Advocate Penn State

05/28/2026

Every wonder what our team does leading up to and during the ‘budget month’ every year?

We took time to talk with Erin Wachter, Penn State’s director of state relations, to learn more about the process and what to look for this year.

Read more here:

Erin Wachter, director of state relations for the Office of Government and Community Relations, discusses her work in Harrisburg, how this year’s state budget differs from previous years, and what Penn Staters can do to help make the case for increased funding for Penn State and the students and c...

05/28/2026

Partnerships between Penn State students and their local communities pull the three land-grant pillars -- education, research, and service -- on full display.

Penn State Lehigh Valley students in the Common Intellectual Experience partner with local businesses to help them find ways to be more sustainable.

How can a small business be more sustainable? A group of students and two community partners sought to answer this question during the Common Intellectual Experience, an initiative that teams Penn State Lehigh Valley students with local small-business owners to address challenges around sustainabili...

05/27/2026

Not all student journeys are created equal – that’s why there is a Penn State path for everyone.

Mary started her college career after 11 years in the U.S. Army, both on active duty and in the National Guard, and is on track to graduate in 2028.

A triple major, veteran and emergency medical technician, Penn State adult learner Mary Tonge balances academics with helping her community, all while staying active on campus.

05/27/2026

Class is in session, and performance-based funding is on the syllabus.

Make sure you’re following along to keep up with our campaign to ensure our first funding increase since 2019-20.

05/26/2026

The voices and experiences of our students give us the energy to continue to fight for increased funding for Penn State – and we have an awesome opportunity to do that this year.

Hear from Jude York, current Lion Caucus President, about why he thinks advocacy and Capital Day are so important.

This is another part of our partnership with CommAgency to cover all angles of Capital Day this year!

05/14/2026

From internships and fellowships to real-world research opportunities, Penn State’s partnership with Westinghouse Electric Company is helping students gain hands-on experience in the future of nuclear energy.

This collaboration is creating new pathways for students to develop the technical skills and industry experience needed to power the next generation of energy innovation.

Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi and Westinghouse Electric Company President Dan Sumner signed a new MOU on May 6, strengthening their partnership with a five-year agreement to continue advancing nuclear research, with specific focus on workforce education supporting the development and deployme...

05/13/2026

From the classroom to real-world forecasting, Penn State students from the Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences are getting hands-on experience with the tools shaping the future of meteorology.

Through a new partnership with Climavision, students and researchers will have access to real-time weather radar data, industry expertise, and applied learning opportunities that prepare them for careers in weather science and beyond. It’s another example of how Penn State connects students with cutting-edge technology and real-world experiences from day one.

A new partnership between Penn State and weather technology company Climavision aims to open research and training opportunities for students and faculty, and potentially help advance weather detection and warning across the commonwealth.

05/13/2026

The 1,500+ students graduating from Penn State World Campus range in age from 18 to 67, come from a variety of backgrounds, including military families, Pennsylvania residents, and international students.

Dig into this semester's graduating class more below!

The spring members of the Penn State World Campus Class of 2026 include 1,526 graduates who are earning degrees from 100 different academic programs.

05/13/2026

Some of our advocates added their own messages to their outreach to lawmakers during our Capital Day advocacy campaign.

Check out how they personalized their advocacy!

05/12/2026

For 19 weeks, these deputy sheriffs trained at Penn State to prepare to head back to communities across Pennsylvania, ready to serve.

Composed of 38 deputies from 21 counties around the commonwealth, the Penn State University-run Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff Training program's graduating class is the 73rd since Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) selected the Penn State Justice and Safety Institute (JASI), which is part of Penn State Outreach, as the academy’s administrator in 2000.

The latest class to complete the Penn State-run Pennsylvania Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff Training Program look to make a positive impact in their home communities after graduating from the program on May 15.