Diversity Initiatives

Hispanic Heritage Month

Celebrating Latinx Students and Faculty

From September 15 through October 15, we will be featuring our college’s Latinx faculty and students as part of our celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Led by our Office of Diversity and Inclusion in collaboration with the Office of Communications, this effort aims to inform and inspire others by shining a light on these individuals’ experiences, their accomplishments, and their motivations for pursuing careers in science.

These spotlights are being compiled on a rolling basis as part of ongoing efforts at the Eberly college to promote diversity, foster inclusivity, and increase representation of those in our community who have historically been underrepresented.

They will also be featured in our social media (links in footer) throughout the month, providing additional opportunities for engagement.

We encourage all of our Latinx faculty, postdocs, students, alumni, and staff to share their stories via this Qualtrics survey.

 

Hispanic Heritage Month Keynote

We will be hosting a keynote, “Bridging Cultures and Science: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage and LGBTQ+ Pride,” at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, October 3, in 102 Benkovic Building, presented by Hector Aguilar-Carreno, professor of virology and associate vice provost for research and innovation at Cornell University. The keynote is sponsored by our Office of Diversity and Inclusion and Rainbow Science Network, the Penn State Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics, and the Penn State College of Earth and Mineral Sciences’ Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

 

Undergraduate Research Poster Exhibition

We will also be holding our annual undergraduate research poster exhibition from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 9, at the Verne M. Willaman Gateway to the Sciences. First- ($250), second- ($150), and third-place ($100) prizes will be awarded for the best posters in each of three categories: life sciences, physical sciences, and mathematical sciences. Representatives from the college’s Diversity in STEM corporate partners—DuPont and Merck—will be present to network and engage with students while showcasing their companies and answering questions related to employment and internships. The deadline for Eberly college students to register is 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, October 1.

All are invited to join in honoring and celebrating the historic background, culture, heritage, and many influences of the Hispanic community at the Eberly College of Science, Penn State, and beyond!

October 3: Keynote by Hector Aguilar-Carreno

“Bridging Cultures and Science: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage and LGBTQ+ Pride”

Hector Aguilar Carreno.

October 9: Undergraduate Research Poster Exhibition

Come for the research, stay for prizes, celebration, and networking!

Two students at the Undergraduate Research Poster Exhibition.

Penn State's Hispanic Heritage Month Events

"Unidos en la Diversidad: Celebrating our Roots and Honoring our Heritage"

The Happy Valley Latin Festival, a one-day music and arts festival bringing together Latin music, art and crafts vendors showcasing the vibrance and diversity of the Latinx/Hispanic culture in Central Pennsylvania, will be held Saturday, Sept. 14, 11 a.m.–5 p.m. in the Martin Luther King Jr. Plaza, 127 South Fraser Street, downtown State College. Credit: Happy Valley Latin Festival. All Rights Reserved.