News

As an undergraduate student at Penn State, Olivia DiPrinzio discovered a passion for sustainability and pursued it to help transform the University’s approach to sustainability education. 

Andrew Waxman, assistant professor of economics and public policy at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, will give the talk, “Paying at the Pump and the Ballot Box: Electoral Penalties of Motor Fuels Taxes” at noon on Wednesday, April 23, in 157 Hosler Building on the University Park campus.

The Materials Research Institute (MRI) at Penn State has announced the recipients of the 2025 Interdisciplinary Seed Grants and Transdisciplinary Teaming Initiative awards, designed to support collaborative, high-risk research with the potential for significant societal and technological impact. 

As part of our regular “We Are!” feature, we recognize 17 Penn Staters, including one from the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, who have gone above and beyond what’s asked of them in their work at the University.  

Brandi Robinson, associate teaching professor in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, has received the 2025 Penn State Award for Community Engagement and Scholarship for her work on the Local Climate Action Program. 

Jon Nese, teaching professor and associate head of the undergraduate program in meteorology and atmospheric science in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS), is the recipient of the 2025 Undergraduate Program Leadership Award.

Erica Smithwick, distinguished professor of geography and ecology in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, is the recipient of the 2025 W. LaMarr Kopp International Achievement Award.

Five University faculty members, including one from the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, have received 2025 Faculty Scholar Medals for Outstanding Achievement.

The 2025 Richard E. Tressler Lecture in Materials will be held at 3:05 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, in 101 Agricultural Sciences and Industries Building on the Penn State University Park campus. Arthur Martin, vice president of research and development for North America at Arkema, will deliver the lecture, “Arkema: Innovative Materials for a Sustainable World” and receive the 2025 R.E. Tressler Award.

A group of 17 academic leaders from across Penn State recently completed the 2025 Excellence in Academic Leadership (EAL) program — an experience designed to strengthen leadership effectiveness and support ongoing professional growth.