Penn Today spoke with Marcia Chatelain of Africana Studies and Kermit Roosevelt of Penn Carey Law about the history of the Emancipation Proclamation and the impact of Juneteenth throughout the American story and today.
On June 13, the Penn Museum opened its doors and courtyard to visitors for a free day of live performances, a health and financial literacy fair, and family activities.
In her new book, Annenberg School for Communication professor Sarah J. Jackson traces how historical and contemporary writers, journalists, and filmmakers have strengthened the promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Cheryl Bettigole, executive director of the Penn Center for Public Health and former health commissioner of Philadelphia, discusses the many ways communities are affected by floods.
Q&A: How big, loud trucks quietly shape people’s lives
Sociologist Steve Viscelli discusses the pain points many American truckers face as they contend with rising fuel costs and the shifting transportation landscape.
In conversation with Penn Today, mechanical engineer, tennis player, and soccer fan Paulo Arratia discusses the material differences between natural grass and synthetic turf.
From June 22 through July 3, WXPN will provide a deep dive into the musical DNA of Philadelphia. The series will explore the city’s DIY scene, American Bandstand, the Mummers String Band tradition, music of the American Revolution, and new interviews with musicians like Todd Rundgren. It will also feature archived selections from artists such as Christian McBride, Questlove, Dr. Dog, and Japanese Breakfast. Free and open to the public.
Penn Museum will host the annual Wawa Welcome America celebration. Participants are invited to explore more than 10,000 years of history, taking in the vibrant cultures of Africa, Asia, the Mediterranean, Mexico, and Central America through ancient artifacts, world wonders, and contemporary artworks. Visitors are invited to explore the Native North America Gallery, shaped in partnership with eight Indigenous consulting curators and offering nuance and complexity to the nation’s story as it celebrates its 250th year. The event will feature activities for all ages. Free and open to the public. Reserve tickets in advance.
A University-wide initiative to shape Penn’s future
Guided by Penn’s strategic framework, In Principle and Practice, Penn Forward launched in September 2025 with six working groups of faculty, staff, students, and postdoctoral scholars who challenged legacy assumptions and proposed bold, actionable strategies to advance Penn’s mission and strengthen operations.
Penn Forward’s initial nine priority initiatives aim to build trust with those we serve, enable bold discovery, and extend Penn’s geographic reach and impact across a lifetime. Learn more about these initiatives and follow along with Penn Today as Penn continues to drive forward.
Penn’s community engagement progress at the turn of the century
The third installment in the limited series ‘Chapters of Change’ explores how Penn has led community engagement efforts in public education, economic development, and neighborhood prosperity during a time of widespread change in the nation’s cities.
Chapters of Change: Thirty years of life sciences transformation at Penn
In the fourth and final installment of the series, ‘Chapters of Change’ highlights another transformational moment in Penn’s past when the evolution of life sciences research sparked the University to commit to investing in new research facilities and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
How the Quaker Commitment empowered one student to create her path at Penn
Gabrielle Fine, a fourth year in the Wharton School and recipient of financial aid from the Quaker Commitment, will graduate in May with an interdisciplinary skillset and new perspectives from a global adventure and local engagement.
Chapters of Change: The blossom of Penn’s professional schools in the 19th century
‘Chapters of Change’ highlights key moments of change in Penn’s history, adapting to shifts in society. In the 19th century, the University faced industrialization and more by creating some of its first professional schools.
Platner, Fetterman, and the myth of the working-class politician
Jonathan Zimmerman of the Graduate School of Education discusses how some politicians claim to represent working-class Americans even though they come from privileged backgrounds.
New Wharton forecast puts Social Security trust fund depletion later than official projections
Speaking about the depletion of the Social Security trust fund, Kent Smetters of the Wharton School says, “We’re still talking about a pretty sizable increase that would be necessary in terms of taxes or benefit cuts going forward, and if we don’t take action soon, that number just simply goes up.”
