Penn State Laureate

About the Penn State Laureate

The Penn State Laureate is an annual faculty honor established in 2008 to bring greater visibility to the arts, the humanities, the honoree’s work, and the University. The Laureate brings an enhanced level of social, cultural, artistic, and human perspective and awareness to a broad array of audiences.

The annual honoree is a full-time faculty member who is assigned half-time to serve as the University Laureate for one academic year. The Laureate appears regularly at events throughout Pennsylvania. Other responsibilities include:

Visits to Penn State campuses throughout the Commonwealth
WPSU-TV and radio appearances, readings, and features
Community outreach
Facilitating opportunities for other faculty and students to engage in the above activities

Pearl Gluck

Associate Professor in the Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications

On Location with the Laureate

Instagram

Meet the 2025-2026 Penn State Laureate

Michele Dunleavy

Professor of Dance

Meet the 2024-2025 Penn State Laureate

Lori Hepner

Professor of Integrative Arts

Meet the 2023-24 Penn State Laureate

Velvet Brown

David P. Stone Chair and associate director for equity, diversity and inclusion

Meet the 2022-2023 Penn State Laureate

Shara McCallum

Edwin Earle Sparks Professor of English in the College of the Liberal Arts

Meet the 2021-22 Penn State Laureate

2021-22 Penn State Laureate Shara McCallum's Events and Programs

During her tenure as Penn State Laureate, McCallum is delivering readings, talks, workshops, and other events on Penn State campuses across the Commonwealth and at other universities and local organizations throughout the state, in other parts of the US, and internationally. Events are taking place in person and virtually. Several have been recorded and are available online for viewing.

Click on McCallum’s Winter/Spring 2022 schedule to learn about upcoming events and on her Fall 2021 schedule for information on past events, with links to recordings when available online:

Throughout 2021-22, McCallum is also hosting “Poetry Moment” on WPSU, a program highlighting the work of contemporary Pennsylvania poets.

2021-22 Penn State Laureate Shara McCallum In the News

Meet the 2020-21 Penn State Laureate

David Witwer

Professor of American Studies in Penn State Harrisburg's School of Humanities

2020-21 Penn State Laureate News and Events

David Witwer's signature program, “Searching for Jimmy Hoffa: The Disappearance of America’s Most Notorious Labor Leader and Why It Still Matters Today,” represents a culmination of many years of his personal research into this cultural phenomenon.

In a recent video, Witwer previews his presentation, which will draw on his research on corruption, organized crime, and labor racketeering. Presentations will focus on his current book project, “Searching for Jimmy Hoffa,” which traces the history of what is known about International Brotherhood of Teamsters President James R. Hoffa’s disappearance, his involvement with organized crime, and what his career reveals about working-class attitudes towards corruption. Witwer plans to generate conversations about what past confrontations with corruption can teach us today.

Information about the 2020-2021 Penn State Laureate's scheduled presentations and talks:

Previous Penn State Laureates

2024-25: Michele Dunleavy, Professor of Dance
2023-24: Lori Hepner, Professor of Integrative Arts
2022-23: Velvet Brown, David P. Stone Chair and Associate Director for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in the College of Arts and Architecture’s School of Music
2021-22: Shara McCallum, Edwin Earle Sparks Professor of English in the College of the Liberal Arts
2020-21: David Witwer, Professor of American Studies in Penn State Harrisburg's School of Humanities
2019-20: William J. Doan, Professor of Theatre in the College of Arts and Architecture and Artist-in-Residence in the College of Nursing
2018-19: John Champagne, Professor of English and Chair of the Global Languages and Cultures program at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College
2017-18: Andrew Belser, Professor of Movement, Voice, and Acting, and Director of the Arts & Design Research Incubator (ADRI) in the College of Arts and Architecture, University Park
2016-17: Rebecca Strzelec, Professor of Visual Arts, Penn State Altoona
2015-16: Carol Reardon, George Winfree Professor of American History, College of the Liberal Arts, University Park
2014-15: Susan Russell, Associate Professor of Theatre, College of Arts and Architecture, University Park
2013-14: Kenneth Womack, Former Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Professor of English and Integrative Arts, Penn State Altoona
2012-13: Christopher Staley, Distinguished Professor of Art, College of Arts and Architecture, University Park
2011-12: Linda Patterson Miller, Professor of English, Penn State Abington
2010-11: Robin Becker, Professor of English and Women’s Studies, College of the Liberal Arts, University Park
2009-10: Anthony T. Leach, Associate Professor of Music/Music Education, College of Arts and Architecture, University Park
2008-09: Kim Cook, Professor of Music in Cello, College of Arts and Architecture, University Park