Assistant professor of African studies and WGSS
Assistant professor of African studies and WGSS
Scott Burnett’s work critically examines how fascist and ethnonationalist ideologies manipulate gender and reproductive politics, which contributes to understanding and challenging systems of oppression. By bringing these issues to light through the Sawyer Seminar, the research promotes equity, historical awareness, and the pursuit of justice, while also encouraging dialogue and policy change that can lead to broader social transformation.
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 Research
P. Gabrielle Foreman
Professor of African American Studies
Professor of African American Studies
Penn State’s Center for Black Digital Research (CBDR), Douglass Day has proven to be a highly creative and effective way to transcribe a vast trove of digitized African American historical documents — including the writings of its namesake, iconic abolitionist and social reformer Frederick Douglass. Now the program has a new three-year partnership with the Library of Congress.
Faculty Research
Jes Matsick
Associate Professor of Psychology and WGSS
Associate Professor of Psychology and WGSS
Jes Matsick’s research explores how a sense of belonging impacts the mental and physical health of LGBTQ+ people, emphasizing that structural and interpersonal support are key to individual well-being. Through her work at the Underrepresented Perspectives Lab, Matsick is advancing research that helps LGBTQ+ individuals not only survive but thrive.
Faculty Research
Julie Reed
Associate Professor of History
Associate Professor of History
Julie Reed’s research centers on Cherokee history, Indigenous education, and the ways Native communities preserve and transmit knowledge across generations. Through her Mellon-funded training in applied Southeastern archaeology, she’s expanding her scholarship to include non-invasive archaeological methods that honor and elevate Indigenous voices. Her work reframes dominant narratives about Cherokee educational history and sovereignty while fostering more ethical, collaborative approaches to research with Native communities.
Faculty Research
Mary Stuckey
Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences
Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences
Mary E. Stuckey’s research examines how presidential rhetoric shapes national identity and influences how people see themselves within political communities. Her work highlights how political language—through symbols like national parks or the Declaration of Independence—both reflects and shapes who we are as a nation.
Faculty Research
Scott Burnett
Assistant professor of African studies and WGSS
Assistant professor of African studies and WGSS
Scott Burnett’s work critically examines how fascist and ethnonationalist ideologies manipulate gender and reproductive politics, which contributes to understanding and challenging systems of oppression. By bringing these issues to light through the Sawyer Seminar, the research promotes equity, historical awareness, and the pursuit of justice, while also encouraging dialogue and policy change that can lead to broader social transformation.
Creating Healthy Communities and Environments
Liberal arts research fosters well-being, resilience, and sustainability by exploring human behavior, social justice, and environmental stewardship. It informs policies that enhance quality of life, empower marginalized voices, and protect our planet, building stronger, more inclusive communities.
Campus LeaderPsychologyResearchSchreyer ScholarSustainability
Ethan Sten
’23
Psychology
|
Sustainability Leadership (minor)
Psychology
Sustainability Leadership (minor)
Fall 2023 Liberal Arts student marshal Ethan Sten explored scientific research and sustainability at Penn State and worked with the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center on community and behavioral health projects. He is now pursuing a doctorate in clinical psychology at the University of Montana.
Faculty Research
Karen Bierman
Evan Pugh University Professor of Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies
Evan Pugh University Professor of Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies
Low-income students who received a preschool intervention focused on social-emotional development continued to benefit from it during their teen years according to a recent study.
Faculty Research
Koraly Perez-Edgar
McCourtney Professor of Child Studies
McCourtney Professor of Child Studies
The first wave of data Penn State’s HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) study is now available to researchers interested in addressing a wide-range of questions, including how environments and substances impact infant and child development.
Faculty Research
Jes Matsick
Associate Professor of Psychology and WGSS
Associate Professor of Psychology and WGSS
Jes Matsick’s research explores how a sense of belonging impacts the mental and physical health of LGBTQ+ people, emphasizing that structural and interpersonal support are key to individual well-being. Through her work at the Underrepresented Perspectives Lab, Matsick is advancing research that helps LGBTQ+ individuals not only survive but thrive.
Faculty Research
Dawn Witherspoon
Professor of Psychology
Professor of Psychology
Dawn Witherspoon has spent many years researching the ways that the spaces children inhabit play a critical role in their development, including in her role as director of the Parents And Children Together (PACT) research initiative.
Faculty Research
Sarah Kollat
Teaching Professor of Psychology
Teaching Professor of Psychology
Sarah Kollat’s research and teaching focus on developmental psychology, particularly how healthy family systems can support positive growth and prevent future challenges. As a novelist, she draws on her psychology background to explore the darker aspects of human behavior and trauma, crafting psychological thrillers that delve into fear, dysfunction, and the complexities of family dynamics.
Campus LeaderPsychologyResearchSchreyer ScholarSustainability
Ethan Sten
’23
Psychology
|
Sustainability Leadership (minor)
Psychology
Sustainability Leadership (minor)
Fall 2023 Liberal Arts student marshal Ethan Sten explored scientific research and sustainability at Penn State and worked with the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center on community and behavioral health projects. He is now pursuing a doctorate in clinical psychology at the University of Montana.
Faculty Research
Karen Bierman
Evan Pugh University Professor of Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies
Evan Pugh University Professor of Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies
Low-income students who received a preschool intervention focused on social-emotional development continued to benefit from it during their teen years according to a recent study.
Faculty Research
Koraly Perez-Edgar
McCourtney Professor of Child Studies
McCourtney Professor of Child Studies
The first wave of data Penn State’s HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) study is now available to researchers interested in addressing a wide-range of questions, including how environments and substances impact infant and child development.
Faculty Research
Jes Matsick
Associate Professor of Psychology and WGSS
Associate Professor of Psychology and WGSS
Jes Matsick’s research explores how a sense of belonging impacts the mental and physical health of LGBTQ+ people, emphasizing that structural and interpersonal support are key to individual well-being. Through her work at the Underrepresented Perspectives Lab, Matsick is advancing research that helps LGBTQ+ individuals not only survive but thrive.
Faculty Research
Dawn Witherspoon
Professor of Psychology
Professor of Psychology
Dawn Witherspoon has spent many years researching the ways that the spaces children inhabit play a critical role in their development, including in her role as director of the Parents And Children Together (PACT) research initiative.
Faculty Research
Sarah Kollat
Teaching Professor of Psychology
Teaching Professor of Psychology
Sarah Kollat’s research and teaching focus on developmental psychology, particularly how healthy family systems can support positive growth and prevent future challenges. As a novelist, she draws on her psychology background to explore the darker aspects of human behavior and trauma, crafting psychological thrillers that delve into fear, dysfunction, and the complexities of family dynamics.
Campus LeaderPsychologyResearchSchreyer ScholarSustainability
Ethan Sten
’23
Psychology
|
Sustainability Leadership (minor)
Psychology
Sustainability Leadership (minor)
Fall 2023 Liberal Arts student marshal Ethan Sten explored scientific research and sustainability at Penn State and worked with the Edna Bennett Pierce Prevention Research Center on community and behavioral health projects. He is now pursuing a doctorate in clinical psychology at the University of Montana.
Building Global Connections
Liberal arts research shapes culture, media, and global connections by examining societal narratives and cross-cultural interactions. Through literature, history, and social sciences, scholars inform public discourse, influence media, and challenge stereotypes, fostering understanding and a more inclusive, connected world.
Faculty Research
Michael Naydan
Woskob Family Professor of Ukrainian Studies
Woskob Family Professor of Ukrainian Studies
Michael Naydan’s research and career center on translating and promoting Ukrainian literature and culture for English-speaking audiences. Through decades of collaborative translation work, mentorship, and scholarship, he has helped bring overlooked Ukrainian voices to global attention—especially vital during the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Faculty Research
Matthew Restall
Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of Colonial Latin American History, Anthropology, and Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies
|
Director of Latin American Studies
Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of Colonial Latin American History, Anthropology, and Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies
Director of Latin American Studies
Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of Colonial Latin American History recently wrote a book, “The Nine Lives of Christopher Columbus,” tracing the life and many afterlives of Columbus. Throughout the book, Restall separates fact from fiction and seeks to understand why Columbus continues to mean different things to different people.
Faculty Research
Elizabeth Kadetsky
Professor of English
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
Sandra Spanier
Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of English and Women's Studies
Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of English and Women's Studies
The Hemingway Letters Project received a three-year NEH Scholarly Editions and Translations grant worth $282,520, plus $150,000 in federal matching funds. That will fund the seventh, eighth and ninth volumes of “The Letters of Ernest Hemingway,” which will eventually produce 17 volumes of the American literary icon’s more than 6,000 letters written between 1907 and 1961.
Faculty Research
Sandra Spanier
Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of English and Women's Studies
Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of English and Women's Studies
Led by Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of English and Women’s Studies Sandra Spanier and Associate Research Professor of English Verna Kale, the the Hemingway Letters Project recently published the sixth volume of “The Letters of Ernest Hemingway”. This volume covers the period from June 1934 to June 1936, plus an appendix of 48 previously unpublished letters written between 1918 and 1934.
Faculty Research
Gabeba Baderoon
Associate Professor of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, African Studies, and Comparative Literature
Associate Professor of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, African Studies, and Comparative Literature
Gabeba Baderoon’s work blends poetry, scholarship, and personal narrative to explore themes of illness, memory, and identity. As a Harvard Radcliffe Institute Fellow, she is writing a memoir in verse that grapples with the fragmented experience of concussion through interdisciplinary archives, landscapes, and language. Her project reflects a deep engagement with creative expression as a form of healing and critical inquiry.
Faculty Research
Michael Naydan
Woskob Family Professor of Ukrainian Studies
Woskob Family Professor of Ukrainian Studies
Michael Naydan’s research and career center on translating and promoting Ukrainian literature and culture for English-speaking audiences. Through decades of collaborative translation work, mentorship, and scholarship, he has helped bring overlooked Ukrainian voices to global attention—especially vital during the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Faculty Research
Matthew Restall
Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of Colonial Latin American History, Anthropology, and Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies
|
Director of Latin American Studies
Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of Colonial Latin American History, Anthropology, and Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies
Director of Latin American Studies
Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of Colonial Latin American History recently wrote a book, “The Nine Lives of Christopher Columbus,” tracing the life and many afterlives of Columbus. Throughout the book, Restall separates fact from fiction and seeks to understand why Columbus continues to mean different things to different people.
Faculty Research
Elizabeth Kadetsky
Professor of English
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
Sandra Spanier
Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of English and Women's Studies
Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of English and Women's Studies
The Hemingway Letters Project received a three-year NEH Scholarly Editions and Translations grant worth $282,520, plus $150,000 in federal matching funds. That will fund the seventh, eighth and ninth volumes of “The Letters of Ernest Hemingway,” which will eventually produce 17 volumes of the American literary icon’s more than 6,000 letters written between 1907 and 1961.
Faculty Research
Sandra Spanier
Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of English and Women's Studies
Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of English and Women's Studies
Led by Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of English and Women’s Studies Sandra Spanier and Associate Research Professor of English Verna Kale, the the Hemingway Letters Project recently published the sixth volume of “The Letters of Ernest Hemingway”. This volume covers the period from June 1934 to June 1936, plus an appendix of 48 previously unpublished letters written between 1918 and 1934.
Faculty Research
Gabeba Baderoon
Associate Professor of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, African Studies, and Comparative Literature
Associate Professor of Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, African Studies, and Comparative Literature
Gabeba Baderoon’s work blends poetry, scholarship, and personal narrative to explore themes of illness, memory, and identity. As a Harvard Radcliffe Institute Fellow, she is writing a memoir in verse that grapples with the fragmented experience of concussion through interdisciplinary archives, landscapes, and language. Her project reflects a deep engagement with creative expression as a form of healing and critical inquiry.
Faculty Research
Michael Naydan
Woskob Family Professor of Ukrainian Studies
Woskob Family Professor of Ukrainian Studies
Michael Naydan’s research and career center on translating and promoting Ukrainian literature and culture for English-speaking audiences. Through decades of collaborative translation work, mentorship, and scholarship, he has helped bring overlooked Ukrainian voices to global attention—especially vital during the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Leveraging AI and Emerging Technologies
Liberal arts research transforms industries by examining human behavior, ethics, and innovation—helping businesses navigate societal shifts, leverage AI and emerging technologies, and adopt sustainable, inclusive strategies that shape the future of work.
EntrepreneurHistoryPaterno FellowsPolitical ScienceSocial Data Analytics
Nicholas Birosik
’22
Political Science
|
Social Data Analytics
|
History minor
Political Science
Social Data Analytics
History minor
Nicholas is the founder and president of NicNac Charities Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to eliminating the digital divide and launching other nonprofits around the country. “The College of the Liberal Arts provided me with a unique opportunity to craft a well-rounded education, which satisfied my intellectual curiosity and helped to jumpstart my career in public service.”
Faculty Research
Karen Bierman
Evan Pugh University Professor of Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies
Evan Pugh University Professor of Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies
Low-income students who received a preschool intervention focused on social-emotional development continued to benefit from it during their teen years according to a recent study.
Faculty Research
Koraly Perez-Edgar
McCourtney Professor of Child Studies
McCourtney Professor of Child Studies
The first wave of data Penn State’s HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) study is now available to researchers interested in addressing a wide-range of questions, including how environments and substances impact infant and child development.
Faculty Research
Daryl Cameron
Professor of Psychology
|
Sherwin Early Career Professor in the Rock Ethics Institute
Professor of Psychology
Sherwin Early Career Professor in the Rock Ethics Institute
Daryl Cameron’s research explores how people perceive and respond to empathy—especially when it’s simulated by artificial intelligence. Through his work with the Consortium on Moral Decision-Making and his Empathy and Moral Psychology Lab, Cameron investigates the ethical and psychological implications of AI-generated empathy, considering both its potential to fulfill human social needs and the risks of outsourcing emotional connection. His interdisciplinary approach aims to deepen understanding of moral behavior in an age of rapidly evolving technology.
EntrepreneurHistoryPaterno FellowsPolitical ScienceSocial Data Analytics
Nicholas Birosik
’22
Political Science
|
Social Data Analytics
|
History minor
Political Science
Social Data Analytics
History minor
Nicholas is the founder and president of NicNac Charities Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to eliminating the digital divide and launching other nonprofits around the country. “The College of the Liberal Arts provided me with a unique opportunity to craft a well-rounded education, which satisfied my intellectual curiosity and helped to jumpstart my career in public service.”
Faculty Research
Karen Bierman
Evan Pugh University Professor of Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies
Evan Pugh University Professor of Psychology and Human Development and Family Studies
Low-income students who received a preschool intervention focused on social-emotional development continued to benefit from it during their teen years according to a recent study.
Faculty Research
Koraly Perez-Edgar
McCourtney Professor of Child Studies
McCourtney Professor of Child Studies
The first wave of data Penn State’s HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) study is now available to researchers interested in addressing a wide-range of questions, including how environments and substances impact infant and child development.
Faculty Research
Daryl Cameron
Professor of Psychology
|
Sherwin Early Career Professor in the Rock Ethics Institute
Professor of Psychology
Sherwin Early Career Professor in the Rock Ethics Institute
Daryl Cameron’s research explores how people perceive and respond to empathy—especially when it’s simulated by artificial intelligence. Through his work with the Consortium on Moral Decision-Making and his Empathy and Moral Psychology Lab, Cameron investigates the ethical and psychological implications of AI-generated empathy, considering both its potential to fulfill human social needs and the risks of outsourcing emotional connection. His interdisciplinary approach aims to deepen understanding of moral behavior in an age of rapidly evolving technology.
EntrepreneurHistoryPaterno FellowsPolitical ScienceSocial Data Analytics
Nicholas Birosik
’22
Political Science
|
Social Data Analytics
|
History minor
Political Science
Social Data Analytics
History minor
Nicholas is the founder and president of NicNac Charities Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to eliminating the digital divide and launching other nonprofits around the country. “The College of the Liberal Arts provided me with a unique opportunity to craft a well-rounded education, which satisfied my intellectual curiosity and helped to jumpstart my career in public service.”
Research Opportunities
Explore our 75+ centers, institutes, and research labs
The College of the Liberal Arts is home to dozens of cross-disciplinary centers, institutes, and labs that promote scholarly collaboration, outreach, and student engagement. The centers are equipped with the resources to bring their research and scholarship into the public domain, helping to inform practitioners and policy makers well beyond Penn State.
Make a Gift
Interested in supporting our students and faculty in their research? Lydell Sargeant, senior director of development and alumni relations, will work closely and confidentially with you and your financial advisers to ensure that your gift achieves your individual goals and expresses your personal vision. You can contact Lydell by email at lrs197@psu.edu or by phone at 814-865-3173.
Senior Director of Development and Alumni Relations
Find Research Support
Faculty and Graduate Student Resources
The Office of the Senior Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies supports research activity by faculty, graduate students, and other researchers.
Undergraduate Student Opportunities
A great way to enhance your undergraduate experience and develop skills that will be attractive to future employers is through undergraduate research.
Upcoming Research Events
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