The latest news and information about Penn State Outreach and its impact on the Commonwealth.
Penn State Outreach is pleased to name the Pennsylvania Office of Rural Health (PORH) as the inaugural recipient of the Commonwealth Commitment Serving Pennsylvania Award, honoring more than three decades dedicated to ensuring equitable access to high quality, affordable care and increasing the health status of rural commonwealth residents.
Penn State Outreach is pleased to name Robert Speel, Ph.D., as the inaugural recipient of the Commonwealth Commitment Inspiring Discovery Award for his work presenting to the community, authoring articles for publication, acting as a trusted media interview subject, and leading place-based learning opportunities for students.
Penn State Outreach is pleased to name Ryan Hassler, Ph.D., as the inaugural recipient of the Commonwealth Commitment Preparing Students Award for his work with Engineering Ahead, a program he has coordinated to prepare first-year Penn State Berks engineering students for the demands of pursuing their college degree.
What begins as a summer camp experience can shape a lifetime. Rachel Cole’s journey from Shaver’s Creek camper to Penn State Outreach program manager shows how meaningful experiences, mentorship, and a sense of belonging can inspire a career dedicated to helping others grow.
Recent Penn State graduate Noa Diggs is turning the mentorship and support she received as a student into a career focused on helping others succeed. Through her internship with Penn State Outreach’s Extended Learning Partnerships, Diggs is gaining hands-on experience in program coordination while building the skills needed to support and advocate for future generations of students.
The unit’s updated name better reflects their work connecting learners, programs, and partners beyond traditional academic settings.
Joe Whitehead’s passion for birds began in childhood and has grown into a career dedicated to conservation, education, and mentorship. As manager of the Klingsberg Aviary at Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center, Joe helps visitors connect with wildlife while guiding students toward careers in the field. Learn how his work is inspiring curiosity, shaping future professionals, and strengthening the bond between people and the natural world.
Creating audio postcards for WPSU’s Slice of Pennsylvania series helped prepare students for careers in broadcasting or podcasting by teaching them different avenues and mediums for storytelling.
A Penn State partnership bridging generations and culture is helping multilingual international students develop the communication, social and intercultural skills they need for academic success and career readiness.
As a member of the inaugural Readiness Institute Summer Discovery cohort in 2021, Chiara Harris began her Penn State journey searching for purpose, connection, and opportunity during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic. Four years later, she graduates from Penn State as a first-generation college student, former Junior Instructor, and student leader reflecting on the experiences, mentorship, and community that helped shape her path forward.