We Are — Fall 2023

A Place for All Passions

From curtain-up to kickoff, philanthropy is inspiring Penn State ambitions of every variety

An Unrivaled Collection

John Miner never earned a Penn State degree; in fact, he never earned a college degree at all. A Chambersburg area native, John found his way into the University community as an avid sports fan—and into Penn State history as a prolific collector. Thanks to John’s priceless gift made in 2009, Penn State Mont Alto is home to the University’s only comprehensive catalog of iconic football booster buttons, each hiding the game’s final score on a piece of paper taped to its back and displayed in a custom cabinet John commissioned as part of his contribution. John passed away in the fall of 2011 at the age of 84, but his love for the Blue and White lives on—in 960 buttons and an immeasurable feeling of Penn State pride. To see more of the collection, visit raise.psu.edu/PSUbuttons

On the cover: Charlene Gross, School of Theatre Fashion Archive director (center), examines a historic garment from the collection with undergraduate student interns Emma Houston (left) and Beatrix Stickney (right). Read more about how private support is fueling Penn State research on page 8.

Photo credit: Emily Sikora, courtesy of Penn State College of Arts and Architecture.

A Message from Dave Lieb

Across the Commonwealth this season, the ambitions of Penn State students are on full display. Classrooms are buzzing, libraries are packed, stands are loud. The exciting rhythms of a new semester are proud reminders that our University is shaped by a passionate community—and year after year, this energy endures with the support of alumni and friends.

In this issue of We Are magazine, we celebrate the aspirations found on our campuses and the passions of our donors that, when translated into private support, empower opportunity. You’ll learn how gifts of all varieties are advancing unique, interdisciplinary research efforts in topics such as the science of creativity and the preservation of costuming across centuries. You will read about a gift—doubled through the University’s concluded Educational Equity Matching Program—that’s increasing the accessibility of treatment for children with speech pathologies while addressing a representation gap in care providers. You’ll get to visit one of Penn State’s most unique collections of sports memorabilia gifted by a Penn State fan who never stepped foot in a college classroom, and Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Patrick Kraft will tell you about a new fan tradition that is impacting students off the field. We will introduce you to a Penn State student who, with the support of scholarships and donor investment in internship opportunities, is blazing a path for women in sports reporting, and we will share numbers that attempt to quantify the immeasurable impact of collective giving to the University.

We are a community of tens of thousands of enrolled students and hundreds of thousands of alumni, friends, and fans. Our individual Penn State stories number as many as we do. But we all share a fire for improving the world, a dream of creating something new, a passion for accomplishing great things, and a dedication to doing it together. Thank you for your ongoing support.

David J. Lieb Interim Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations

BETTER TOGETHER

The roar of the crowd on game day. Thousands of graduation caps flying side by side toward the sky. There is a powerful vitality in the moments when Penn Staters join together and powerful opportunity when the joining together is expressed in generosity. Here’s a look at numbers from the 2022-23 academic year that demonstrate how—at every level—the desire to give is a defi the Penn State community.

in Heres a look at numbers from the 2022-23

defining quality of

$23.1 MILLION

TOTAL AMOUNT RAISED THROUGH GIFTS OF $1,000 OR LESS

230K+

NUMBER OF ALUMNI AND FRIENDS WHO MADE A GIFT

7 7,948

NUMBER OF ALUMNI, FRIENDS, AND STUDENTS WHO MADE THEIR FIRST GIFT TO THE UNIVERSITY

63

HIGHEST NUMBER OF YEARS IN A ROW THAT ONE PENN STATE SUPPORTER HAS MADE A CONTRIBUTION TO THE UNIVERSITY

13,100

NUMBER OF GIFTS MADE ON GIVINGTUESDAY

2,285

NUMBER OF GIFTS MADE VIA LET’S GROW STATE, PENN STATE’S CROWDFUNDING PLATFORM

CAREGIVERS THE GIVING OF

The Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development— founded in Lancaster County in 1936 in response to the polio epidemic—has long been a beacon of hope to Pennsylvania families and a philanthropic powerhouse in its efforts to bring equity and opportunity to the field of speech-language pathology. The center’s present-day success, however, has proven a hard-fought journey.

When James DeBord stepped onboard as president of the Schreiber Center eleven years ago, the organization was in dire straits. The demand for its services—namely, education and therapy programs for children with disabilities, developmental delays, and acquired injuries—had far exceeded its capacity as a provider. Parents seeking urgent care for their child’s speech-language pathology, for example, languished on a two-year waiting list—a deeply insufficient standard of care rooted in systemic challenges.

“Like thirty-six other states, Pennsylvania mandates that children with a qualified disability be covered by Medicaid, but because treatment costs tend to exceed reimbursements, many health care providers choose not to offer outpatient services at all,” says DeBord. “That meant the Schreiber

Center was sort of the lone outpost offering outpatient treatment in the region, and when I arrived, we were understandably struggling with the scale and cost of services.”

DeBord swung into motion, executing a financial restructuring, ramping up a modernized fundraising operation, and forging new strategic partnerships with more than 200 colleges and universities nationwide. Resettled on a stronger foundation, the Schreiber Center steadily expanded its staff of therapists. A dramatic turnaround followed: The wait time for seeing patients plummeted from two years to a matter of weeks, and a construction project is now underway at its location in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to add 21,000 square feet of space to the existing 34,000-square-foot facility, the latest manifestation of a long decade of frenetic growth.

As this progress gained steam, DeBord and the Schreiber Center’s board of directors were determined to continue their efforts to improve access and opportunity in the field of speechlanguage pathology by working to eliminate obstacles to recruiting talented students from underrepresented backgrounds. As of 2022, only

The Schreiber Center faced an urgent need for more specialists in speech-language pathology. Philanthropy— and a partnership with Penn State—made the difference.

“When you look into the eyes of a parent who thought they’d never be able to talk to their child or squeeze their hand, you understand the power of what we do.”

—James DeBord, President, Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development

8.9 percent of certified practitioners belong to racially minoritized groups, compared to a nationwide minoritized population of 38.4 percent. To that end, the center established an endowed masters-level scholarship in 2021, bolstered by the now concluded Educational Equity Matching Program, in Penn State’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders.

Anicia Anderson, who graduated in May from the program, was an inaugural recipient.

“I’d earned my undergraduate degree from Penn State in 2021, but honestly, the costs associated with going on to pursue a master’s degree were daunting,” recalled Anderson. “Earning this scholarship gave me the financial freedom to take the next big step in my education without placing a financial burden on my family.”

“I’m proud to be part of rising generation of clinicians who are diversifying the field and hopefully addressing the gaps in care.”

—Anicia Anderson ’21, ’23g, first recipient of the Schreiber Center for Pediatric Development Educational Equity Graduate Scholarship

Anderson, a native of New Haven County in Connecticut, was born to parents who had emigrated from Jamaica and put down roots in the United States in the late 1990s. Anderson’s mom became a certified public accountant, and her dad earned his masters of business administration. Their passion for higher education inspired Anderson, who discovered during her clinical work and externships that helping others—especially children—was an immensely rewarding experience.

“People think of speech-language pathology as dealing with articulation and language, and it is that, but there are also medical issues at play related to swallowing and cognition,” Anderson says. “These conditions appear across all populations, but when you have practitioners and experts who don’t reflect the communities they’re serving, there’s a disconnect. That’s why I’m proud to be part of rising generation of clinicians who are diversifying the field and hopefully addressing the gaps in care.”

DeBord, for his part, is keen to make sure that people with disabilities are not left out of the conversation around diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, so that no person in need of care falls through the cracks.

“When you look into the eyes of a parent who thought they’d never be able to talk to their child or squeeze their hand, you understand the power of what we do,” he says. “Our therapists and educators do terrific work. Now, our great challenge is to mobilize the resources to make these services accessible. If the center’s scholarship at Penn State can be one more resource pulling diverse young people into the field of speech-language pathology, then we’re proud to be part of the solution.”

A LEAGUE OF HER OWN

ON TELEVISIONS

ACROSS THE COUNTRY, A PENN STATER IS MAKING A NAME FOR HERSELF— AND PHILANTHROPY IS HELPING TO PAVE THE WAY.

Photo Credit: Kami Brand Photography

GROWING UP WATCHING SPORTS ON TV WITH HER FATHER, DESTINY SANCHEZ ’24 DREAMED OF JOINING THE WOMEN WHO HAD CARVED A SPACE FOR THEMSELVES IN SPORTS BROADCASTING. TODAY, THE FOURTHYEAR DONALD P. BELLISARIO COLLEGE OF COMMUNICATIONS STUDENT IS REPORTING FROM THE SIDELINES AND SETTING AN EXAMPLE FOR YOUNG GIRLS WITH DREAMS LIKE HERS. THANKS TO SCHOLARSHIPS AND DONOR SUPPORT FOR INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCES, DESTINY’S CAREER IS TAKING OFF—AND SHE’S ALREADY THINKING ABOUT HOW TO GIVE BACK.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO COME TO PENN STATE?

When I visited Penn State, I immediately knew there would be endless opportunities for growth here. However, I wasn’t sure what would be possible money-wise. I buckled down, got good grades, and did everything I could to create the best situation for myself. Thanks to these efforts and the generosity of donors, I was able to choose Penn State. Through the Bunton-Waller Undergraduate Fellowship program, I received a full-tuition scholarship and had a smooth transition into college life thanks to living on the same floor as other fellows, taking seminars together, and receiving mentorship from program faculty and staff. I’m also a recipient of the Bellisario College Fellowship, which has allowed me to interact with alumni and industry leaders, participate in professional development experiences, and mentor current and prospective communications students.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT BEING A PENN STATER?

The pride and sense of unity among our community are so strong. Also, Penn Staters love to help Penn Staters. I’ve received support from industry professionals because they know what it means to be a Nittany Lion and are proud to continue the tradition of mentorship that they experienced as students, too.

HOW HAVE INTERNSHIPS SHAPED YOUR PENN STATE STORY AND YOUR CAREER ASPIRATIONS?

Internships have helped me narrow my interests and hone my skills in sports journalism. This summer, I interned as a sideline reporter for the Falmouth Commodores, a baseball team in Falmouth, Massachusetts. All summer, I worked hard to build relationships with players and coaches, listening to the highs and lows of their experiences in baseball and in life. I discovered how to tell compelling stories not only about them as athletes but also as humans. Now I know how important it is to establish trust with athletes, remain patient, and report in a way that does their experiences justice.

HOW HAS PHILANTHROPIC SUPPORT ENHANCED THESE EXPERIENCES?

Support from donors has helped to alleviate the financial burdens of my internship experiences—things like housing expenses, transportation, and food. After my second year, for example, I could afford to intern with a summer collegiate baseball league in Charlottesville, Virginia, thanks to support from the David Skidmore Journalism Scholarship and the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications Alumni Society Neal J. Friedman Internship Fund. That experience

prepared me for other opportunities like my job as a reporter with Penn State Athletics, which, with support from the Bellisario Fellowship, took me to the Rose Bowl this past year and has enabled so many other memorable sideline experiences.

WHAT’S ON YOUR PENN STATE BUCKET LIST?

I really want to dance in THON™ with my sister, Amber, who’s also a Penn State student. After experiencing THON together last year, we decided to raise funds that could qualify us to dance as a pair in THON 2024. For me, as a recipient of philanthropy, giving back is a big priority.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN TEN YEARS?

My goal is to be a reporter at a national network within the next ten years. Along the way, I want to establish myself as a credible journalist known for treating athletes and coaches well. I also hope that younger girls see me and know that they, too, can go and chase their dreams.

CULTIVATING CURIOSITY

The word “research” often conjures images of lab coats, microscopes, and test tubes, but our research enterprise is much broader. As multifaceted as the University itself, research at Penn State often takes surprising forms as faculty and students—in the arts, the humanities, the social sciences, and more—reach across traditional academic silos to collaborate with colleagues from other fields who bring fresh perspectives to bear on intriguing questions. Interdisciplinary endeavors are yet another space in which philanthropy is making a difference at Penn State, and here too, there is remarkable variety: gifts at every level, gifts in kind, faculty support, and more. The following stories offer a glimpse of how private support is driving discovery.

PITCH EXPLORATION LAB

Music has a tremendous power to bring people together, often across divides of age, background, or culture. It turns out that the science behind music can do that as well. Penn State’s Pitch Exploration Lab draws together faculty and students from a wide range of disciplines in addition to music— including statistics, neuroscience, biology, and data science—to tackle questions about music, the brain, and psychology. Led by Bryan Nichols, associate professor of music education and conductor of the University Choir, the Pitch Lab provides a collaborative environment in which students explore topics like how the abilities to identify intervals and to detect error in pitches are related and how rhythm perception operates in the brain. “Pitch Lab is entirely student directed: They lead the meetings, their curiosities drive the research questions they explore, and they push each other to really think through those questions in complex ways,” says Nichols. “It’s beautiful.” And in yet another example of music as a community bond, Penn Staters have supported the Pitch Lab with small-scale gifts on GivingTuesday, which are helping to fund such expenses as equipment purchases and travel for data collection.

Gifts to support research at Penn State are as varied as the questions being asked

THE FASHION ARCHIVE AND THE CENTER FOR VIRTUAL/MATERIAL STUDIES

Penn State researchers are exploring the role of textiles in the histories of visual and performance arts through a partnership between two entities in the College of Arts and Architecture: the Fashion Archive in the School of Theatre, which houses roughly 3,000 items of historic clothing and accessories that chart the progression of fashion from the 1850s to the present, and the Center for Virtual/Material Studies (CVMS), which supports innovative research at the intersection of materiality studies and computation. “This is an exciting collaboration because it allows students from different disciplines to expand their view of themselves and their fields,” says Charlene Gross, associate professor of costume design and director of the School of Theatre Fashion Archive. Currently, students and faculty from both the Fashion Archive and CVMS are creating a digital inventory of the archive that will massively expand access to this unique collection for historians, artists, and costumers at Penn State and around the world. The archive itself consists almost entirely of donated items, and a Student Engagement Fund created by longtime donors Michael J. and Aimee Rusinko Kakos is supporting internships at the archive.

COGNITIVE NEUROSCIENCE OF CREATIVITY LABORATORY

Creativity is often viewed as something intangible and immeasurable, but the researchers at the Cognitive Neuroscience of Creativity Laboratory (CNCL) are challenging these notions. Led by Dr. Roger Beaty, assistant professor of psychology, the CNCL uses a variety of approaches, including neuroimaging and computational analyses, to better understand how creativity functions in the brain. The lab’s researchers include undergraduate and graduate students whose areas of study incorporate psychology, neuroscience, computer science, statistics, and even music. They have recently found that in science education, the extent of students’ creative thinking predicts their academic achievement, and they are now testing the benefits of curricula that emphasize creativity. The CNCL is directly benefitting from endowed faculty support: Beaty currently holds the Dr. Frances Keesler Graham Early Career Professorship, which was created by donor Mary Graham to honor her late mother and provides funding to support the research and teaching endeavors of a promising faculty member in the first ten years of their career. “Creativity is only going to become more and more important in society,” says Beaty. “I think it’s critical that we understand how it works so that we can better incorporate it into education.”

For information on how to support these or other University research efforts, contact Eric Reinhard, director of strategic intiatives, at ereinhard@psu.edu.

Why I Give

In his first year as Penn State’s Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics, Patrick Kraft helped to promote a winning academic and athletic experience unlike any other. Through his generous support of One Big Week this past year—an annual friendly fundraising initiative between Big Ten schools—Kraft sparked Penn State supporters from around the world to help address student hunger by making gifts to campus food pantries. Ultimately, Penn Staters made the most gifts and contributed more support than any other Big Ten competitor. “It feels good to know that Penn Staters will always show up for one another when they need it,” Kraft says. “I’m continually inspired as a member of this community, and I’m excited to see just how much of a collective impact we can make during this year’s One Big Week.” One Big Week 2023 will run from October 15-22 and once again challenge Penn Staters everywhere to give to emergency funds and student food pantries across the Commonwealth. For more information, please visit onebigweek.psu.edu.

Penn State is committed to affirmative action, equal opportunity, and the diversity of its workforce. U. Ed DEV 24-01

Penn State has an incredibly strong community, and when we act together, there is nothing that we cannot accomplish.

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WE ARE PENN STATE