| Penn Today

2026-02-12

Tailoring and Cartography in Early Modern Europe

In early modern Europe, fashion and cartography shared a lot of common ground, but the connection between the two fields has largely gone unnoticed. Emanuele Lugli, associate professor of art and art history and director of public humanities at Stanford, will discuss how this overlooked convergence is precisely where fashion, as we understand it, first took shape. Free and open to the public. Register to attend.

5:15 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Van Pelt-Dietrich Library, 3420 Walnut St.

2026-02-06

Through the Lens of Black History

Widely exhibited and published photographer Leandre Jackson will join historian, curator, and Penn alumnus Samir Meghelli in a conversation about Jackson’s remarkable career documenting the lives and work of Black history-makers of the 20th and 21st centuries. The conversation will be followed by a reception and a display of Jackson’s photographs in the Henry Charles Lea Library. Free and open to the public. Register to attend.

6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Hybrid; Van Pelt-Dietrich Library, 3420 Walnut St.

2026-01-26

Manuscript Studies Interest Group: Recipes

The Manuscript Studies Interest Group is a regular meeting for people who want to get up close and personal with a variety of handwritten materials from regions across the globe, including the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Western Europe. Penn students, faculty, and staff are invited to contribute their insights, discuss their work, and share the joy of manuscripts. Free and open to the public. Register to attend.

2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Van Pelt-Dietrich Library, 3420 Walnut St.

2026-01-19

Children’s Bookmaking and Storytime

The Penn Reads Literacy & Children’s Art Project presents a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service event, “Imagine A World...!” Children ages 3-8 can participate in a theatrical storytime experience, explore a unique Penn library, and create a book to take home. Storytellers, librarians, teachers, and library staff will guide participants. Register to attend.

11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Van Pelt-Dietrich Library, 3420 Walnut St.

2026-01-16

Workshop: Reinterpreting the Declaration

In this creative typesetting workshop, the Declaration text will be split amongst registered participants, and each participant will have the freedom to choose to include, edit, or redact the words in their segment, as was done by printers throughout the world in the months and years following the initial publication. This event is part of the Penn Libraries America 250 programming. Free and open to the public. Register to attend.

12:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Fisher Fine Arts Library, 220 S. 34th St.

2026-01-21

Reimagining the Future of Global Development

Perry World House invites the Penn community to a conversation with His Excellency Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, former UN Deputy Secretary-General, who will discuss how the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s closure in 2025 marked the end of an era in global development, threatening the livelihood of millions of vulnerable people. The conversation will primarily focus on future directions in global development—and how the world might do better on this front. Register to attend.

3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Hybrid; Perry World House, 3803 Locust Walk

2026-02-11

Power to Heal: Film Screening & Panel Discussion

Front steps of Penn Nursing’s Fagin Hall in daylight

Free and open to the public, this Penn Nursing program will honor Black History Month with a viewing of “The Power to Heal: Medicare and the Civil Rights Revolution,” a documentary chronicling the historic struggle to secure equal and adequate access to healthcare for all Americans. Participants are invited to stay for a panel discussion after the screening. Light refreshments will be provided. Register to attend.

3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Fagin Hall, 418 Curie Blvd.

2026-02-13

Moving Forward in the Opioid Epidemic

Recent data offer encouraging signs that opioid overdoses may be declining, with overdose deaths falling nearly 27% in 2024 compared to 2023. As policymakers work to sustain this progress, efforts to expand access to medications for opioid use disorder and to leverage telemedicine remain critical. This virtual seminar will explore the current trajectory of the opioid epidemic and examine policy opportunities and challenges at both the federal and state levels. Free and open to the public. Register to attend.

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Virtual

2026-03-27

API Changemakers Across Industries

This panel will showcase Asian Pacific Islander (API) alumni who have made their mark across industries—from business and public service to education, media, tech, and more. These changemakers will reflect on their journeys, share lessons learned, and offer insights to current students on navigating identity, overcoming barriers, and leading with purpose in their professional lives. The panel will be followed by a student-alumni mixer.

12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.

The ARCH, 3601 Locust Walk

2026-02-25

Penn Climate Seminar: Building a Clean, Equitable Economy

Heather Boushey, Professor of Practice at the Kleinman Energy Forum and former chief economist of Investing in America Cabinet, will discuss possibilities and future directions for building a clean, equitable economy amid a rapidly warming climate. Free and open to the Penn community. Register to attend.

12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Fisher Fine Arts Library, 220 S. 34th St.