UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Michele Dunleavy, professor of dance and the 2024-25 Penn State Laureate, and Jared Fishman, founder and executive director of Justice Innovation Lab, will be hosted by the Penn State Forum Speaker Series for spring 2025. The forum series is modeled after the National Press Club Speaker Series and includes a presentation by an invited speaker, followed by audience questions.
The buffet-style luncheons are held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in venues on the University Park campus. All events are open to faculty, staff, students and the general public.
Tickets for the Penn State Forum are $25 each, or $250 for a table of 10, and include a buffet lunch. To purchase tickets and register for a lecture, see the individual links below.
Feb. 21: Michele Dunleavy, the 2024-25 Penn State Laureate
Michele Dunleavy, professor of dance in the School of Theatre, and the 2024-25 Penn State Laureate, will present a talk on Feb. 21 in the Dean's Hall of the Penn State Conference Center. In her talk, Dunleavy will share how her work bridges the gap between the arts and community engagement, emphasizing inclusivity and accessibility.
Visit the registration page to purchase tickets/tables for Dunleavy's talk.
Dunleavy, known for her innovative choreography and dedication to inclusive dance education, has been a vital part of Penn State’s acclaimed musical theater program since 2004. Dunleavy’s work spans tap, jazz and modern dance, with performances and choreography that have captivated audiences from Chicago to New York City and beyond. Her contributions to the art form extend into her pedagogical practices, where she has seamlessly integrated her professional experiences into the classroom, offering students unparalleled opportunities to learn from a working artist at the top of her field.
One of Dunleavy’s hallmark projects, “Steel Valley Rhythms,” explores the intertwining narratives of place, memory, and the physical embodiment of generations of Pennsylvania iron and steelworkers through percussive dance. Her commitment to exploring social themes through dance is also evident in her collaborative efforts with Krista Wilkinson, distinguished professor of communication sciences and disorders in the College of Health and Human Development, with whom she has developed innovative programs that leverage the performing arts to support communication and social skills in individuals with and without disabilities. Her work with the For Good Troupe, alongside her contributions to disability-affirmative theatrer and dance, showcases her belief in the transformative power of the arts for individuals of all abilities.
In addition to her creative accomplishments, Dunleavy is a recognized leader in the community, having served as regional director for the American College Dance Association and as a board member for the Centre Region Down Syndrome Society. Her work has received support from numerous arts and education grants, underlining her impact both within and beyond the Penn State community.
April 14: Jared Fishman, founder and executive director of Justice Innovation Lab
Jared Fishman, founder and executive director of Justice Innovation Lab, will present a talk titled "What Does it Take to Save Our Communities?" on April 14 in the Dean's Hall of the Penn Stater Conference Center.
Visit the registration page to purchase tickets/tables for Fishman's talk.
In his talk, Fishman will explore the question: Do you wish there was something you could do to make a difference in your community or organization but don’t know where to start? He paints a captivating vision of what’s possible when we take a people-centered, data-informed approach to effectuating change. He helps audiences imagine a better future and empowers participants to take bold action to change the world around them, making tangible differences in their communities and beyond.
Justice Innovation Lab is an organization that designs solutions for a more fair and effective justice system, using a collaborative, data-informed approach to identify and fix harmful outcomes in criminal justice systems across the United States. In addition, Fishman is the co-director of JIL@GW and adjunct faculty at the George Washington University Law School. His work and analysis have been featured on CNN, CBS, CBC, and in the New York Times and the Washington Post.
Previously Fishman served for 14 years as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division. He led some of America’s most complex civil rights prosecutions, securing convictions in high-profile cases involving police misconduct, hate crimes and human trafficking. He is the author of "Fire on the Levee: the Murder of Henry Glover and the Search for Justice After Hurricane Katrina."
About the Penn State Forum Speaker Series
More information about the series, as well as previous and forthcoming topics and speakers, is available on the Penn State Forum Speakers website.