UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State graduates Carol Poblete and Mark Poblete have committed $185,000 to spearhead a student wellness initiative in the College of Arts and Architecture’s School of Music.
The gift will create the Poblete Studio, a space in the School of Music’s Music Building that will serve as a flexible hub for collaboration and community that supports wellness activities, seminars, small-group rehearsals, student gatherings and more.
The Pobletes’ commitment will also establish the School of Music Wellness Endowment, a fund dedicated to supporting mental health and wellness programs for students that engage with the School of Music, whether it is through classes, participation in ensembles, private lessons or interdisciplinary collaborations.
“We’re excited for the opportunity to promote a holistic approach to School of Music students that focuses not just on academic success but social and emotional wellbeing as well,” Carol said. “Being a music major can be grueling at times, and if students have access to wellness initiatives, maybe it can be a little easier.”
Carol and Mark's story is quintessential Penn State. Carol played piccolo and Mark played trumpet in the Blue Band. Mark earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) in 2007 and a master of professional studies in information sciences — cybersecurity and information assurance in 2020, while Carol earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from the College of Arts and Architecture in 2008. The couple got engaged at Penn State and were married in State College in 2016 with a Blue Band accompaniment by their side at the on-campus reception.
The Pobletes live in Fairfax, Virginia, where Carol teaches music in Fairfax County Public Schools and Mark works in risk management. Over the last decade, the couple has stayed engaged with Penn State in numerous ways, including co-chairing the Homecoming Committee together and serving on the Alumni Blue Band Association and the School of Music Affiliate Group. Mark has also been an active member of the World Campus Alumni Society and the Penn State Alumni Association's governing body, the Alumni Council.
Through service in many roles at Penn State, as well as their individual experiences as students, the Pobletes recognized the financial challenges college students face. To help address those challenges, the Pobletes established and supported numerous scholarships across the University, but when planning the most recent gift, Mark said they wanted to find a way to reach even more students.
“We wanted something that would make a lasting impact on as many students as possible,” Mark said. “And we also wanted to create something that becomes an organic and natural part of the student experience.”
With that goal in mind, the Pobletes met with Ann Marie Stanley, director of the School of Music, to discuss possibilities. Those discussions, Stanley said, revealed a common ground.
“The Pobletes and I believe strongly that musical excellence depends on the well-being of the whole person,” Stanley said.
From there, the Pobletes and Stanley crafted a wellness program that would offer:
- Workshops that will teach students practical skills for maintaining work-life-rehearsal balance while fulfilling basic needs such as rest and nutrition
- Lectures featuring artists and practitioners that address psychological concerns among musicians such as loneliness, performance anxiety and imposter syndrome
- Classes that will provide specific training on posture and movement to prevent pain and fatigue, such as the Alexander Technique, a method widely used by performers to improve body awareness and relieve tension caused by repetitive physical activities
- Networking and social activities that prevent isolation by fostering community, belonging and collaboration
- Therapeutic activities to reduce and regulate stress such as mindfulness exercises, meditation and yoga tailored for student musicians
- Study breaks during finals week with activities to encourage proper rest and self-care
“The idea of tailoring a wellness program to the nuances of a particular academic program, while recognizing the journey these students are on and creating something that meets them where they are, really resonated with us,” Mark said.
The Poblete Studio will be a place where students can tend to their mental and physical well-being, connect with one another and build the resilience they need to thrive, Stanley explained. The program will ensure that wellness is woven into the rhythm of the students’ daily lives.
“Having a beautiful space and sustainable programming for wellness will make a meaningful difference in our students’ ability to accomplish their goals, not just during their time here, but long after they leave Penn State,” Stanley said. “We are profoundly grateful to Mark and Carol for this investment in our students and in the future of the School of Music.”
Donors like Carol and Mark Poblete advance the University’s historic land-grant mission to serve and lead. Through philanthropy, alumni and friends are helping students to join the Penn State family and prepare for lifelong success; driving research, outreach and economic development that grow our shared strength and readiness for the future; and increasing the University’s impact for families, patients and communities across the commonwealth and around the world. Learn more by visiting raise.psu.edu.