Louisa Shepard

Senior News Officer

Louisa Shepard covers English, history of art, music, theater, classical studies, and cinema and media studies, among other subject areas, in the School of Arts and Sciences. She also supports coverage for the Kelly Writers House, the Graduate School of Education, the Penn Libraries, the Penn Museum, the Arthur Ross Gallery, and the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships, as well as fine arts in the Stuart Weitzman School of Design.

The state of U.S. democracy

On the eve of a presidential inauguration following a historic election and its aftermath, experts from across the University weigh in on where we stand as a country.

Brandon K. Baker, Michele W. Berger, Kristen de Groot, Kristina García, Dee Patel, Louisa Shepard ・January 19, 2021

Vote That Jawn written in bright yellow chalk on the sidewalk

Engaging in the election

In a collaborative English course taught by Lorene Cary in the fall, students shared their experiences with civic engagement by writing for publication, partnering with nonprofits like Vote That Jawn to share non-partisan information with other young first-time voters.

Louisa Shepard ・January 15, 2021

A Move-In like no other

Penn undergraduates start arriving on campus to move into College Houses during an extended eight-day period in keeping with pandemic health and safety protocols.

Louisa Shepard ・January 11, 2021

student dancing outside on the Weave Bridge

The show must go on, even amid a pandemic

Amid pandemic restrictions, student performing arts groups continued to find innovative ways this fall to create new theater, dance, comedy, a capella, and instrumental productions to share on virtual platforms.

Louisa Shepard ・December 22, 2020

Main entrance of Penn Museum with brick wall and door open showing arched passageway with Sphinx in the doorway in the very back of the view.

Penn Museum awarded National Endowment for the Humanities grant

The Penn Museum has been awarded a $750,000 Challenge Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.The grant will help catalyze fundraising for the renovation of the Museum’s Egyptian Wing, part of its major Building Transformation project.

Louisa Shepard , Jill DiSanto ・December 17, 2020

Cafeteria staff person wearing mask and apron handing food to a student on the other side of the counter who is also wearing a mask with a backpack on

Housing and dining protocols and safety standards are in place for spring semester

With the spring semester fast approaching and protocols and safety standards in place, housing and dining is ready for undergraduate students to return to campus in January.

Louisa Shepard ・December 16, 2020

Patricia Renee Thomas paints on a large canvas in her studio.

Graduate student artists persevere during pandemic and find new inspiration

Penn Master of Fine Arts students are not only adapting to this year’s challenges, but are pushing their work in different directions, as they continue to paint, draw, sculpt, photograph, and film during the pandemic.

Louisa Shepard ・December 14, 2020

Two Penn English faculty receive Creative Capital Award for writing projects

Faculty Simone White and Marc Anthony Richardson each won a 2021 Creative Capital Award, and will receive as much as $50,000 for creative writing projects now in progress.

Louisa Shepard ・December 10, 2020

Penn has four new Schwarzman Scholars

Penn seniors Cristina Pogorevici, Paulina Ruta, and Yixi (Cecilia) Wang and 2019 graduate Annie Sun have received the Schwarzman Scholarship, which funds a one-year master’s degree in global affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing.

Louisa Shepard ・December 7, 2020

One student inside and one student outside

Penn senior and May graduate win 2021 Marshall Scholarships

Senior Annah Chollet and May graduate Yareqzy Munoz have been named 2021 Marshall Scholars. The Marshall Scholarship funds up to three years of study for a graduate degree in any field at an institution in the United Kingdom.