Learning from the unique perspectives of our great leaders

As president, I have had the opportunity to learn more about the stories, perspectives and passions of the leaders across Penn State who make what we do as a University possible. I am humbled to be able to call them my colleagues, and I am thankful for the vision that they bring to Penn State.

In a new video series titled “Perspective: Leaders at Penn State” — coming soon through Penn State News and Penn State Today — I invite you to learn more about some of the leaders who guide our University to achieve our collective educational, research and 21st century land-grant missions. What drives them? What passions brought them to where they are now? And how does their individual view of the world shape how they drive Penn State to the highest levels of excellence, innovation and impact across the world?

As we launch this series to showcase the unique perspectives and passions of some of Penn State’s academic deans, I encourage you to listen to and reflect on their stories — and to ask yourself, as I often have, ‘What can I learn from them? How can understanding their perspectives broaden my own, and help me look at the world through a new lens?’

No two of our leaders have the same story. No two look at the world in quite the same way. After all, no two Penn Staters share quite the same background or perspective. Every member of our community brings their whole self to Penn State: the roads they’ve walked, the obstacles they’ve overcome and the peaks they aspire to reach.

Every Penn Stater, including our deans and all of the University’s dedicated leaders, has a story and worldview that is their own. And each of them has a passion that fills their heart, buoys their spirit and drives their mind. In getting a glimpse into the insights they bring to these passions, we can better understand the insights and impact they bring to Penn State.

In my work, I have often found my horizons expanded by the perspectives of Penn State’s leaders. And to them, I am grateful for their help in widening and enriching my view on the world. Join me in reflecting on the perspectives of the Penn Staters who have helped us reach where we are now, and who are leading us into the future.

 

Remembering 9/11 and all Penn Staters impacted by that tragic day

President Barron has invited Paul Clifford, CEO of the Penn State Alumni Association, to share his thoughts and reflections on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and honor the lives of the Penn State alumni who were lost on Sept. 11, 2001.

There are days that you will always remember where you were. For many Americans, Sept. 11, 2001, is one of those days.

I was sitting in my office in Connecticut, on a gorgeous late summer day, with the “Today” show on the TV in the outer office as background noise. I can still clearly hear my colleague’s voice: “Come and look, a plane just hit the World Trade Center.”

I thought it was a small aircraft, with no more than two people aboard — a tragic, unfortunate accident. As we watched, we witnessed a second explosion, this time in the other tower. We all realized, with growing horror, that this was not simply a mechanical error or pilot mishap but something else. Something that was planned and coordinated. We were experiencing a tragic day in American history, as we were attacked on our own soil.

Many of us began to reach out to our friends and loved ones, frantically calling to check in and make sure people were safe. Within the Penn State community, thoughts quickly went to our alumni family, including those who worked at the World Trade Center or the Pentagon, or those who may have been on a flight that morning.

This shocking day is burned into my memory, and probably yours, too. The memory is so fresh, still so vivid, that it’s hard to believe how 20 years have passed.

Upon the 20th commemoration this year of Sept. 11, we will be mourning victims; recognizing first responders and other heroes, and families and friends; and reflecting on the resilient spirit of the American people. We will hear stories of hope and healing, remembrance, and reflection, and among them will be stories of at least 10 Penn Staters lost in this world-altering act of terror.

As a University community, it is fitting that we pause to recognize the loss of our alumni in the tragedy of that day and the sacrifices of so many more in the aftermath.

Today, we honor:

  • Kermit Anderson, Spring 1965, Bachelor of Science, Mathematics;
  • Patrick Dwyer, Summer 1986, Bachelor of Science, Finance;
  • Michael Ferugio, Spring 1987, Bachelor of Science, Industrial Engineering;
  • Scott Hazelcorn, Fall 1994, Bachelor of Science, Accounting;
  • Howard L. Kane, Spring 1983, Bachelor of Science, Accounting;
  • David Kovalcin, Winter 1983, Bachelor of Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Spring 1985, Master of Science, Mechanical Engineering;
  • Michele Nelson, Summer 1985, Bachelor of Science, Psychology;
  • Michael Pescherine, Spring 1991, Bachelor of Science, Finance, and Spring 1994, Master of Business Administration;
  • Jean Roger, Summer 1999 (non-degree); and
  • David Suarez, Summer 1999, Bachelor of Science, Industrial Engineering.

As a community, we grieve their untimely deaths and share our deepest condolences with their families and friends. No person should have to bear the profound and deep pain of losing loved ones so senselessly. We hope their families find comfort in friends and family, and in their fond memories of those we lost that day. In the aftermath of Sept. 11, the lives of many more Penn Staters were lost due to health complications resulting from the attacks. Other Penn Staters gave their lives defending our nation in the subsequent war against terror. We mourn these losses as well, and hope that their families have found peace.

I realize many in our University community do not remember or were not yet born when the tragedy of 9/11 occurred. My children, now young adults, were too young to have specific memories; however, they are aware of the events of that day and how it forever changed our country and the world in which we live.

While Sept. 11 is a day of mourning and remembrance, it is also a day of self-care and benevolence. Our Penn State community is strong, and I encourage all Penn Staters to reflect on this day; to understand its significance in American history; to continue to act with kindness, compassion and understanding now and into the future as our nation and our world needs our attention and needs us to practice diplomacy.  In the end, this is who we are when we say ‘We Are!’

As we memorialize the lives of the alumni we have lost and recognize their contributions to our Penn State community and beyond, we greatly appreciate the contributions of various donors who have sought to honor them. I would like to thank various individuals for the establishment of scholarships in memoriam of several alumni, including:

  • Jill Grashof Anderson for the Kermit C. Anderson Memorial Scholarship within the Eberly College of Science;
  • New York City Chapter of PSAA for the Penn State Chapter of New York City Michael D. Ferugio Memorial Scholarship Fund within Undergraduate Education; and
  • Colleagues of David Suarez at Deloitte U.S. for the David Suarez Memorial Scholarship – A Remembrance within Undergraduate Education, as well as the Starr Foundation for the David S. Suarez Memorial Scholarship within the College of Engineering.

We would love to hear from you. Please share your memories, experiences, or a story of a loved one lost on Sept. 11 on the Penn State Alumni Association’s Facebook page.

Today, as a united Penn State community, we keep the memory of these Penn Staters alive and honor all they did to bring glory to Dear Old State.

For the Glory,

Paul J. Clifford ‘20g
CEO, Penn State Alumni Association

 

March 25 is Advocate Penn State Capital Day: I hope you’ll join us

When Penn State’s first president Evan Pugh arrived in State College, he found a dire situation: an unfinished Old Main, a carpenters’ shanty for a dining hall, and living quarters without a bath or toilet accommodation. He immediately hit the road for Harrisburg. His mission was to seek a $50,000 appropriation to address some of the campus’s most immediate needs. In short order, President Pugh’s request was denied.

The following year, State Rep. William C. Duncan reintroduced the bill. Rep. Duncan’s endorsement, coupled with the support of local agricultural societies and the newly elected Gov. Andrew Curtin, resulted in smooth passage. The appropriation was approved, and our partnership with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania was born.

Since then, the governor and our state legislators have played a vital role in helping Penn State advance our land-grant mission of teaching, research and service. Modest increases in the appropriation in three of the last six years combined with Penn State’s intensified efforts related to access and affordability have helped Penn State minimize tuition increases for Pennsylvania resident students. But this year, given the widespread economic damage of a global pandemic, the appropriation is uncertain.

What does this mean for you?

The state appropriation helps us defray the cost of in-state tuition for Pennsylvania resident undergraduates across all our campuses, which serve some of the most economically challenged regions of Pennsylvania. Typically, the appropriation contributes approximately $5,000 for each Pennsylvania student. Penn State more than doubles that investment, saving 48,000 Pennsylvania families over $12,000 each year on resident student tuition.

In addition, the state appropriation provides crucial funding that helps support Agricultural Research and Extension; Medical Assistance, CURE, the Cancer Institute, ASERT, and other health-related activities of Penn State Health and the College of Medicine and the Pennsylvania College of Technology. The appropriation helps us contribute immeasurably to quality of life, economic development, agricultural productivity, medical care, and leadership in every sector of society. In short, we rely on the commonwealth’s investment in Penn State to deliver the research, education and service on which generations of Pennsylvanians have relied.

What can you do?

Please join me in advocating for our University on this year’s virtual Advocate Penn State Capital Day on March 25. This is a prime opportunity to connect with your legislators in Harrisburg to express your support for our land-grant mission of teaching, research and service. Share your experience with our world-class academic programs, career services, research projects, Invent Penn State, and the countless activities that have ranked Penn State among the top 1% of universities in the world.

The pandemic has had a dramatic impact on Penn State’s resources. Enrollments have declined as students have decided for personal or financial reasons to postpone college, yet the University’s costs have increased to enable expanded remote delivery of instruction and enhanced cleaning and spacing protocols at our campuses across the commonwealth. We have also had limited ability to invest in the innovative initiatives that drive economic development and student career success. This has an impact on all our lives given that Penn State contributes more than $11.6 billion to the state’s economy and supports, directly and indirectly, more than 105,000 jobs across Pennsylvania according to a report released in 2019. Notably, for every $1 in state appropriations received by Penn State, the University returns $1.24 in tax payments to the commonwealth. An investment in Penn State benefits every Pennsylvanian.

How can you participate?

Visit advocate.psu.edu to contact your legislator. Tell your elected officials why Penn State is worth funding. Share your personal experience as a Penn Stater and a Pennsylvania citizen.

Since our founding, the state appropriation has been critical to helping our institution attract and retain students from Pennsylvania’s working families. With the support of the commonwealth, we can continue our efforts related to access and affordability, student career success and economic development, agricultural research, and more. Pennsylvania is better because of Penn State, and Penn State is better because of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Each year, I look forward to Capital Day so we can publicly share our Penn State pride, thank the legislature for its support, and most of all, demonstrate the value of the commonwealth’s investment in Penn State. I always welcome the opportunity to advocate for our students, faculty and staff, and I urge you to join me in this effort. Thank you for your support and all you do for Penn State.

Meeting the Moment

We begin our semester and a new year on a day devoted to honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He is one of my personal heroes. He is a powerful inspiration to all who challenge social injustice. Sadly, our nation and University face significant challenges, and King’s words and deeds are more important than ever.

Over the past eight months, we have witnessed an intense national focus on freedom, liberation and justice. Many Penn Staters took part in the peaceful marches, demonstrations and activism. Thank you. Thousands of you wrote to my office, urging us to join the movement and take immediate and substantive action at an institutional level. Again, thank you.

As a result of your efforts, we took a critical look at our own progress in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion. We responded by developing a plan for action that addressed eight areas and involved students, faculty, staff and the surrounding community. Work began immediately, and I’m very grateful to everyone who has served on the Select Presidential Commission on Racism, Bias and Community, the Task Force to review the Student Code of Conduct, the Task Force on Policing and Communities of Color, as well as those across the University who participated in the process.

The first phase of the work is complete, and the draft reports are publicly available. Penn State is moving forward with actions that will impact every area of our University — from academic programs to auxiliary services to human resources to the Board of Trustees.

The overarching strategy is to take an enterprise approach, in other words, take the steps to maximize diversity, equity and inclusion networks, resources and impact through greater partnership and coherence among the University-level units. Notably, we are also adding a direct reporting line to the president.

Many students complained that the Student Code of Conduct was ineffective as a mechanism to promote social justice. Our students challenged the University to better address issues of off-campus conduct as well as for acts of bias. After a thorough review of community input and benchmarks from our Big Ten peers, the task force to review the Student Code of Conduct developed eight major recommendations. These are designed to ensure that Penn State values are part of and reflected by the Code of Conduct. We will adopt the revised code for the spring semester and test its effectiveness through its implementation.

As the chief governing body of the University, the Board of Trustees is also demonstrating leadership of this effort. They created an oversight task force on racism, bias and community safety led by Trustee Brandon Short. They have set a goal for their membership to come from at least 50% underrepresented groups on the board by 2025. And they repurposed the standing Compensation Committee as the Equity and Human Resources Committee with a focus on advancing equity, inclusion and diversity at Penn State.

Finally, I wish to note the importance of the Educational Equity Matching Program and to express my gratitude to everyone who has contributed to its success. Our community has given generously to the four matching opportunities, and combined with University matching funds, the total impact of the committed gifts will be over $22 million. This includes 167 new scholarships that will directly support our efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion.

There is no doubt that the past year has been challenging. But I’m proud of the strength and resilience of our community. I hope you’ll take some time today and this week to celebrate the life and livelihood of Dr. King. I hope you’ll also carry a spirit of unity forward as we continue our efforts to build a more diverse, equitable and inclusive University. Thank you for being part of Penn State.

Protect, serve and celebrate!

In a year that has been fraught with unprecedented challenges, it’s more important than ever to acknowledge the service of those who preserve the liberties and freedom we hold dear. On behalf of everyone at Penn State, thank you to the individuals and families who have made sacrifices in service of the United States of America. You bring honor to our great nation.

Penn State has a proud tradition of serving the men and women of our military and giving back through education, benefits, resources and more. In addition to year-round efforts, our annual Military Appreciation Week celebration is an opportunity for the Penn State community to join together to honor and publicly commend those who have bravely served our country. This year’s ninth Military Appreciation theme celebrates veterans — including many Penn State students, staff and faculty — who have served.

Like so many other things this year, our Military Appreciation Week will feature virtual events to support health and safety guidelines due to the pandemic. I will miss seeing everyone on campus, but our Military Appreciation Committee, chaired by Colonel Eugene McFeely, Penn State’s senior director for Veterans Affairs and Services, along with many volunteers, worked incredibly hard to make it a memorable, safe and special week.

You are invited to tune in to the adapted Veterans Day Ceremony featuring video messages from the Penn State community, which will be streamed online beginning at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11 at watch.psu.edu/MAW. The day also will feature a virtual yoga class, a conversation with student veterans and a discussion on mental health.

Our vision is that Penn State’s many efforts will be widely emulated as an example of what higher education can do to address the needs of our nation’s armed forces, veterans and their families. Today, more than 5,600 Penn State students have direct military ties as either service members, veterans or military dependents, across all of Penn State’s campuses, including World Campus. We are dedicated to helping them achieve their educational goals with a variety of services and support resources. Consider just a few Penn State military focused initiatives.

  • Last fall, Penn State launched a new Student Veteran Center to serve as a central hub for about 1,000 military-connected students, including student veterans, service members and dependents at University Park, to access a variety of important services. This season we also have launched a new website, veterans.psu.edu, to help current and prospective Penn State student veterans access the variety of support and resources available to them at the University.
  • Penn State has consistently been recognized as a military-friendly school for the many academic programs and support resources available to active duty, veteran and ROTC students.
  • U.S. News & World Report ranked Penn State World Campus among its best online programs for veterans for the University’s faculty credentials and training, student services, student engagement, peer reputation and ability to make college more affordable for military students.
  • For student veterans at every Penn State campus and online through the World Campus, the University offers peer counseling services and assists with VA benefits, the college application process, financial aid and living arrangements through our Office of Veterans Programs.
  • The Penn State Law Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic provides students hands-on experience representing veterans and current service members in some of the unique legal issues they encounter.
  • The Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness is a valuable, interactive and comprehensive resource for professionals working with military families. Its staff engage in applied research and evaluation, implementation science, education and outreach to advance the well-being and health of military families.

I ask that everyone take a moment to reflect on and remember our own family and friends who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Please express your appreciation for their commitment to serving and protecting our nation.

We are proud of your courage and sacrifice, and we are honored that you are part of the Penn State community. Happy Veterans Day! I hope you enjoy the rest of this week’s activities and I look forward to seeing all of you on campus in the future.

Building a top research enterprise: Rising to the challenge

Debates about higher education in the public sphere often lose sight of a key part of the narrative — our top research institutions have always risen to the challenge of meeting society’s greatest needs. Today is no different. In fact, while devastating, the novel coronavirus has reinforced the critical role these institutions play in addressing global crises and serving the greater good.

At Penn State, where I oversee the research enterprise, we are steadfast in our commitment to making the world a better place. Thanks to the hard-working faculty, students and staff across our commonwealth, we recorded a record high $1.01 billion in research expenditures this past fiscal year. This led to scientific advancements that address food security and sustainable energy solutions, contribute to economic development, and enhance personalized and population health. And that’s in addition to using our existing infrastructure — cutting-edge biosafety research facilities and mechanisms for cross-disciplinary research — to strategically transition several research programs amid the current pandemic.

When you see the funding numbers top $1 billion, however, it’s important to understand the vast amount of research and scholarship happening, where the funding is coming from, and how we are thoughtfully using those dollars to improve the lives of those in our communities.

The largest single increase came from the Department of Defense, with a grant of $30 million over the next five years to counter threats of destruction, with a specific focus on improving current and developing future warfighter technology. Penn State is leading the Interaction of Ionizing Radiation with Matter University Research Alliance.

Another example, Patricia “Sue” Grigson, professor and chair of the Department of Neural and Behavioral Sciences, received nearly $5 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to study whether an already-approved drug for treating obesity can be used to reduce cravings and prevent relapse in those struggling with opioid addiction. This effort is part of the NIH’s “Helping to End Addiction” initiative, which aims to improve treatments for chronic pain, curb the rates of opioid use/overdose and achieve long-term recovery from opioid addiction.

Mohamed Trebak, professor of cellular and molecular physiology in Penn State’s Cancer Institute, received an anticipated $6.3 million from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to investigate L-type calcium channel blockers (LCCBs) — the most widely used drugs for treating hypertension — which his team found may harm the heart as much as help it.

And just to touch on one other that may impact many people’s lives for the better is a study sponsored by one of our industrial partners where two of our faculty experts in acoustics — Stephen Thompson and Michelle Vigeant — will evaluate and investigate the use of active noise control to mitigate the effects of excess noise in the workplace.

As you can see, our funding comes from a variety of external partners in addition to internally funded seed-grant projects, all of which enable a broad range of scholarship that consistently ranks us as one of our country’s top multidisciplinary research institutions. By building our scope of expertise and competing for additional research dollars, we can continue to attract top talent, build better facilities with cutting-edge equipment, and continue to benefit society as a whole.

However, we did not get here overnight or by accident.

Our research enterprise as it exists today has benefited from over 30 years of focused effort, countless brilliant minds, and unparalleled leadership that paved the way. Former Senior Vice President for Research Eva Pell, who served from 1999-2009, is largely credited with laying the building blocks that incentivized faculty, deans and administration to start working in a less siloed fashion — an interdisciplinary structure that uniquely positions Penn State to tackle big problems and is now the envy of our peers.

Home to seven major interdisciplinary research institutes and one defense-related research unit, this structure — for example — was championed by former vice president for research Neil Sharkey and enabled the creation of  the Child Maltreatment Solutions Network. The network, led by Jennie G. Noll, professor of human development and family studies, now includes faculty from seven departments across five academic colleges. In 2016, Network faculty received funding to launch a first of its kind, five-year study aimed at illuminating the bio-psych-social mechanisms that underlie the long-term negative health consequences of child maltreatment.

And in the current pandemic, with one of the largest clusters of skilled infectious disease, data and policy scientists, I can tell you we turned much of our research enterprise in a matter of weeks or even days to study all aspects of this virus. We were measured in our approach to safely continue the most critical work, and I can tell you that the spirit of collaboration is stronger than ever. Take the Manufacturing and Sterilization for COVID-19 (MASC) Initiative for example. It was launched at Penn State in March by Tim Simpson in the College of Engineering. Now more than 350 researchers and counting are contributing their expertise to design and deliver rapidly scalable solutions to help protect our health care workers who are on the frontlines. I am humbled and grateful for their exceptional accomplishments, dedication and perseverance during this pandemic. Their unyielding commitment to continually developing research advances is unmatched.

Direct biomedical intervention is only a small part of how research institutions will lead societies through this critical time. This pandemic is impacting our society in ways that many of us are only starting to realize. The extent of the economic and psychological impacts of this crisis are yet to be seen, but our top scientists are already anticipating and working to meet our future needs.

There are quite a few unknowns, but this is what I know to be true: Research institutions will continue to do this critical research work for the immediate needs of our society today. And we will continue to teach the leaders of tomorrow, setting them up for success, as they prepare our society for the future. I am excited to see where our advances and innovations will take us.

Lora Weiss is senior vice president for research at Penn State.

 

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