About Us

Greater Philadelphia represents a vibrant ecosystem of employers, entrepreneurs, educators, alumni leaders, and civic institutions. With thousands of Penn State students and alumni across southeastern Pennsylvania, the region plays a vital role in the University’s long-term growth and competitiveness.

The Penn State Center Philadelphia helps Penn State:

• embed itself within Philadelphia’s key industries, including health care, finance, technology, life sciences, education, public service, and entrepreneurship
• strengthen high school-to-college and college-to-career pipelines
• coordinate cross-campus engagement across Abington, Brandywine, and University Park
• increase institutional visibility and regional investment
• align colleges, campuses, and units around shared regional priorities

The Penn State Center Philadelphia serves as a bridge across multiple communities:

Students
Undergraduate, graduate, and professional students seeking experiential learning, internships, mentorship, and career connections in Greater Philadelphia

Faculty and Academic Units
Colleges, campuses, and research centers looking to engage regional partners, expand applied learning opportunities, and explore collaborative research initiatives

Industry and Employers
Organizations seeking talent pipelines, workforce training partnerships, research collaboration, and University engagement

Alumni and Philanthropy
Penn State alumni leaders and foundations committed to strengthening regional opportunity and student success

Community and Government Leaders
Nonprofits, civic institutions, educational partners, and public-sector leaders working alongside Penn State to advance shared regional priorities

Mission

To amplify Penn State’s land-grant mission by connecting communities to the University and co-creating meaningful impact across the Greater Philadelphia region.

Our Strategic Priorities

Strengthen Regional Partnerships
Advance economic, civic, and educational progress by aligning Penn State’s expertise and resources with regional priorities through sustainable, reciprocal partnerships.

Elevate Student Success
Expand experiential learning, career readiness, mentorship, and internship opportunities that prepare students for leadership in complex and evolving environments.

Drive Workforce Development
Align education, research, and training with private, nonprofit, and public-sector demands to strengthen Philadelphia’s workforce and innovation ecosystem.

The Penn State Center Philadelphia is part of Penn State Outreach, which advances the University’s land-grant mission by connecting knowledge to communities across Pennsylvania and beyond.

Penn State’s land-grant identity calls the University to:

• expand access to transformative education
• apply research to real-world challenges
• support workforce and economic development
• strengthen communities through collaboration and engagement

Penn State Center Philadelphia brings this mission to life in southeastern Pennsylvania, serving as a gateway between Penn State and the region’s civic, industry, and educational leaders.

The Center directly supports Penn State’s institutional priorities by advancing:

• Student Success through Philadelphia Connect, experiential learning programs, regional internships, alumni mentorship, and career-readiness initiatives
• Research Excellence and Public Impact by connecting faculty and regional partners, supporting applied research collaboration, and embedding Penn State within Philadelphia’s innovation ecosystems
• Workforce Development and Institutional Growth through coordinated regional alignment that strengthens talent pipelines, expands partnership opportunities, and positions Penn State competitively within one of the nation’s largest metropolitan regions