Explore how to live and lead with dignity.

When: Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Where: Hintz Family Alumni Center, University Park, PA 16802


State College Borough
Proud partner of PA Dignity Day

Penn State and State College Borough are partnering once again and will host PA Dignity Day on Wednesday, October 15, as part of the international celebration of Global Dignity Day. This year’s event will feature a free half-day conference that includes keynote speakers, dignity training, and community discussions, where you can share your insights about fostering dignity in our communities with fellow community members.

Everyone attending the entire event can enjoy a delicious buffet lunch and the opportunity to network with fellow attendees, exchanging ideas and experiences. By sharing our ideas, listening to each other, and working collaboratively, we can transform our communities into places where every individual feels safe, seen, heard, and valued.

For inquiries about PA Dignity Day, please contact us at padignityday@psu.edu.

The emotional volatility associated with having our dignity honored or violated cannot be overstated. When people feel that their value and worth are recognized in relationships, they experience a sense of well-being that enables them to grow and flourish. If, in contrast, their dignity is routinely injured, relationships are experienced as a source of pain and suffering…. Why is this knowledge important for leadership? If we are going to lead people, we better understand them.

—Donna Hicks, Ph.D., Leading with Dignity

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Global Dignity Day and the Dignity Index

Global Dignity Day is a celebration of unity in the belief that everyone deserves to live a life of dignity. First observed in 2008, Global Dignity Day is held on the third Wednesday in October in more than 80 countries.

The Dignity Index measures how we communicate during disagreements, highlighting the importance of using language that fosters connection rather than conflict. Ray Block, Ph.D., professor of political science and African American studies at Penn State, explains how the Dignity Index works and why it’s an essential tool for creating respectful, solution-focused conversations.

Take the Global Dignity Pledge