Penn State awarded highest honor for campus internationalization

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State has been named a recipient of the 2025 Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization, the highest recognition in the field of international education, awarded by NAFSA: Association of International Educators. Serving more than 10,000 members and international educators worldwide, NAFSA is the largest nonprofit association dedicated to international education and exchange.

The American Council on Education defines comprehensive internationalization as a strategic, coordinated framework that integrates policies, programs, initiatives and individuals to make colleges and universities more globally oriented and internationally connected.

“For more than two decades, the Simon Award has stood as a hallmark of excellence in campus internationalization, and this year’s recipients continue that proud tradition,” said Fanta Aw, NAFSA executive director and CEO. “The inclusion of minority-serving institutions and public land-grant universities among the honorees underscores that global education can thrive in a variety of institutional settings. … We commend this year’s recipients for their unwavering dedication to building a more globally connected future.”

According to the NAFSA website, the Senator Paul Simon Award for Campus Internationalization "recognizes U.S. colleges and universities that are making significant, well-planned, well-executed and well-documented progress toward comprehensive internationalization — especially those using innovative and creative approaches."

Penn State is one of five institutions in 2025 to receive the Comprehensive version of the award — recognizing internationalization across campus — along with the University of Arizona, the University of Georgia, Notre Dame University and San Diego State University. NAFSA also awards the Spotlight version of the award, which highlights a single program or initiative.

“At Penn State, we believe that global engagement is not just an opportunity — it is a responsibility,” said Neeli Bendapudi, president of Penn State. “This recognition is a testament to the dedication of our students, faculty and staff in fostering a culture of international collaboration, engagement and innovation. The Simon Award reaffirms our commitment to preparing global citizens who will lead with curiosity, empathy and purpose. We are honored to be recognized among institutions that share our vision for a more interconnected world.”

The application process is highly competitive, and winners are chosen by a committee of professional peers with proven success of their own.

“This prestigious award is a reflection of the excellence in internationalization at every level of our academic enterprise. Our students, faculty who engage in global teaching and research, and the staff who provide support for these programs, all play a significant role in our success,” said Tracy Langkilde, Penn State interim executive vice president and provost. “Penn State plays an important role in educating the next generation of global citizens, and I couldn’t be more proud of our entire community.”

International efforts and impact

Penn State’s recognition comes after years of internationalization efforts. The University is in the top 15 institutions in the country in both hosting international students (with nearly 10,000 across all campuses) and sending students abroad (sending nearly 3,000 students last academic year), according to the Institute of International Education. In addition, Penn State is consistently a top producer of Fulbright scholars, ranking No. 1 in the country for three of the last five years (2019, 2022, 2023), and supports the largest number of sponsored international students in the U.S., with more than 1,200 on campus.

Penn State is broadly recognized for its international impact, particularly in the area of sustainability. The University ranks No. 2 in the U.S. in the QS Sustainability rankings and No. 4 in the nation in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings. Penn State is also top 100 in the world in nearly all the major global University rankings.

"This award is a testament to the exceptional global engagement of our University community, the expertise of our staff in Penn State Global, and the support from University leadership,” said Sabine Klahr, interim vice provost for Penn State Global. “Penn State’s global impact, which benefits Pennsylvania, the nation and the world, is at the core of our land-grant mission. I am so very proud of our students, faculty and staff who understand that global collaboration is key to developing a peaceful world in which all can thrive.”

Preparing students for success in an interconnected world

The University’s efforts, guided by Penn State Global, reflect a commitment to preparing students across all of Penn State’s campuses for success in an interconnected world and addressing urgent global problems, such as climate change, poverty and food security. Some examples:

• The College of Agricultural Sciences, in addition to developing a study abroad program in Costa Rica for first-generation students, also founded the Global Teach Ag Network (GTAN) to empower educators to address global issues in agriculture and food security. Founded in 2024, GTAN now consists of more than 1,200 community members in more than 47 countries, connecting global experts, practitioners, organizations, and businesses to educators around the world.  

• Steve Sheetz, a local business leader and Penn State alumnus, established the Sheetz Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence at Penn State Altoona. The center supports the entrepreneurship program; the Sheetz Fellows Programs; and the Altoona Launchbox, which aids early startups. The Sheetz Fellows Program fully funds 10-day international travel to enhance students’ understanding of global business and career opportunities.

• The Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship Program (HESE) offers immersive experiences in Kenya, bookended by synchronous virtual interaction with communities in-country to develop technology-based, sustainable solutions for the country's marginalized communities.

• Community outreach at Penn State Harrisburg fosters belonging and support for all students. Leveraging its diverse host city, the campus has cultivated long-standing relationships with local Indian, Korean and Chinese communities. Students volunteer with local organizations, packing holiday gifts, writing personal greetings, and packing meals and materials for global distribution to poverty-stricken or war-torn regions. 

• The "Cacao for Peace Colombia" program has educated four master's degree and four doctoral degree graduates from Colombia; trained Peace Corps volunteers and more than 100 cacao farmers in three different communities in cacao production methods; organized the first Cacao for Peace Research Forum; and established a web‐based, multi‐stakeholder knowledge platform for cacao.

"As a land-grant institution, Penn State has a responsibility to help every international student, no matter which of our campuses they call home, to feel supported, valued and empowered to succeed,” said Jody Pritt, assistant vice provost for International Student and Scholar Advising. “Their well-being is paramount, and we are committed to providing the support they need to thrive."

To assist faculty with integrating global learning outcomes into their courses, Penn State Global coordinates the Global Learning Summer Institute and Faculty Fellows Program, a professional-development opportunity supporting the University's mission and strategic plan to enhance global learning for undergraduates. These fellowships provide mentorship to faculty from a range of disciplines to  to include global and intercultural concepts in the curriculum. This program will be wrapped into a Provost Endorsement program. Penn State Global will also offer Provost Endorsements in Experiential Digital Global Engagement and Education Abroad.

“Penn State has always been a global institution with an invested alumni community and impressive impact. This largess, and our commitment to the world beyond our campus boundaries, has enabled us to grow from the isolation of the pandemic and leverage our global networks to excel in these spaces,” said Brian Brubaker, assistant vice provost for Global Learning. “I am so incredibly proud that the work of our students, staff and faculty is being recognized through this award.”

The Simon Award

The Simon Award is named for the late Sen. Paul Simon of Illinois. Simon served his state and the nation as a strong voice for civil rights, prison literacy, peace initiatives and international education. He was a strong advocate throughout his career for international education, using his positions on various committees in the U.S. Senate to advocate for exchange. His leadership in this area was especially evident in his robust support, along with Sen. David Boren, for the creation of the National Security Education Program, which addresses critical national security deficiencies in language and cultural expertise.

Simon's vision for this program was ambitious, with a goal of sending 500,000 U.S. students to study abroad each year for a semester or summer term. In his forward to NAFSA's 2003 task force report on education abroad, Simon noted, "If we want to improve our nation and the world, we must be willing to sacrifice a little. This major national initiative and the recommendations of [NAFSA's] Strategic Task Force on Education Abroad can lift our vision and responsiveness to the rest of the world."

Penn State will be featured in NAFSA's annual report, "Internationalizing the Campus: Profiles of Success at Colleges and Universities," to be published this fall, and honored during NAFSA’s 2025 Annual Conference and Expo this spring.

For more information, contact Brian Brubaker at bkb27@psu.edu.