CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — Since 2010, Penn State Lehigh Valley has had an art gallery, and in 2014 dedicated the campus gem, the Ronald K. De Long Gallery. Showcasing a broad selection of works — from local art collectives to renowned artists — the space hosts exhibitions and events throughout the year.
Gallery Director Ann Lalik has created a guide to help professors make meaningful connections between coursework and the visual arts. She regularly invites colleagues from every discipline to bring their classes to the De Long Gallery, fostering a different kind of learning experience.
“The gallery serves as a celebration of the visual arts,” said Lalik, “but also provides a reminder to our community that beauty, creativity, and expression are powerful complements to all areas of academic study.”
Using art to bring concepts to life
Throughout the year, professors at Penn State Lehigh Valley use the gallery to provide their students with a richer perspective.
Andjela Kaur, assistant teaching professor in biobehavioral health, brought her "Introduction to Human Development and Family Studies" course students to see the photographs currently showcased in the gallery.
“The current exhibit nicely speaks to two of the most fundamental tenets of the scientific method: shedding light on a phenomenon or an issue while preserving a sense of wonder throughout the process of discovery,” said Kaur.
The current show, “Solace,” features a selection of photographs by Jane Noel. The exhibit includes more than a dozen large-scale archival pigment prints of trees, giving viewers the sense of walking through a forest.
Students in biobehavioral health are challenged to examine biological, emotional, cognitive, psychosocial, social, cultural and historical factors that influence growth and development. Jaedon Cooper, one of the students in the program, reflected on how the photographs mirrored this same way of thinking: “Visiting the art gallery reminded me that every piece of art is more than just color on a canvas; it’s a conversation between the artist and where they took the photos.”
Using visual arts and creativity to reimagine economics
Subhadra Ganguli, assistant professor of business, has been connecting the visual arts and economics for years.
“Despite high salaries and high demand for the profession,” she observed, “the number of economics majors has been declining.”
The reason, she theorized, has much to do with the way today’s students engage with learning.
“Economics can seem abstract and unrelatable to students who have become more accustomed to a world of images — like those they encounter on social media," she said. "Using visual arts as part of my macroeconomics class provides an opportunity to visualize how economic concepts are connected to real-world events.”
These visits have proven powerful for Penn State Lehigh Valley students, who have said they often walk away with a new perspective on how art interacts with their studies.
Ganguli has collected pre- and post-visit data and feedback as part of a larger research initiative with the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence at Penn State. Early results demonstrate that this interdisciplinary approach has a significant impact on how students engage with the experience, she said.
One student wrote, “The application of photo narration in this course helped me understand macroeconomics by connecting real-world events to economic concepts. Photos [like those] of war-torn Ukraine made concepts like GDP decline, inflation, and government spending more relatable. The visual evidence of destruction and crisis made it easier to grasp the human impact behind macroeconomic terms.”
Interdisciplinary teamwork is foundational at Penn State Lehigh Valley
“What makes this campus so special,” said Lalik, “is the commitment of the faculty to help every student succeed and be career-ready for the world they will enter after graduation. The visual arts are just another tool in the toolbox our students can use to successfully navigate a complex world.”
Ronald K. De Long Gallery is open to the public
“The gallery has public hours for members of the community to visit the current exhibit,” said Ryan Abramson, director of Strategic Communications at Penn State Lehigh Valley. “We welcome inquiries and questions about our interdisciplinary programs and all of our unique campus stories.”
Visit the website for more information and visit the gallery page for current hours.
About Penn State Lehigh Valley
Founded in 1912, Penn State Lehigh Valley combines more than a century of academic excellence with personalized instruction and industry-connected faculty. Students can complete one of 12 degrees on campus or begin any of Penn State’s 275+ majors through the University’s 2+2 program. With small class sizes, advanced learning technology, and a strong focus on student success, Penn State Lehigh Valley prepares students to make an impact in the Lehigh Valley and beyond.