UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Growing up just a short drive from Penn State’s University Park campus, Anna Mary Cingle always felt connected to the community. Still, she said, she didn’t expect that the College of Arts and Architecture would become the place where her academic interests, leadership skills and passion for accessible arts education all came together.
Now a senior on track to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in art history, Cingle has grown into a leader for multiple organizations at Penn State and will leave a legacy of dedication, service and collaboration.
As a State College native, Cingle always had her eye on Penn State. On her accepted student tour, she said, she knew she made the right choice.
“I was able to meet [on the tour] with the head of my department at the time, and that was just really crazy to me that in this big Penn State universe, that was possible,” Cingle said.
Cingle said the art history program felt like the right fit for multiple reasons, including the size of the program and the access to faculty.
“It’s really small. We’re probably the smallest major in [one of] the smallest colleges, so it’s really great to kind of have a lot of one-on-one contact with my professors,” Cingle said.
In addition to her major program, Cingle is pursuing a minor in rehabilitation and human services, which grew from her interest in accessibility and inclusion. Those interests deepened even further once she began interning at the Palmer Museum of Art.
“I started at the museum my junior year, fall semester, and I’ve been with them ever since,” Cingle said. “I’ve been working in the education department, so I do a lot of public programming.”
Over time, her responsibilities expanded from tour scheduling to early childhood arts engagement and, more recently, accessibility work as the museum’s accessibility intern.
“I love connecting with the public in any way, and just really teaching about art and spreading what I know about everything to kids and people of all ages,” Cingle said. “I really love the public programming aspect.”
Her hands-on work at the museum helped shape her long-term goals, she said. As a senior, Cingle is applying to master’s programs in arts administration and arts management.
“Working there and actually being able to do the hands-on stuff is what pushed me,” said Cingle, noting the Palmer staff have been instrumental in helping her clarify her path. “I love what I do, and I love seeing people get a lot out of my programming.”
Beyond her academic commitments, Cingle also serves as president of the Arts and Architecture Student Council, a role she stepped into after joining the group as an event planner just last year.
“I’ve been really trying to take it in a direction that is beneficial for what the students want,” Cingle said.
Her efforts include strengthening council funding, organizing student-centered programming and building communication channels between students and college leadership. She said the position places her in regular conversation with faculty and administrators across the college.
“As a president, I serve on the Alumni Society Board. I’m also on the Arts and Architecture Leadership Council, I’m also on the Faculty Council, and sometimes I step in on the General Education Council,” Cingle said.
Participating in those meetings has helped her to better understand what drives decisions and how the college community works behind the scenes.
“It’s great to understand kind of the inner workings of our college, and it’s great to see so many people that do care about the student's perspective,” Cingle said.
Together with the student council, Cingle helped create a "Student of the Month" initiative to highlight the work of peers throughout the college.
“We’re trying to showcase all the different works that students in our college do,” Cingle said. “We want to show that we do care.”
Cingle also participates in the Arts Ambassadors program and has represented student voices in high-profile settings, including moderating a student panel with Penn State Provost Fotis Sotiropoulos.
From her academic pursuits to her work at the Palmer Museum of Art to her leadership within the college, Cingle said her goal is to continue championing student needs and expanding access to the arts.
“We’re just trying to build up a council that’s for the people and for the undergraduate students,” Cingle said. “I think it’s going in the right direction, and I’m really happy with all the progress that we’ve made.”
Cingle said her experiences in the College of Arts and Architecture have helped her grow as both a leader and a community member. She said she values the support she has received from faculty, staff and fellow students and hopes to continue building connections across the college.
“Everyone here wants you to succeed,” Cingle said. “Being surrounded by people who care about what they do and care about you makes such a difference.”