Penn State Global 2020 Annual Report - Alumni Relations & Special Initiatives

The Office of Global Programs

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

LOCAL TO GLOBAL: FULFILLING THE MISSION OF A LAND- GRANT UNIVERSITY

ALUMNI RELATIONS & SPECIAL INITIATIVES

Penn State is proud to have the largest dues paying Alumni Association in the world. With more than 727,000 alumni around the globe, the Penn State alumni network is a powerful way for alumni to stay connected with one another and with the University.

Jennifer Theiss, Senior Assistant Director of Alumni Relations & Special Initiatives

Every day, Penn Staters are making a difference in their communities around the world. Even our most recent graduates are making an impact. Shah Chowdhury (class of 2018) received the 2020 Diana Award, regarded as one of the most prestigious accolades young individuals can receive for their social and humanitarian work.

This year, Penn State’s international alumni demonstrated the “We Are” spirit through increased volunteerism and philanthropy. Through philanthropic gifts to the We Are All Penn State Fund and the International Student Emergency Fund, alumni provided critically important funding that helped students navigate dire financial emergencies and continue their education. Members of the Penn State Alumni Association Chapters in Shanghai and Beijing championed fundraising efforts and purchased 1,000 N95 masks and 3,500 disposable surgical masks that they sent to University Health Services in a time when there were severe shortages.

Alumni then stepped up and supported students whose plans for international internships and education experiences were dashed due to the pandemic. They served as guest speakers in classes and virtual career panel discussions to share lessons learned from their own education abroad experiences and offered sage advice to students about navigating career planning during uncertain times. They opened doors to their companies for Penn State First students in Shanghai and Seoul, and mentored students in the many mentoring programs sponsored by academic colleges and departments across the University.

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GLOBAL PROGRAMS DEVELOPMENT FUNDS

2020 saw continuing efforts to support our international students during a global pandemic, and plan for increased access to Education Abroad, as we prepare the travel later in 2021. Below we describe two of the most important development funds.

We Are All Penn State Fund for International Students Each year, Penn State welcomes more than 9,000 international students from 140 countries to study at this world-class and globally engaged land-grant University—and many face unique challenges that can hamper their academic success, such as food insecurity or anxiety for the challenges their families are experiencing back home. Most of these pressing concerns involve financial barriers that prohibit students from taking advantage of all the meaningful opportunities that epitomize the quintessential Penn State experience.

The We Are All Penn State Fund for International Students provides emergency grants to students facing financial hardship that often results in housing and food insecurity. It also supports innovative professional development opportunities and cultural programs that foster a critical sense of belonging and community. Gifts to this fund allow international students to experience everything that makes Penn State such a special University.

Penn State Education Abroad Fund Penn State is ranked tenth in the nation for the number of students it sent abroad in the 2018-19 academic year. While more than 3,000 students across the entire University typically participate in an education abroad experience every year, many more miss out due to the cost. Through the support of the Education Abroad Fund, an increasing number of students can travel to parts of the world that they never thought they would see—and have experiences that inform what they set out to accomplish with their careers and in their lives as global citizens. This fund allows Global Programs to increase access for all our students.

Being exposed to new ideas, perspectives, and experiences not only provides Penn Staters with a well-rounded education but also shapes them into well-rounded people. And providing transformative opportunities is exactly what Penn State’s Study Abroad Fund is designed to do.

Although the global pandemic prevented us from sending students abroad this academic year, Penn State's Office of Education Abroad is diligently preparing and making plans for doing so as soon as it is safe to resume international travel. Expanding students' global perspectives and immersive international experiences is a cornerstone for preparing our students to be responsible global citizens and leaders.

Gifts to the fund help make life-changing experiences possible for students looking to learn about our world and their place within it. For more information contact Jennifer Theiss at jaw24@psu.edu

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GLOBAL ADVISORY COUNCIL UPDATE

The Global Advisory Council and Global Programs leadership during a visit to the CSL Behring Fermentation Facility housed in the AgEngineering Building at Penn State. The tour provided an opportunity tothank Paul Perreault, CEO of CSL and former member of the GAC, andhighlight CSL's corporate philanthropy to Penn State.

The global pandemic has limited university travel and sidelined its study abroad programs, but it has not stopped the University’s Global Advisory Council from continuing to strengthen Penn State’s reach and standing around the world.

The Council was formed by Executive Vice President and Provost Nick Jones in 2017. Members are leaders from industry, academia and governmental organizations who share broad perspectives on the university’s global engagement strategies. They serve as Penn State global ambassadors in their home countries, building fellowship and identifying opportunities for Penn Staters around the globe to connect with one another and with the University.

Council met virtually in June and November to provide feedback and recommendations about Penn State’s 2020-2025 strategic plan for global engagement.

“The whole goal is to help make Penn State a truly great global university. To do that we are engaging successful alumni and faculty who have global connections,” says chairman Bill Lane ’75 Bus, ’79 MA Capital. “All of us care deeply about Penn State and devote an enormous amount of energy to this endeavor.”

This year, council members served as speakers during the Global Careers Institute, championed fundraising efforts to support education abroad and international students; and participated in virtual panel discussions with first-semester international students enrolled in the Penn State First Program in Shanghai and Seoul.

For more information on the Global Advisory Council, contact Jennifer Theiss, Senior Assistant Director of Alumni Relations & Special Initiatives at jaw24@psu.edu

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