Penn State Outreach

08/27/2026

Meet Mandy DiBella, whose work at The Arboretum at Penn State helps bring people closer to the beauty of nature and the spaces around them. 🌷🌞

In our latest blog, we're taking a closer look at Mandy's story, her passion for the Arboretum, and the meaningful role she plays within the Penn State community. From the work she does each day to the experiences she helps create, Mandy is part of what makes the Arboretum such a special place to learn, explore, and connect with nature. 🌱

Get to know Mandy and read her full story https://bit.ly/4irV2eg

Mandy DiBella’s work at The Arboretum at Penn State goes far beyond the plants visitors see. As curator of living collections, she connects plants, people, and information, helping transform the Arboretum into a living resource for education, research, conservation, and community engagement.

08/25/2026

Preparing to serve Pennsylvania takes more than learning the job — it takes building the skills, confidence and connections to put that knowledge into practice.

Thirty-three newly hired deputy sheriffs recently completed Penn State’s 19-week Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff Training Program at University Park. Administered by the Penn State Justice and Safety Institute (JASI), the academy combines classroom instruction with hands-on training in areas including Pennsylvania law, courtroom security, first aid, ethics and defensive tactics.

Along the way, the deputies also became a team — supporting one another through the challenges of the academy and preparing to take what they learned back to communities across the Commonwealth.

Since 2000, Penn State JASI has administered the academy for the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, helping prepare generations of sheriffs and deputy sheriffs to serve Pennsylvania.

Read more about the newest class and their experience at Penn State: bit.ly/4zEFMRl

Although they had come from counties across the state, 33 newly hired deputy sheriffs became close as they learned and grew together during the Penn State–run Sheriff and Deputy Sheriff Training Program. The class graduates together on August 21.

08/24/2026

Welcome ✨ H O M E ✨ Penn Staters.

08/14/2026

The perfect date? 🤔 August 14, of course! 💙 Happy 814 Day, Happy Valley!

07/30/2026

✨ Our National Intern Day celebration continues! Please join us in welcoming Penn State Outreach's Digital Content Creation Intern, Annalise Lugo! ✨

Annalise is a senior at Penn State University majoring in Media Studies with a specialization in Media Effects. She has a passion for creativity and hopes to build a career in the entertainment or business industry, where she can bring ideas to life through storytelling.

When she's not in class, you can probably find Annalise listening to music, creating art, playing video games, cooking or baking something sweet, or planning her next travel adventure. 🎨🎮✈️

When it comes to social media, Instagram Reels are her favorite. Whether she's discovering new creators, finding inspiration, or getting caught in the endless scroll (we've all been there 😅), it's her platform of choice.

Of course, we had to ask what her lifelong theme song would be, and she chose "Break Free" by Ariana Grande and Zedd. 🎶 Safe to say we'll have that one stuck in our heads for a few days.

We're so excited to have Annalise on the Penn State Outreach team and can't wait to see the creativity, fresh perspective, and incredible content she brings this semester.

Please join us in giving Annalise a warm welcome! 🎉💙

07/30/2026

In honor of National Intern Day, we're so excited to introduce one of the newest members of the Penn State Outreach team—our Social Media Marketing Intern, Brenda Lo! ✨

Brenda is an incoming junior at Penn State University studying Advertising with minors in French and Entrepreneurship & Innovation, while also working toward her Smeal Business Certificate (because apparently she doesn't believe in free time 😉).

Originally from Plainsboro, New Jersey, Brenda keeps herself busy on campus. She serves on the Director Board for Happy Valley Comm, a student-run agency that works with local clients, and recently served on THON™'s Public Relations Captain Committee, where she led her own First-Year Committee and helped plan events for fellow captains.

When she's not studying, you can probably find Brenda listening to music, traveling, cooking something delicious, or—her words, not ours—severely doomscrolling. 📱😅

And if there's one social media platform she could never live without? Instagram. It was her very first social media app, and her love for it is what sparked her passion for social media and advertising.

Of course, we had to ask what her lifelong theme song would be, and she chose "You're Gonna Go Far" by Noah Kahan. 🎶 (Honestly...we think it's pretty fitting.)

Brenda hopes to one day work at an advertising agency in New York, and we can't wait to see the creativity, fresh ideas, and enthusiasm she brings to Penn State Outreach this semester.

Please join us in welcoming Brenda to the team! 🎉💙

07/20/2026

From camper to program manager, Rachel Cole's Penn State Outreach journey has come full circle.

Before she was helping create life-changing educational experiences for others, Rachel was discovering them herself; exploring the trails at Shaver's Creek (), finding lifelong friendships through Aurora (pennstateaurora), and learning what it truly means to belong. 🫶

Today, she helps organize youth camps, conferences, and educational programs that give others the same opportunities to grow, connect, and find their place. Rachel's story is a powerful reminder that the experiences we create today can shape someone's future for years to come.

Read how one camper became the person creating those unforgettable moments for the next generation: https://bit.ly/44F19nr ✨

What begins as a summer camp experience can shape a lifetime. Rachel Cole's journey from Shaver's Creek camper to Penn State Outreach program manager shows how meaningful experiences, mentorship, and a sense of belonging can inspire a career dedicated to helping others grow.

06/10/2026

What begins as a childhood fascination can grow into a lifelong mission. 🦉

From raising a chicken named Henny to managing the Klingsberg Aviary at Shaver's Creek Environmental Center, Joe Whitehead has dedicated his career to connecting people with wildlife through conservation, education, and mentorship. Discover how his passion is inspiring future environmental professionals and helping visitors see the natural world in a new way.

https://www.outreach.psu.edu/news/taking-flight-joe-whiteheads-impact-through-conservation-and-education/

06/10/2026

125 years. One song. Countless memories. 💙🤍

For 125 years, Penn Staters have joined together in song to celebrate the traditions, memories, and connections that make this community so special.

Written in 1901, "For the Glory of Old State" has echoed through commencement ceremonies, football Saturdays, alumni gatherings, and countless moments in between—connecting generations of students, alumni, faculty, and friends through a shared sense of pride and belonging.

Today, we celebrate 125 years of Penn State's alma mater and the legacy it continues to carry forward.

The University has released a commemorative video to mark the anniversary: https://bit.ly/4xdPdWZ