Students in American Race: A Philadelphia Story, a Stavros Niarchos Foundation Paideia Program course, examined intersectional topics on race and racism through a broad, multidisciplinary lens. The course included directed readings, guest speaker presentations, such as this discussion led by Jessie Harper from the Graduate School of Education, and in-depth conversations about the city of Philadelphia.
Engaging in intersectional conversations on race and racism
In the spring, students engaged with complex topics, both intellectually and civically, as part of American Race: A Philadelphia Story, a Stavros Niarchos Foundation Paideia Program course.
William Danon and Luka Yancopoulos pose in front of College Hall in April 2022. They are co-founders of Grapevine and the winners of the 2022 President’s Innovation Prize.
Streamlining the health care supply chain
William Danon and Luka Yancopoulos, winners of the 2022 President’s Innovation Prize, will offer a software solution to make the health care supply chain more efficient.
Eli Moraru (left) and Alexandre Imbot (right) have been working with community activist Charles Reeves (center) for two years. Their project, The Community Grocer, hopes to make nutrition accessible for all residents of Reeves’ South Philadelphia neighborhood.
Reimagining the corner store to promote food justice
With a 2022 President’s Sustainability Prize, Eli Moraru and Alexandre Imbot will take raw ingredients payable with EBT and turn them into hot, heathy meals while providing nutritional education resources.
(Homepage image) An in-person Commencement, held at Franklin Field on May 22, represented a long-awaited milestone for the Class of 2020 and graduate students from the Class of 2021.
‘Oft-delayed but never deterred,’ Class of 2020 and 2021 grads celebrate
Embodying adaptability and persistence, themes of the speech by Angela Duckworth, alums from the classes of 2020 and 2021 returned to campus to make up for a missed milestone.
Penn held its 266th Commencement celebration on Monday, May 16. The ceremony was held at Franklin Field and honored the Class of 2022.
A celebration of the ‘resilient creativity’ of the Class of 2022
Penn’s 266th Commencement showcased graduates who Interim President Wendell Pritchett said demonstrated an “advanced ability to roll with the challenges.”
Angelina Heyler, a senior in the School of Engineering and Applied Science from Hong Kong, discovered a passion for data science and applied statistics while majoring in systems science and engineering. In addition to fostering community engagement within Penn Engineering as well as with students in West Philadelphia, she’s also thankful for the connections she made on campus through Ultimate Frisbee.
A passion for addressing ‘meaningful causes’ with data
Senior Angelina Heyler, a systems science and engineering major who is submatriculating in Penn’s data science accelerated master’s program, spent her time at Penn fostering a passion for applied problem solving, building community, and playing Ultimate Frisbee.
(Homepage image) Touching on a broad range of topics from climate’s impact on national security to resilient building design to emissions related to food production, the course aimed to boost students’ understanding of earth systems and climate literacy. (Image: NASA)
A multidisciplinary approach to considering the Earth’s changing systems
Bringing expertise from each of their disciplines, the School of Arts & Sciences’ Kathleen Morrison and Joseph Francisco and the Environmental Innovations Initiative’s Melissa Brown Goodall infused chemistry, anthropology, policy, and more into an introductory course on climate and the environment.
Beavers has been teaching Morrison’s work for over 30 years. “In a moment with ever-present discussions about how—and sometimes, if—we value human bodies, reading Morrison’s novels offer an opportunity to think about how we can not only occupy place but also cohabit with our neighbors, whether they look like us, share our point of origin, or reflect our values,” he says.
Toni Morrison and the adventure of the 21st century
In Herman Beavers’ English 101 class, students take an in-depth look at Toni Morrison, reading her 11 novels, writing thesis papers, and presenting on topics of interest to the class.
One of the biggest life lessons that she’s taking forward from her time at Penn? “Growing up, everything is individual—in gymnastics you’re competing for yourself, and in school you’re taking the SAT or AP exams. But in college, it’s all about the team, so I’ve definitely learned to lean on others,” says Graber.
Embracing academic, athletic, and creative pursuits
Along with being a physics major, a member of the gymnastics team, and a leader of Penn Dischord, senior Edie Noor Graber has also spent the last four years engaging with the West Philadelphia community and exploring her Jewish identity.
Penn held its 266th Commencement celebration on Monday, May 16. The ceremony was held at Franklin Field and honored the Class of 2022.
