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Experiencing the pandemic from abroad
Person standing outside in front of trees and flowers hiding an iron fence.

Like many Penn students who are part of the Huntsman Program in International Studies & Business through the Wharton School and School of Arts & Sciences, rising junior Julia Mitchell opted to go abroad for a semester this past spring. Despite a change in plans due to the pandemic, Mitchell immersed herself in the culture and language of France. (Image: Courtesy Julia Mitchell) 

Experiencing the pandemic from abroad

When rising junior Julia Mitchell learned in March that France was about to shut down, she decided to immerse herself further in the language rather than come home, quarantining with her homestay family and finishing courses remotely.

Michele W. Berger

43 years at Penn, and thriving
front view of vice provost for student engagement

43 years at Penn, and thriving

Valarie Ena Swain-Cade McCoullum reflects with Penn Today on her long career at the University, what still keeps her motivated each day, her new role as the inaugural Vice Provost for Student Engagement, and more.

Lauren Hertzler

Children’s literature as ‘seed work’
Ebony standing along Locust Walk Ebony Elizabeth Thomas, associate professor of literacy, culture, and international education in the Graduate School of Education.

Children’s literature as ‘seed work’

Penn GSE’s Ebony Elizabeth Thomas discusses the importance of more diverse books for kids and the challenges that continue to stifle early anti-racist learning. She also shares a curated list of recommended books for youth catered to this particular moment.

Lauren Hertzler

The joys and trials of defending a dissertation virtually
A person standing in front of a lab bench full of bones. On the wall hangs a poster that reads: "Dougal Dixon's Dinosaurs."

Aja Carter (seen here in May 2018) recently earned her doctorate from the Department of Earth and Environmental Science in the School of Arts & Sciences. In the lab of Peter Dodson, she studied how the structure of the vertebrae in the spinal column changed over time and how that affected the way animals move. As most aspects of university life moved online because of COVID-19, so did her thesis defense and that of so many others.

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.

Michele W. Berger

High-impact giving during a global crisis
Graphic illustration of essential worker delivering groceries to an older couple

High-impact giving during a global crisis

Penn Today talks with Kat Rosqueta and Kelly Andrews of the Center for High Impact Philanthropy to discuss how to give when the need is great

Kristina García

A class on civility teaches how to have tough conversations
Two people sit at school desks, person on the left is smiling with arms cross as person on the right looks toward him.

Wharton student Connor Gibson, left, smiles during a discussion in the Can We Talk? course early in the spring 2020 semester, as classmate Sydney Nixon looks on.

A class on civility teaches how to have tough conversations

Wharton School junior Connor Gibson knew the benefits of a tight-knit community and also knew there wasn’t much diversity there to challenge his way of thinking. He says a SNF Paideia course, Can We Talk?, was transformational

Kristen de Groot

The legal history of epidemics in America
Parade from 1918 in the streets with people carrying a large American flag

Image: Courtesy of the Library Company of Philadelphia

The legal history of epidemics in America

Sarah Barringer Gordon, the Arlin M. Adams Professor of Constitutional Law and Professor of History, offers a commentary on American political responses to epidemics past.