President J. Larry Jameson offered a message of encouragement, comparing the scaffolding on Fisher Fine Arts Library to the support Penn will provide the Class of 2029, and Provost John L. Jackson Jr. told students they will be challenged both with new ideas and to embrace differences.
Political redistricting: All about gerrymandering with Penn’s experts
Political scientist Matthew Levendusky and mathematician Philip Gressman in the School of Arts & Sciences explain gerrymandering and the redistricting process.
Penn’s Benjamin Nathans reflects on his work and Pulitzer Prize win
Historian Benjamin Nathans’ huge volume on the stories and lives of Soviet dissidents has gotten renewed attention after winning the 2025 Pulitzer Prize in General Nonfiction. Nathans' research and insights span a four-decade-long career studying Russia and the USSR, modern Jewish history, and the history of human rights.
Students are invited to browse and learn more about the numerous student clubs, organizations, and extracurricular opportunities available at Penn. The three-day fair, organized by New Student Orientation and Academic Initiatives, takes place along Locust Walk by College Green.
Penn Raas members juniors Silvie Kabra (left) in Penn Engineering and Shubha Vasisht of the College performed a traditional social dance from India usually done in a circle during the activities fair.
This program brings together dozens of student performing arts groups for a series of short, get-to-know-you performances. All students are invited to get a taste of the various performing clubs at Penn.
Penn’s guiding principles are the University’s enduring values and distinctive strengths: anchored, inventive, interwoven, and engaged. The practices support and strengthen Penn’s core educational mission.
At Penn Today, we focus on some of the ways the University is putting this framework into action. From student, faculty, and staff profiles to research updates and event coverage, Penn Today highlights the latest examples of the University’s principled approach to excellence.
Keeping it local: Penn’s partnerships with Philadelphia-based vendors boost local economy, neighborhood impact
According to the University’s latest Economic Impact Report, Penn helps power Philadelphia’s economy by procuring goods and services from neighboring businesses. Local CEOs discuss the meaningful impact that Penn has on their bottom line and in the community.
Using behavioral economics-based interventions, a 2025 President’s Engagement Prize-winning project will address health and nutrition inequities in a West Philadelphia elementary school.
Penn lends support to Rebuilding Together Philadelphia effort repairing 11 local homes in two days
Marking a milestone block build, 70 Penn volunteers combined forces with Rebuilding Together Philadelphia, a nonprofit with roots at the University, to revitalize owner-occupied houses in the West Philadelphia community. The momentous two-day event involved a block build and speaking program—with a local homeowner sharing a heartfelt message.
Supporting a community for learning, research, and thriving
Four months after the launch of the Office of Religious and Ethnic Interests (Title VI), the office is combating discrimination in all forms while leading educational efforts about dialogue and adaptive leadership.
