Dean's Messages Archive

Our students, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends consistently demonstrate the value of what we do in the College of Arts and Architecture. Whenever it seems appropriate in a situation or conversation, I enjoy recognizing their meaningful and impactful work in informal conversations and at formal events. In mid-October, we enjoyed a wonderful few days of alumni and donor activities, including our annual Alumni Awards ceremony and donor appreciation event. Our Alumni Award winners gave lectures, visited classes, and reconnected with some of the people and places that set them on their paths to success. At the donor appreciation event, which also celebrated the college’s success in Penn State’s most recent capital campaign, guests enjoyed a luncheon, student exhibits, and a preview of the contemporary opera “A Marvelous Order,” which premiered at the Center for the Performing Arts a few days later (see photos from the events).

These events were engaging and enjoyable. They were fun and entertaining. Perhaps most importantly, they demonstrated the breadth and depth of the success of our alumni, the talent of our students, and the generosity of our donors. Quite simply, events like this are #makingpossibilitiespossible.

We continuously strive to make possibilities possible for our students in numerous ways. Currently, one of those ways is through the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project (SNAAP) survey of all College of Arts and Architecture graduates. You should have received an email with a direct link to your survey a few weeks ago. Your responses will help shape arts and design education at Penn State and similar institutions in the years to come. The due date to complete the survey is November 28. I sincerely hope you will participate in this important survey.

For those of you visiting campus in the next few weeks, please be sure to add a performance or exhibition to your itinerary. From pop-up exhibitions at Woskob Family Gallery downtown to Penn State Centre Stage’s presentations of “Cabaret” (through November 5) and “Rent” (November 15–December 3), the Arts District is hopping. The Palmer Museum of Art is also finishing up its 50^th anniversary year with some special exhibitions and events. For a list of upcoming musical events and performances, please visit: https://arts.psu.edu/about-the-college/events/.

It has been a true pleasure to engage with more alumni and friends in recent months. Thank you, as always, for #makingpossibilitiespossible.