A Magazine of Penn State Philanthropy
AIMING HIGH With the close of the University’s current fundraising campaign in sight, private support is realizing the vision of A Greater Penn State
Fall 2021
CALLING ALL PENN STATERS Over the past thirty-eight years, Lion Line has become one of the nation’s leading university calling centers. It’s also been home to more than 8,000 student callers, true-blue Penn State fans who care about keeping alumni and friends connected to the University. Now branded the Lion Line Engagement Center, it’s newly resourced to go beyond calling via texting, video messaging, and more. It’s a place where students like Brian Leichtman (below) are on the other end of the phone excited to share their Penn State pride with you, whether it’s by inviting your support for the University community or just by offering a friendly “We Are.” When Lion Line is on the phone, you’ll want to take the call.
The best part of my job is when I begin a call with a stranger but end it with a friend. Every time I connect with a Penn Stater, my day gets brighter.” Brian Leichtman ’22 Eng Lion Line Supervisor
A Message from Rick Sokolov Five years ago, we set our sights on becoming a Greater Penn State. Every year since, the generosity of Penn Staters has propelled us toward this goal. Private support has broadened the ways in which we can keep a Penn State education accessible, redefined the Penn State experience for students across disciplines and campuses, driven new levels of economic impact, and positioned our world-class research institution to achieve solutions to challenges we couldn’t have previously imagined.
On the cover: the sound of game day is back as the Penn State Blue Band returns to in-person performances this fall. Turn to page 9 to learn how supporters are helping to raise the song. Photo: ©Stephanie Swindle Thomas, courtesy of Penn State College of Arts and Architecture
Thanks to our alumni and friends, we have made important progress, but we can—and must—reach higher still. With the closing of A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence just months away, this issue of We Are highlights how your support can help to realize the shared vision of a greater Penn State and the personal ambitions for success that drive our students. You’ll read about the transformative gift that brought about the new naming of the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing, a defining contribution to this campaign, our students, and the increasingly important field of nursing. You’ll be invited to join the University in combating food and housing insecurity experienced by students across the Commonwealth and meet one student already committed to the fight. Included is an introduction to Penn State’s diverse energy research and outreach that is striving to secure the future energy needs of communities around the globe. There is also a sneak peek of the reimagined, student-driven Lion Line Engagement Center, and you’ll feel your Penn State pride swell at the impact of thousands of GivingTuesday gifts on campuses and in communities around the country. There are many ways to measure greatness—in lives improved, problems solved, dreams realized, and more. For Penn Staters, there is greatness in the generosity that continues to define who we are and what Penn State, through our efforts, is able to give to the world. Thank you for inspiring us to push toward the campaign’s goals and toward a Greater Penn State.
Rick Sokolov ’71 Lib Chair, Executive Committee, A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence
Spring 2021 — we are
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WHAT IT TAKES TO THRIVE
A Penn State degree has long represented the opportunity of a lifetime for students looking to change their financial future—even today, more than 20 percent of our undergraduates are first-generation college students—but focusing on academic achievement and personal growth can be impossible when you can’t afford your next meal or your next month’s rent. Data collected
A full stomach A 2019 survey revealed that in the week prior to being surveyed, 20 percent of Penn State students had cut the size of or skipped a meal due to a lack of funds. Every Penn State campus maintains a food pantry or program to help in these situations, like Penn State Altoona’s Ivyside Eats (see back cover). Supporters can now help to stabilize and expand these efforts by funding equipment needs, providing start-up costs for new staff positions, purchasing food to keep pantry shelves stocked yearround, and more.
in 2019 revealed that 35 percent of Penn State students experience some level of food insecurity. National research suggests that 48 percent of four-year college students experience some level of housing insecurity. And for all students, unexpected hardships— like a global pandemic—and the economic consequences pose serious threats to their education.
The University Task Force on Food and Housing Security, assembled in February 2020 by President Eric Barron, is beginning to implement initial recommendations to address these challenges. Penn State alumni and friends are invited to join the effort to ensure that every Penn State student has the support they need not just to earn a degree, but to thrive.
A shoulder to lean on
A place to call home
Nothing can prepare a student
To ensure that all students have
for the turmoil of unexpected
a safe space to live, Penn State is
hardship. In 2019, the University
launching a $2.5 million pilot of
launched the Student Care &
the LiveOn Student Success Grant,
Advocacy Emergency Fund to
which provides eligible students
help Penn Staters navigate the
at University Park and eight
financial impact of personal crisis,
Commonwealth campuses with
and since the start of the COVID-19
support totaling nearly 25 percent
pandemic, the fund has supported
of their on-campus housing and
more than 1,300 students across
meal costs. Private support for the
the Commonwealth through over
LiveOn Student Success Grant in
$1 million in emergency grants.
its first year will be critical to its
With only $5,000 in available funds
ability to support students in the
remaining as of this past summer,
years to follow.
renewed investment from alumni and friends will help to refuel this essential student resource.
Penn State welcomes the partnership of alumni and friends who share in the University’s mission to provide greater food and housing security and emergency support. For more information on giving opportunities, contact Sue Harris, director of development for students affairs, at sueharris@psu.edu.
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Transformative Care A historic gift to the College of Nursing promises support for a new generation of nurse leaders
Advancing human health is among the most significant ways that Penn State impacts the world—and it is a priority of the Greater Penn State campaign. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the University’s ability to prepare well-trained health-care workers has taken on a special urgency as nurses and other frontline health-care professionals—already indispensable—have emerged as heroes of the crisis. There could be no better historical moment, then, for the most recent act of visionary, transformative philanthropy to Penn State: a landmark gift of $27.125 million to the College of Nursing from Ross and Carol Nese, longtime but, until now, anonymous supporters of the college. This is the largest-ever gift to the college and the second-largest single commitment to an academic unit in Penn State’s history. Coupled with $17.9 million in matching funds from Penn State, it will spur growth and enhance programming across nearly every aspect of the college’s operations by providing undergraduate and graduate scholarships, infrastructure and technology support, and program funding. Penn State
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we are — A Magazine of Penn State Philanthropy
has honored this remarkable commitment by renaming the college the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. “I see the impact of the Neses’ generosity on two fronts: reducing the financial burden on our students and then expanding the educational opportunities they have here in the college,” says Nikki Hill, associate professor of nursing and associate director of educational excellence at the Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence. Hill notes that the college has one of the highest percentages of first-generation students at Penn State, its undergraduates have among the highest average levels of debt at graduation, and graduate students pursuing advanced degrees in the field are often working as registered nurses to support themselves through school. “The financial support for scholarships is really going to have a huge impact on our students,” she says. “With additional support for facilities, equipment, and new programming, we can focus on leadership and professional development programs and experiential learning in specialty areas of nursing. We are not just preparing nurses–we are
“We are not just preparing nurses– we are preparing nurse leaders.” Nikki Hill, associate professor of nursing
preparing nurse leaders. The better we can prepare them here, the more rapidly they can step into leadership roles in their communities and their health-care systems after graduation.” Kyle Loose is the kind of dedicated and driven student who will benefit from the Neses’ investment in the College of Nursing—and the kind of passionate future nurse leader with potential to strengthen the field. A third-year undergraduate, Loose was drawn to nursing because it combined his interest in health care with his love of people. “I like being able to talk to patients and get to know them,” Loose says. “I want to give them a sense of security in the hospital so they feel like somebody cares about them and is really invested in their recovery.” Loose has already gravitated toward leadership roles and is currently the vice president of the Student Nurses’ Association at Penn State and the president of the National Student Nurses’ Association. He plans to pursue graduate
school to become a nurse anesthetist after completing his bachelor’s degree, and as he looks to the future, he is empowered by his experience in the nursing program at Penn State. “I feel a thousand times more confident in being with patients. I couldn’t see myself anywhere else.” “Students like Kyle have tremendous potential to make a positive difference in hospitals and physician offices, long-term care facilities, and the many other places where nurses do their crucial work,” says Laurie Badzek, dean of the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. “That’s why this investment in our college is so exciting.” She notes that the benefits reach far beyond the University, and even beyond Pennsylvania. “We’re one of the top-rated nursing programs in the country,” Badzek says. “By dramatically increasing the number of nurses we graduate and preparing them even more effectively for leadership, we can really boost our impact on the field of nursing nationwide and on the quality of care that patients receive as a result. The Neses’ incredible gift allows us to do all of that.”
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THE ENERGY UNIVERSITY
A collaborative vision for a secure global future
Energy is a Pennsylvania tradition—and a Penn State
biomass energy, coal utilization, global unconventional shales, solar photoconversion, and wind energy. Private support can expand faculty and research funding, helping to draw top-tier talent and turn big ideas into real-world outcomes to benefit society. We will facilitate energy transitions. The Center for Energy Law and Policy is a University-wide effort to address emerging energy law and policy issues. With increased support for programming and research, the center will further advance regulatory approaches through interdisciplinary research; reach more stakeholders from industry, government, and communities as thought partners; and engage more students, like Micaela Hyams (right), as leaders in problem solving along the way.
one, too. Our institution rivals the world’s top universities engaged in the topic, with energy-related education We will strengthen communities. Established through offered at every one of our colleges and campuses and a partnership between Penn State and the United more than 500 faculty leading research that spans fossil Nations Economic Commission for Europe, The Global energy; renewables and nuclear; smart grid and efficiency; policy, economics, and law; and environmental impact. Now, the Energy University initiative is advancing Penn State’s role as a global leader in energy research and education. Equally ambitious and essential, Energy University envisions a secure energy future for the planet by drawing on the collaborative and interdisciplinary strengths of the full University community—and the shared vision and generosity of Penn State alumni and friends. The initiative focuses on four goals: We will develop solutions. The Consortium for Integrated Energy Systems is a network of faculty with research expertise in renewable, non-renewable, and hybrid systems that incorporates disciplines such as
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we are — A Magazine of Penn State Philanthropy
Micaela Hyams With a background in environmental conservation, biology, education, and political science, Micaela Hyams is pursuing a J.D. at Penn State Law, a governing member of the Center for Energy Law and Policy. The 2020–21 president of Penn State Law’s Environmental Law Society, Micaela received a Public Interest Law Fund Fellowship in 2020 and aspires to work at the intersection of environmental law, energy, and infrastructure. What led you to choose Penn State Law? First, it was the Penn State community—this village of professors and professionals who are so committed to students. I also chose Penn State because I knew that I wouldn’t be in an echo chamber. I wanted to hear and engage with many perspectives on the environment and energy and policy. Building Network focuses on construction and facilities management, with goals to lower greenhouse gas emissions, improve indoor air quality, and expand manufacturing for regional economic growth. Donor investment can help to train additional scholars and regional leaders in community outreach efforts. We will advance literacy and leadership. With the nonprofit organization Project Drawdown, Penn State has launched the Drawdown Scholars Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program. This free, ten-week summer program is aimed at all undergraduate students, but especially those from underserved populations, many of whom have limited financial means. With philanthropic support, Penn State can prepare a new generation of leaders to address complex global climate issues at local and regional scales. The partnership of our alumni and friends in advancing the Energy University initiative will solidify a Penn State united in the pursuit of securing affordable, safe, and abundant energy and a prosperous world. For more information on how to support this vision, contact Eric Reinhard, director of Strategic Initiatives, at ereinhard@psu.edu.
How do we make progress amid differing perspectives? Progress comes from exploring the “why” behind differing opinions. For example, you can’t be a good attorney if you’re unwilling to read the other side’s briefs. You have to sit with the argument and the logic. We have to try to understand what makes us uncomfortable or we do a disservice to the possibilities of moving forward. What does the future of the energy sector look like to you? We have an opportunity to address the pressure points of today’s energy sector with an intentional approach attuned to social and environmental justice and to the ecological benefits we could reap. I’m thinking about how we can be sure that the people with the most to lose and gain are represented and/or advocated for throughout the transition. How can Penn State supporters play a role? By continuing to foster opportunities for engagement. A school like Penn State—one with a diverse scholarly mindset that is so rich in interdisciplinary work—is a pretty incredible space to be in at this moment.
Fall 2021 — we are Fall 2021 — we are
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A GOOD DAY’S WORK In the six years since Penn State hosted its first GivingTuesday, this international day of giving has become a signature way for Penn Staters to support each other’s ambitions, the school they love, and a vision of a better world. Last year’s twenty-fourhour digital fundraising event inspired more than 10,400 gifts to over 100 University campaigns—and empowered student organizations, alumni chapter groups, and college and campus communities during a year when support was essential and encouragement went far. Read on for a few examples, then mark your calendar—GivingTuesday 2021 happens on November 30, and more information can be found at givingtuesday.psu.edu.
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givingtuesday.psu.edu
Broadening Perspectives Delivering Aid
By teaching the principles of journalism to incarcerated writers, and compensating them for their
Penn State Remote Area Medical
contributions, Prison Journalism
(RAM) believes that no one in
Project (PJP) is changing the way stories about the criminal justice system are told. GivingTuesday
Raising the Song
need of medical care should forego treatment because it is too expensive, and GivingTuesday supporters agree. A first-time
support last year allowed PJP to launch Story of the Week, a series of
What’s behind the iconic sound
event participant in 2020, RAM
articles by incarcerated writers, and
of game day? More than 300
utilized the University community’s
to produce The Prison Reporter’s
student musicians—and thousands
support to help establish the
Guide to Journalism, a comic
of GivingTuesday supporters. The
inaugural Pennsylvania RAM clinic.
book-style textbook for in-prison
Penn State Blue Band, a longtime
With this investment, RAM is better
class use. The image above is a
GivingTuesday participant, used
positioned to fund a host site in
sketch from Brian Hindson, an artist
support last year to buy seventy
2022, secure necessary medical
incarcerated in Texas, drawn on the
new trumpets, invest in new
supplies, and acquire food and
cardboard from a boxed meal.
uniforms, and advance plans for
housing materials for volunteers.
the installation of an ethernet data port to better broadcast virtual performances. What keeps the Blue Band coming back to GivingTuesday, though, are the Penn Staters who support their efforts—a show of confidence that is felt by every person who puts on the Blue and White uniform.
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116 Old Main University Park, PA 16802
W E
A R E
P E N N
S TAT E
Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce. U. Ed DEV 22-01
Why I Give
“
I have seen the number of students who are food insecure on our campus. It is difficult to watch a peer choose between buying a textbook and a week’s worth of food.
”
Jenna Cumming ’22 found acceptance at Penn State. “I never felt a part of anything in high school,” she explained. “Penn State Altoona has given me endless opportunities to finally be who I want to be.” Today, the Human Development and Family Studies major is helping to ensure this same sense of safety and belonging for her peers by volunteering with Ivyside Eats, Penn State Altoona’s food pantry. Earlier this year, longtime Altoona supporters Steve and Nancy Sheetz made a $2.7 million gift to the campus, $500,000 of which created the first endowment for the campus pantry. For Jenna, the gift is a reminder of the strength within the Penn State Altoona community—and the lengths to which its members will go to create a happy and healthy environment for all. Learn more about how to join Penn State in fighting food and housing insecurity on page 2–3.
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