Members of the admissions team were joined by academic leaders from across campus to highlight the many pathways available to students at Penn State Lehigh Valley.
Brenna Traver, associate professor of biology, shared that biology students now have the opportunity to continue directly into medical school through a new partnership with Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM).
“Our highest-achieving students will be able to gain provisional admission to medical school, which, for some, means not having to take the MCAT, an often stressful and anxiety-producing part of the medical school admissions process,” said Traver.
Liz Keptner, associate teaching professor of communications, explained that Penn State Lehigh Valley students have access to the same state-of-the-art technology as those at University Park.
“Communications majors utilize professional-grade tools in our Multimedia Innovation Center, including green screens, podcasting equipment and sound studios,” she said. “These hands-on opportunities have opened doors for our students to pursue professional experiences with national broadcasting companies.”
The event also spotlighted Penn State Lehigh Valley’s new four-year on-campus degree program in engineering, launched in the 2025-26 academic year.
“Students can now apply to complete a Penn State College of Engineering degree entirely at our Lehigh Valley campus,” explained Tracey Carbonetto, associate teaching professor of engineering. “The program provides four years of immersive, industry-strength design experiences in modern facilities, taught by faculty with decades of professional expertise. Students will gain real-world exposure to emerging technologies through tabletop studio labs that explore areas such as generative design, additive manufacturing, augmented reality, artificial intelligence and RF communications.”
A longtime higher education leader at Penn State Lehigh Valley, Hove emphasized the critical role that counselors play in helping students make informed decisions about their college futures.
“In the room today, we had decades of collective expertise in the college process,” she said. “Our local school counselors are invaluable partners who help make the application experience positive and seamless for students and families. We are proud to continue these partnerships — and can’t wait to welcome all school counselors back to campus again soon!”
About Penn State Lehigh Valley
Penn State Lehigh Valley, established in 1912, combines over a century of academic excellence with personalized instruction and industry-connected faculty. Students can choose from 12 degrees or begin any of Penn State’s 275+ majors through the 2+2 program. With small class sizes and advanced learning technology, our modern campus prepares students for success in the Lehigh Valley and beyond.