UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Recently promoted faculty were celebrated at an annual event in October to recognize those with teaching, clinical, research and library appointments.
Speaking from the 1855 Room at the Bryce Jordan Center, Executive Vice President and Provost Fotis Sotiropoulos congratulated faculty on earning their promotions and praised their dedication and brilliance during his remarks.
“This is what Penn State is all about,” Sotiropoulos said. “You are the heartbeat of this university. You are the mentors, you are the innovators. You are the collaborators who make learning and discovery come alive.”
He told faculty they are central to the shaping of Penn State for generations to come.
“We are entering an extraordinary era for higher education, one where innovation, technology and creativity will redefine how we teach and learn,” Sotiropoulos said. “And what makes Penn State special is that we never have shied away from challenges.”
The annual celebration of Teaching, Research, Library and Clinical Faculty Promotions was first held in 2022. It’s a chance for recently promoted non-tenure-line faculty and their families to be recognized in person, get to know faculty from other campuses and colleges and hear directly from University leadership. Faculty with teaching, clinical, research and library appointments account for more than half of all faculty at Penn State.
Penn State Abington Chancellor Gary Liguori, who started his career as a non-tenure line faculty, was in attendance supporting the 10 faculty from his campus who earned promotions in 2025.
“I think this is a really important celebration to really recognize what they do and how they make everything work,” Liguori said.
Gina Gray is an associate teaching professor of kinesiology at Penn State Scranton who has been with Penn State for more than 25 years. She was joined by family for the evening’s celebrations.
“It feels really good to know that the last five-plus years of hard work have really paid off,” Gray said.
Acknowledging that student feedback was part of her promotion, Gray said she was grateful for the positive comments she’s received from students over the years.
“Just to know that a part of that plays into this promotion process is pretty cool,” Gray said. “To know that they’ve been able to say, ‘Hey, she's done a really good job in the classroom,’ it really validates your profession, for sure.”
Christina Grozinger, Publius Vergilius Maro Professor of Entomology and director of the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences, said during remarks that the evening was about more than recognition of achievement, it was a celebration of growth, perseverance and impact.
“Promotion at Penn State is not simply earned through years of service,” Grozinger said. “It’s earned through innovation, creativity and the relentless pursuit of excellence. Our teaching faculty are transforming our classrooms into laboratories of engagement, making learning active and relevant and empowering students across the commonwealth.”
This year’s event was sponsored by the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence and the Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost. Planning was led by Deidre Yingling, events coordinator for the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence, in collaboration with Bre Robinson, executive assistant to the executive vice president and provost, and Miki Wagner, assistant to the executive vice president and provost. Four Three undergraduate students with the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence also provided support for the event: Layan Mohamed Al Busadi, Amanda Dorfman, Jacob Smith, Olivia Szaszko and Alivia Peterson.
"We are pleased to host another promotion celebration for the faculty and their families and friends," said Angela Linse, associate dean and executive director of the Schreyer Institute. "Every faculty member deserves our profound gratitude for all that they do for Penn State students and the University.”