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.
Chapel InternsInternship
Zachary Graaf
’26
Political Science
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Economics (minor)
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Arabic (minor)
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Politics and public policy (minor)
Political Science
Economics (minor)
Arabic (minor)
Politics and public policy (minor)
As a client strategy Intern for Targeted Victory, Zachary developed, tested, and launched targeted email and SMS fundraising campaigns for over five political candidates, congressional committees, and PACs. His experience has inspired him to use the skills he learned to support campaigns and candidates in his home state, and make meaningful contributions to local-and state-level politics.
Faculty Research
Hil Malatino
Associate Professor of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Philosophy
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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.
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.
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
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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.
South Asian Studies
Bhavya Aplash
’26
Computer Science
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South Asian Studies (minor)
Computer Science
South Asian Studies (minor)
Bhavya applied his South Asian studies minor, with his computer science major to develop the Hindi Script Learning Tool “Hindi Lipi,” which introduces users to the Devanagari script through a simple, intuitive and accessible design.
AnthropologyEmbedded Course
Jack Meyer
’26
Anthropology
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International Politics
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Psychology (minor)
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Crime, Law and Psychology (minor)
Anthropology
International Politics
Psychology (minor)
Crime, Law and Psychology (minor)
Jack decided to take ANTH 299: Exploring the Ancient Maya World, which was taught in Belize and Guatemala, due to his interest in Mesoamerican culture. “I have taken all the Mesoamerican courses Penn State has to offer, so when I saw that they had a trip to see some of these sites I had been studying I jumped on it right away.” Being able to see firsthand what he had been studying and hearing Maya stories directly from locals enriched Jack’s studies in anthropology. He also was able to apply his years of Spanish courses when navigating through Guatemala.
Embedded CourseGerman
Noa Diggs
’26
Criminology
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Women's Studies (minor)
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Social Justice in Education (minor)
Criminology
Women's Studies (minor)
Social Justice in Education (minor)
While joining the Liberal Arts embedded program, GER 199: Experiencing German Language and Culture in Munich, Noa took the opportunity to broaden her global perspective and explore Munich’s commitment to preserving tradition while functioning as a modern, global city. “I’ve always been drawn to spaces where history, culture and community intersect, and Munich embodies that in a really powerful way. While I was there, I saw firsthand how much pride people take in their heritage — traditions aren’t just preserved, they’re lived.”
Classics and Ancient Mediterranean StudiesEmbedded CourseLinguistics
Ireland McDyre
’26
Linguistics
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Anthropology
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Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies (minor)
Linguistics
Anthropology
Classics and Ancient Mediterranean Studies (minor)
Ireland found that interacting with local people and culture played an important role in her learning experience as part of the CAMS 199: Monuments of Ancient Greece embedded program. During one conversation, a local shared personal experiences about the intricacies of their familial dialect. The interaction reinforced topics Ireland had studied in her sociolinguistics classes and gave her a firsthand perspective on how language shapes cultural identity and cross-cultural communication, she said.
Classics and Ancient Mediterranean StudiesEmbedded Course
Jasmin Tanner
’26
Global and International Studies
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World Literature (minor)
Global and International Studies
World Literature (minor)
Jasmin, a global and international studies major with a minor in world literature, the CAMS 199: Monuments of Ancient Greece embedded program transformed what she had previously learned about Greek mythology into a meaningful, hands-on experience.
African Studies
Morgan Overman
’26
African Studies
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Finance
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International Business (minor)
African Studies
Finance
International Business (minor)
“I’ve learned to view events not just through a local lens, but with an appreciation for their broad, often international impact.” This outlook has allowed Overman to better understand international finance and economic development. In his African studies major, he’s learning about a spectrum of topics related to the continent including biodiversity, regional developments, art history and, more recently, the continent’s role in international politics. At the same time, he has a strong appreciation for the role of finance as the foundation of modern economies.
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.
Research
Christina Ellis
’26
Integrative Science
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Spanish
Integrative Science
Spanish
Christina’s research journey began during her first year in the Brain Tracking Lab led by Distinguished Professor of Spanish, Linguistics and Psychology Paola “Giuli” Dussias. There, Christina tracked eye movements and conducted behavioral testing to better understand how people process and predict language while learning a second language.
South Asian Studies
Bhavya Aplash
’26
Computer Science
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South Asian Studies (minor)
Computer Science
South Asian Studies (minor)
Bhavya applied his South Asian studies minor, with his computer science major to develop the Hindi Script Learning Tool “Hindi Lipi,” which introduces users to the Devanagari script through a simple, intuitive and accessible design.
Chapel InternsInternship
Ben Lindgren
’26
International Politics
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Community, Environment, and Development
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Spanish (minor)
International Politics
Community, Environment, and Development
Spanish (minor)
Ben spent this past summer in Austin, Texas, working in corporate sustainability as an intern with Whole Foods Market and Amazon. In his role, he assessed the sustainability practices of Whole Foods’ private-brand suppliers, from farm operations to processing facilities, in support of Amazon’s company-wide decarbonization strategy.
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
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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.
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.