Welcome!
I hope you had an exciting and rejuvenating Summer. As we embark on another academic year, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion is excited to support you all as members of our diverse and vibrant community.
Our commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where every individual feels valued, respected, and empowered remains stronger than ever. This year, we will continue to advance initiatives that promote inclusive excellence throughout the College.
We encourage you to engage with the resources, programs, and events we have planned for the semester ahead. These opportunities are designed to support your personal and professional growth, foster connections and collaboration, and challenge us all to create a more equitable and just world.
Together, we can make a meaningful impact to ensure our college is a place where everyone can thrive.
Here’s to a successful Fall 2024 semester!
Dr. David L. Simpson
Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion
Dr. David Simpson is the Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion at the Eberly College of Science. In this role, he oversees the Office of Diversity and Inclusion which supports students, faculty, staff and postdocs through initiatives and programs that promote inclusive excellence.
Samia Cooperider is the Director of Undergraduate Equity Programs at the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. In this role, she recruits and supports undergraduate students across the college, including those who participate in university scholarship programs and students in the First Year in Science and Engineering (FISE) living-learning community. While supporting students, she creates and implements programming to engage students about and across differences, promote respectful dialogue, and create change for the better.
Dr. Aaron Mattingly-Daniels is the Director of Graduate Equity Programs at the Eberly College of Science. In this role, he recruits and supports both prospective and current graduate students across the college in alignment with diversity and inclusion initiatives. This includes support for conferences, the Graduate School Open House, Summer Research Opportunities Program, as well as developing inclusive academic and professional programming for graduate students throughout the year.
Tracie White is an Administrative Assistant for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion in the Eberly College of Science at Penn State University. In this role, she coordinates events hosted by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, supports several Diversity and Inclusion-related committees and programs within the college, and is responsible for managing day-to-day operations in the office.
Sophie Lelei serves as a Graduate Assistant for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion in the Eberly College of Science. In this capacity, she supports undergraduate students in their daily educational and scholarly pursuits, including organizing student programs, workshops, and cultural month events. Additionally, she provides guidance to the undergraduate program assistants in the First-Year in Science and Engineering (FISE) living-learning community. Sophie is currently a second-year MS/PhD student in the Geography program.
Office of Diversity & Inclusion Kudos Initiative
At the Eberly College of Science, the people within our community represent the critical anchors that allow us to succeed with respect to our mission and core values. Your exemplary contributions deserve recognition, and we invite nominations for “kudos” to amplify the visibility of our extraordinary community.
The Kudos series recognizes faculty, staff, postdocs, and graduate and undergraduate students for college-related work they’ve done that goes above and beyond their job duties (for employees) or their academic responsibilities (for students). Kudos nominations are based on the college’s Code of Mutual Respect and Cooperation.
Paul Robeson Cultural Center: Back to State Fun Friday
Dates: Friday, September 6, 2024
Location: 21 HUB-Robeson Center
Time: 12 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Join the PRCC for our first Fun Friday of the semester! Stop by our center for FREE BBQ, bracelet making, and more. If you have any questions, please email apb6828@psu.edu.
Graduate School 2024 Welcome Engagement Fair
Dates: Wednesday, August 28
Location: Heritage and Alumni Hlls, HUB-Robeson Center
Time: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
All new and continuing Penn State graduate students are invited to our 2024 Welcome Engagement Fair! Whether this is your first or you are a returning student, you can explore and learn about the network of support and community resources available to help you excel as a graduate student!
• Hear from Levon T. Esters, dean of the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School
• Learn about University resources and support offices
• Connect with graduate student organizations
• Have fun! Enjoy snacks, refreshments, a photo booth, prizes, swag, and more!
No need to register; just stop by Alumni Hall and Heritage Hall in the HUB-Robeson Center to join the fun!
Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence
The Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence has many Fall 2024 workshops and short courses, especially for graduate students and postdocs. These programs focus on pedagogical development and other professional development, such as writing a teaching philosophy statement. A list of programs can be accessed from their website. All Schreyer Institute programs are free for anyone at Penn State. Upcoming programs include:
Assessing Student Learning—August 27 from 1:00-2:15 pm on Zoom. Registration.
TA 101: Survive and Thrive—August 29 from 10:10-11:10 am on Zoom. Registration.
How to Plan a Class Session—September 4 from 10:10-11:25am on Zoom. Registration. This workshop is also being offered on September 10. Choose whichever date/time works for your schedule.
How to Plan a Class Session: September 10 from 6:45-8:00 p.m. on Zoom. This workshop is also being offered on September 4. Choose whichever date/time works for your schedule. Registration.
Course in College Teaching—September 11-October 30 from 1:30-3:30 pm on Zoom. Application.
Stantec Equity & Diversity Scholarship
We recognize the value and advantages of diverse ideas within our communities. We are committed to providing a platform to support the next generation of leaders and champions in our industry, and we are focused on growing diversity within the science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM) fields.
The Stantec Equity & Diversity Scholarship will contribute to the creation of a critical mass of talented students that will fully represent our industry—it will provide an environment in which all can thrive academically and professionally. Through this scholarship, Stantec will award $200,000 annually. We believe everyone has a right to education, and we are committed to providing people in historically underrepresented and Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC) groups with financial aid.
