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Undergraduate Students

Philosophy, technology, and pushing beyond human limitations
Gary Purpura teaches class.

But to Gary Purpura, the associate vice provost for education and academic planning in the Office of the Provost and a lecturer in the Department of Philosophy, is teaching Enhancing the Human Mind with Technology this semester.

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Philosophy, technology, and pushing beyond human limitations

Gary Purpura’s class Enhancing the Human Mind with Technology introduces students to philosophy through the lens of transhumanism, illustrating the possibilities of technology to enhance the human condition and expand the idea of what it means to be human.

3 min. read

Through Penn First Plus, students unlock potential and purpose
Marc Lo (left) and Enmanuel Martínez (center) speaking with Mayokun Omitogun (right)

Marc Lo (left) and Enmanuel Martínez (center) speaking with Mayokun Omitogun (right)

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Through Penn First Plus, students unlock potential and purpose

Providing first-generation and limited-income students with a comprehensive array of support, Penn First Plus equips undergraduates for success during and after their time at Penn.

5 min. read

Penn Engineering receives $11M from the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation to expand Clark Scholars Program
(bottom row, left to right) Tina Lee, Amehja Williams, and Hubery Pai; (second row) Amaris Chen and Ross Richard; (third row) Darren Lin, Minghui Zhang, Emily Jiang, and Frankie Lin; (fourth row) Shawn Edbert, Henry Westfall, and Noah Hidalgo; (fifth row) Matas Bujanauskas and Elias Chavez.

Penn Clark Scholars and peer mentors: (bottom row, left to right) Tina Lee, Amehja Williams, and Hubery Pai; (second row) Amaris Chen and Ross Richard; (third row) Darren Lin, Minghui Zhang, Emily Jiang, and Frankie Lin; (fourth row) Shawn Edbert, Henry Westfall, and Noah Hidalgo; (fifth row) Matas Bujanauskas and Elias Chavez.

(Image: Courtesy of Penn Engineering)

Penn Engineering receives $11M from the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation to expand Clark Scholars Program

The funds will strengthen scholarships, create an annual Philanthropy Challenge, establish an entrepreneurship concentration, and support summer internships for future engineering leaders.

Holly Wojcik

2 min. read

Herinah Asaah is empowered to uplift and driven to change
Herinah Asaah

Class of 2026 undergraduate Herinah Asaah.

(Image: Courtesy of Inspiring Impact)

Herinah Asaah is empowered to uplift and driven to change

With support from Penn’s community and donors, Penn undergraduate Herinah Asaah is working toward a future in education equity and human rights.

From Penn Inspiring Impact

2 min. read

Russell Composto talks leading Penn Forward’s Undergraduate Education and Innovation working group
Russell Composto at a conference table gesticulating with undergraduates.

Russell Composto, chair of the Penn Forward Undergraduate Education and Innovation working group and vice provost for undergraduate education, seated with undergraduates on Oct. 13, 2025, inside College Hall. 

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Russell Composto talks leading Penn Forward’s Undergraduate Education and Innovation working group

In a Q&A, Russell Composto, vice provost for undergraduate education and chair of Penn Forward’s Undergraduate Education and Innovation working group, talks about the guiding principles of the team and what it means to think boldly about the future of the undergraduate experience at Penn.

8 min. read

Bridging philosophy and politics

Bridging philosophy and politics

What does it mean for everyone to have a say in a democracy? This summer, philosopher professor Daniel Wodak and undergraduate Jasmine Ni explored the contradictions and questions raised by political equity.

From Omnia

2 min. read

A world shaped by water and access
Three people test water below a sand dam.

Griffin Pitt, right, works with two other student researchers to test the conductivity, total dissolved solids, salinity, and temperature of water below a sand dam in Kenya.

(Image: Courtesy of Griffin Pitt)

A world shaped by water and access

Griffin Pitt’s upbringing made her passionate about water access and pollution, and Penn has given her the opportunity to explore these issues back home in North Carolina and abroad.

3 min.

A guide to Climate Week 2025
A person scooping leaves out of the BioPond with a net.

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A guide to Climate Week 2025

Taking place Oct. 13 to 17, Penn’s sixth Climate Week includes dozens of in-person and virtual events that cross disciplines, from energy policy and history to engineering and medicine

2 min. read

Noah Royal Milad: Purpose and community
Noah Royal Milad seated on the steps of College Hall.

Noah Royal Milad is double-majoring in international relations and political science and minoring in modern Middle Eastern studies in the School of Arts & Sciences.

(Image: Courtesy of Penn Giving)

Noah Royal Milad: Purpose and community

At Penn, the undergraduate’s journey is shaped by service, leadership, and the transformative power of donor support.

2 min. read