UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — A new speaker series in spring 2026 will examine how the University’s core values can guide leadership, strengthen organizational culture and advance meaningful impact across higher education.
The Penn State Values Speaker Series, titled “Turning Values into Impact,” will feature six virtual conversations aligned with Penn State’s core values of integrity, respect, responsibility, discovery, excellence and community. Through dialogue with national experts and Penn State faculty leaders, the series will explore how institutional values can move beyond aspiration and become embedded in daily academic, research and administrative practice, bringing together thought leaders who help institutions navigate complex challenges while remaining grounded in purpose and inspiring both reflection and action.
The series stems from an initiative conceived by Vivian C. Hsu, teaching professor of psychology at Penn State Abington and 2024–25 Administrative Fellow during her experience under the mentorship of Michael Wade Smith, senior vice president for external affairs and chief of staff at Penn State. It is part of “Inspiring Leadership from the Inside Out: Leveraging High-Impact Learning Practices of Emotional Competency, Trust, and Confidence for Penn State Higher Education Success,” an Opportunity Grant Professional Development Program supported by the Office of the President and the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research.
The initiative is co-sponsored by the Center for Faculty Development and Advancement.
“This work centers on fostering personal accountability through emotional intelligence and translating that awareness into practical strategies for embedding values into everyday practice,” said Hsu. “When we lead with clarity and intention, our values become more than words — they become actions that strengthen our mission and our impact.”
Organizers noted that the series is designed to create space for dialogue, reflection and application of Penn State’s core values across roles and units.
“At Penn State, leadership is expressed in classrooms, research labs, administrative offices and community partnerships every day,” said Ann Clements, associate vice provost for Faculty Affairs. “This series creates a space for thoughtful reflection on how our shared values shape those moments and how we can intentionally cultivate integrity, respect, responsibility, discovery, excellence and community in our work.”
Each session will be held virtually and will include opportunities for engagement and discussion. All sessions require advanced registration. To register for sessions or for more information about the series, visit the Center for Faculty Development and Advancement website.
Sessions include:
Integrity: “Integrity as a Leader’s Competitive Advantage: Lessons from West Point, Warfighting, and Higher Education”
Monday, March 2 (12:15–1:15 p.m.)
Speaker: COL Aaron Hill, department head and professor of civil engineering and mechanical and aerospace engineering, United States Military Academy at West Point
Respect: "How Stress Shapes Us: Building Social Safety & Respect in the Workplace”
Monday, March 16 (12:15–1:15 p.m.)
Speaker: Blake Colaianne, assistant research professor and director of the Learn to Flourish Hub, Penn State University Park
Responsibility: “Living our Value of Responsibility: The Social Science of Promoting Responsible Behavior”
Monday, March 23 (12:15–1:15 p.m.)
Speaker: Michael Brown, professor of management and Samuel Patton and Marion Toudy Black Chair in Business, director of the Behrend Honors Program, and Schreyer Honors Campus coordinator, Penn State Behrend
Discovery: "Discovery and Dialogue: Embedding Values in Organizational Culture”
Friday, March 27 (12:15–1:15 p.m.)
Speaker: Michael Burroughs, executive director of Organizational Change, Ethics, and Culture at the University of Southern California and former associate director of the Rock Ethics Institute at Penn State
Excellence: "What is the Pathway to Excellence? Mastery, Character, and Resilience"
Thursday, April 2 (11 a.m.–noon)
Speakers: Thomas Anthony, director of Aviation Safety and Security at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, and Elisabeth Arnold Weiss, associate professor of Technical Communication Practice at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California
Community: “Rooted in Community: Connection with Purpose”
Friday, April 17 (12:15–1:15 p.m.)
Speaker: Captain Daniel Yang, United States Air Force, Pennsylvania Air National Guard – Chaplain Corps