Students, faculty, staff, alumni, family and friends all gathered in Eisenhower Auditorium on Saturday, May 11, for a commencement ceremony to celebrate the Penn State Law in University Park class of 2024.

Rebecca Mattson, head of faculty and research services and professor of legal research at Penn State Law in University Park, was recently awarded the prestigious 2024 Service Award by the Research Instruction & Patron Services Special Interest Section of the American Association of Law Libraries.

In late 2023, the Penn State Law in University Park Civil Rights Appellate Clinic — along with the Employment Law Group, a Washington, D.C.-based boutique litigation firm — filed merits briefs with the Ninth Circuit to appeal the district court’s dismissal of an ADA case. On the basis of this briefing and subsequent oral argument, the Ninth Circuit reversed the lower court’s ruling and remanded the case for trial.

Penn State researchers explain what election and campaign finance laws say about Kamala Harris becoming the presumed presidential nominee on the Democratic ticket.

Theresa Tarves, interim associate dean for library and information services and professor of legal research, and Rebecca Mattson, interim director of the Law Library and professor of legal research, were invited to speak at the American Association of Law Libraries Annual Meeting held in Chicago, Illinois, from July 21 through July 23.

Penn State Law welcomed the LL.M. (master of laws) class of 2025 to the University Park campus for orientation on Aug. 20, kicking off another year of one of the largest and most diverse LL.M. programs in the United States. The class of 2025 includes 163 LL.M. and 13 exchange students, coming from 31 countries across the world.

Second and third-year law students enrolled in the Veterans and Servicemembers Legal Clinic at Penn State Law in University Park honed their advocacy skills while assisting five Vietnam veterans and their families, and two other veterans, to win disability and/or survivor claims before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Penn State Law in University Park welcomed 131 first-year juris doctor students to the Lewis Katz Building on Aug. 21-22 for J.D. Orientation.

The Penn State Law Minority Mentor Program held its 10th annual kickoff reception on Sept. 6 at Toftrees Golf Resort in State College.

Michael Helbing, executive director of the Center for Energy Law and Policy and adjunct professor of law at Penn State, will give the talk, “Flying into the future: sustainable aviation fuel and the policies impacting its development,” at 4 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 7, in 112 Walker Building at Penn State University Park.

Penn State Dickinson Law and Penn State Law have entered the critical final steps of reunification with the recent submission of Applications for Acquiescence in a Substantive Change of Program or Structure to the Council of the American Bar Association (ABA) Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar, the recognized accreditor for law schools.

In August 2024, Pennsylvania resident Max Justice launched Setas Eternal Living. His flagship product, MyCoffin, is a biodegradable coffin made from mycelium, the root structure of mushrooms. Justice has utilized resources provided by Penn State Law's Entrepreneur Assistance and Intellectual Property clinics and Happy Valley LaunchBox to grow his business. 

Faculty and staff in Penn State’s Law, Policy, and Engineering (LPE) initiative were recently tapped by the governor’s office to lead a two-day training program in September in Harrisburg on science and technology policy. The faculty and staff are part of Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Science and Technology Policy Program, which is run by LPE and aims to improve public and environmental health, economic and social equity, and public scientific discourse in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The Penn State School of Music will host internationally acclaimed classical guitarist Julia Trintschuk for a two-day residency, Nov. 15-16, featuring a masterclass and recital that are free and open to the public.

Accomplished writer and Penn State alum Jami Nakamura Lin will read from her works at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14, in Foster Auditorium as part of the 2024-25 Mary E. Rolling Reading Series.

Roebuck will discuss his past and future projects, many of which were filmed in the Lehigh Valley.

The Emily Dickinson Lecture featuring acclaimed poet Ilya Kaminsky will now take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, in Paterno Library's Foster Auditorium.  The event — rescheduled from an earlier date — is free and open to the public.

Penn State Military Appreciation Week, the 6th annual Centre Film Festival and "A Night of One-Acts" at the Altoona campus are some of the cultural events taking place across the University this weekend and next week.

Penn State students, staff and faculty are invited to a screening of the award-winning documentary film “This is Not Financial Advice” from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18 in the Westgate Building 2nd Floor West Atrium. 

The Penn State Berks theatre department will present “8 at Eight” — a collection of eight light-hearted, eight-minute plays at 8 p.m. Nov. 13-16 in the Perkins Student Center Auditorium.

The following is a collection of events happening around Penn State Harrisburg next week.

Penn State School of Music announces the inaugural performance of its Opera Workshop, led by new faculty members Dawn Pierce and Parker Konkle. The performance, titled "Seasons of Love," will take place on Dec. 10, at 7:30 p.m. in the School of Music’s Recital Hall. This unique presentation will explore a range of lyric repertoire, offering an avant-garde experience that merges music, movement, and storytelling. 

Three-time Grammy Award-winning vocalist Samara Joy will perform her third annual “A Joyful Holiday” featuring the McLendon Family in concert at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3, in Eisenhower Auditorium.

The Woskob Family Gallery will host “Hands-on History: The Experience of Braiding a Lost Inca Rope” from Nov. 15-17, where participants will learn ancient braiding techniques and contribute to the reconstruction of a centuries-old Incan rope. The workshop will be open to the public each day from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and participants are encouraged to dedicate at least one hour to the workshop.

The Penn State School of Theatre will produce William Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing,” Nov. 16-22, at the Pavilion Theatre on the University Park campus.

The Penn State School of Music's annual "Mosaic" concert will return to Eisenhower Auditorium on Sunday, Dec. 8 at 4 p.m. 

Voice assistants (VAs) like Alexa and Siri continue to gain popularity in households and on personal devices. According to digital trends research company Emarketer, the number of VA users will surpass 150 million in 2025. Despite the ubiquity, companies haven’t been able to work around users’ strong negative reactions to advertising on these applications. A research team, including scholars from Penn State, may have a solution.

Enacting sustainability practices continues to be a key initiative for organizations, according to a new report from the Penn State Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication. The report reveal ways companies can build stronger, more authentic connections with audiences by taking control of their sustainability messaging to shape effective strategies and drive behavior change across all levels of business.

A documentary by a Penn State faculty filmmaker won an award in Canada and will screen Nov. 24 in Finland.

The News Lab at Penn State has earned a grant to complete two election-related projects as part of a nationwide effort supported by the American Press Institute and the Knight Election Hub.

The six-year-old Centre Film Festival returns this year to screen more than 200 films in a variety of genres at Centre County theaters and online. The festival, which runs Nov. 11-17, continues to provide impactful films under the guidance of artistic director and driving force Pearl Gluck, associate professor of film production in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, with strong support from many Penn State units.

Rapper/musician and poet Dessa will discuss “Creativity in Music, Writing, and Art” at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, in Paterno Library’s Foster Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

A newscast produced by Penn State students earned first place in a nationwide competition as College Broadcasters Inc. recognized “Centre County Report” as the nation’s best for the second year in a row.

Alumnus Pablo Lopez works to give back to Penn State and State College through his role as film production manager for the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau.

Patients like it more when "AI doctors" recall their social information and offer privacy control, according to a new study led by Penn State researchers.

Two social media efforts created by CommAgency for clients at Penn State were recognized with Education Digital Marketing Awards.

A Penn State faculty member who previously served as a senior editor and newsroom manager during a four-decade career at several major daily news organizations was named as the recipient of the 2024 Richard J. Levine Journalism Champion Award, presented by the Dow Jones News Fund.

Julie Miller, the manager of internships in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, offers valuable insights and support for students.

Seven productions by Penn State communications students — several television shows, one audio event, a podcast and a short video — earned top-three finishes in the nationwide competition conducted by the College Media Association.

Offices in need of digital communications assistance for the spring 2025 semester can receive support from CommAgency, Penn State’s student-run media production agency. Clients for spring 2025 should inquire by Nov. 17, 2024.

A film that some Penn State film production students scrambled to shoot while part of a weeklong stay in Amsterdam last spring has blossomed into an award-winning effort.

The Penn State DuBois Office of Student Engagement will welcome students and members of the public to Hiller Auditorium on Thursday, Oct. 3, to hear from leadership speaker Tom Krieglstein.

The Human Development and Family Studies program at Penn State DuBois recently held two panel events aimed at preparing students for life after graduation. The first event, the annual grad school panel, took place on Sept. 12, while the second event, the internship panel, was hosted on Sept. 19.

The North Central Pennsylvania (NCPA) LaunchBox powered by Penn State DuBois marked a year of significant achievements in 2023-24 by fostering regional industry growth and workforce development. A key highlight of the year was the LaunchBox’s pivotal role in the North Central Pressed Materials Strategy Development Consortium, an initiative aimed at advancing the pressed material industry in central Pennsylvania.

Four local high school graduates recently completed a comprehensive Computer Numerical Control (CNC) training program at Penn State DuBois, preparing them for in-demand careers in manufacturing.

Recently, the Wildlife Technology Program at Penn State DuBois earned reaccreditation with the North American Wildlife Technology Association for five years.

The Penn State DuBois Office of Student Engagement will welcome students and members of the public to Hiller Auditorium on Thursday, Oct. 17, when paranormal investigator John Zaffis visits campus.

Before the fall semester started, 19 honors students from Penn State DuBois embarked on an unforgettable journey across Europe, visiting Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and France. The weeklong trip, part of the honors scholar program, allowed students to immerse themselves in new cultures, savor local cuisines, explore historical landmarks, and encounter diverse wildlife.

First- and second-year students are invited to attend sessions through Link Penn State to learn more about the change-of-campus process. 

High school students from the region recently gathered at Penn State DuBois to participate in Discover Engineering Day, an event designed to introduce them to the vast opportunities available within the engineering field.