School of Arts & Sciences

Close-up images of three people. On the left is journalist Larry King, wearing a black shirt, a red tie and red suspenders. In the center is James Pawelski, a Penn researcher, wearing a blue blazer and blue shirt. On the right is actor Kevin Bacon, weather a blue and black button down shirt.

Talking positive psychology and COVID-19 with Larry King

In a free video series co-hosted by James Pawelski, King interviews researchers about coping during the pandemic. In a June 11 event, they’ll speak with actor Kevin Bacon about philanthropy, arts and culture’s role in well-being, and the importance of open dialogue.

portrait of woman with cropped hair and glasses

Historian Mary Frances Berry responds to the George Floyd protests

The professor of history and Africana studies speaks with Penn Today about protesting injustice, pushing for change, and the history of African American civil rights.

Sixteen Penn students and recent graduates awarded 2020-21 Fulbright Scholarships

Sixteen Penn students and recent graduates have been awarded Fulbright Scholarships for the 2020-21 academic year to conduct research or teach English in countries around the world. The list includes nine undergraduates and one graduate student in the Class of 2020.

Ahmad Almallah stands in a bookstore holding a book.

On identity and poetic form: Ahmad Almallah’s ‘Bitter English’

Ahmad Almallah, a lecturer in English and Arabics, took over five years to write his debut poetry collection. But in many ways, the book is the result of a decades-long journey.

Chris Satullo, Lia Howard, and Surayya Walters in class.

Cultivating robust civil dialogue during times of unrest

Through the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Paideia Program, Penn students are learning how to reflect on and engage with subjects like the coronavirus pandemic and the criminal justice system.

Scholarship through the lens of an iconic media brand

A new Annenberg course centered around HBO offered undergrads hands-on exposure to media production and a chance to hone their analytical skills using primary source materials.

protective face mask colored to look like an american flag

Politics, pandemics, and protests

Exactly how the coronavirus pandemic, the current unrest, and the nation’s economic woes will affect November’s presidential election is unclear, but voter turnout will be key, according to two political experts.

Man shakes hands with member of Ojibwe tribe of Wisconsin, an another man in headdress looks on.

Kindred spirits: Irish-Native American solidarity

A fundraiser for two Native American tribes hard hit by the pandemic has received tens of thousands of dollars from donors in Ireland. Conor Donnan looks at the Irish diaspora in the United States and at the transatlantic solidarity between Ireland and Native nations.

Student Kate Panzer sewing protective mask

Bridging the communication divide for Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities

Clear-fronted face masks, better and more frequent interpreters, and amped up involvement from local organizations have made a big difference during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A person standing in front of a lab bench full of bones. On the wall hangs a poster that reads: "Dougal Dixon's Dinosaurs."

The joys and trials of defending a dissertation virtually

When most aspects of university life moved online because of COVID-19, so, too, did the thesis defense for Ph.D. candidates. Despite some challenges, the shift had unexpected benefits.

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