Penn State Laureate

Lori Hepner

Lori Hepner

Meet the 2023-24 Penn State Laureate

Lori Hepner
Professor of Integrative Arts at Penn State Greater Allegheny

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo of 2022-2023 Penn State Laureate Velvet Brown

2022-2023 Penn State Laureate Velvet Brown

Meet the 2022-23 Penn State Laureate

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

News: Velvet Brown, 2022-23 Penn State Laureate, visited Penn State Berks on Monday, Oct. 24, and Penn State Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday, Oct. 25.

 

 

 

 

 

Photo of Shara McCallum, 2021-2022 Penn State Laureate

Shara McCallum

Meet the 2021-22 Penn State Laureate

Shara McCallum, Edwin Earle Sparks Professor of English in the College of the Liberal Arts

 

Shara McCallum’s Website and Writer Vitae

Shara McCallum’s latest book, “No Ruined Stone,” released in the US and UK

Sample Poems and Essays, including “Through a Glass, Darkly” in The Southern Review, Autumn 2020. The essay received the Oran Robert Perry Burke Award for Nonfiction.

 

 

 

 

 

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:

Shara McCallum’s Winter/Spring 2022 Readings and Other Events
Shara McCallum’s Fall 2021 Readings and Other Events

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

Both Poet and Laureate: On the Road with Shara McCallum

Two Rivers, 30 Minutes: Writing and Learning About Poetry and Verse

Take Note on WPSU: Shara McCallum on Poetry and Cultural Identity

Penn State 2021-22 Laureate Receives Jamaica’s prestigious Musgrave Medal

Jamaican Becomes First Woman of Color to Be Named Penn State Laureate

Penn State 2021-22 Laureate Shara McCallum Shares Her Poetic Journey from Jamaica to State College

Penn State News Announcement

 

 

Photo of David Witmer

David Witwer

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.

Recent News:

Penn State Laureate delivers Zoom session

 

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

 

 

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

Read the updated Penn State Laureate Guidelines for more information.

 

 

Previous Penn State Laureates

 

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