Chancellor’s Chat celebrates semester of success at Penn State Lehigh Valley

CENTER VALLEY, Pa. — Shortly before the first major snowfall of the season blanketed the Penn State Lehigh Valley campus, faculty and staff gathered — both in person and online — for a conversation with Chancellor Tina Richardson reflecting on the success of the semester. Organized around updates and submitted questions, the presentation served as a reminder of what can be accomplished when a community works together toward a shared goal.

In her remarks, Richardson praised the distinctive nature of the campus community, highlighting the personalized experience frequently cited by students and pointing to upcoming commencement celebrations as evidence of that impact.

“Our campus matters,” she said, “we succeed every day because of each and every one of you.”

Richardson also reflected on the recent visit from Penn State Provost Fotis Sotiropoulos, noting his strong and consistent recognition that “many good things are going on at this campus.”

In her remarks and responses, Richardson highlighted several significant milestones from the semester.

Giving Tuesday Success

Penn State had a successful GivingTuesday and the Lehigh Valley campus raised more than $7,000 during this year’s initiative. In 2025, the campaign focused on supporting campus athletics. Throughout November, student-athletes were featured in a video series celebrating the athletics experience at Penn State Lehigh Valley. In the episodes, featuring men's soccer, men's basketball, women's volleyball and golf, students consistently shared stories of personal support across campus, citing professors, coaches, activities and staff that contribute to their sense of belonging and success. The team representatives were also quick to share their appreciation for the support and generosity of donors.

Campus Expansion in Downtown Allentown

Faculty and staff also received information on a new space being developed in partnership with the campus LaunchBox in downtown Allentown. The nearly 9,000-square-foot facility, located on Hamilton Street, will serve as a resource hub for small business owners and entrepreneurs while also acting as an outpost for campus and community collaboration. The space will include meeting rooms, co-working areas, and flexible classroom environments, making it well-suited for innovative future programming. The facility is expected to open in late spring 2026.

This expansion is a direct reflection of Penn State’s enduring land-grant mission to expand access to education, drive economic opportunity, and serve the needs of communities across the commonwealth. At Penn State Lehigh Valley, that mission comes to life through place-based partnerships, workforce development and applied learning that connects classroom knowledge with real-world impact. By investing in students, supporting local businesses and strengthening regional collaboration, the downtown Allentown Launchbox will continue to advance Penn State’s commitment to public service, innovation and community-engaged education in the Lehigh Valley and beyond.

Work-Based Learning

Richardson shared her enthusiasm that Penn State Lehigh Valley will serve as a spotlight campus for expanding career-ready experiences for students through a new work-based learning program. By integrating internships, externships, work-study opportunities and cooperative education experiences, students will be able to maximize real-world learning throughout the Lehigh Valley and across Pennsylvania. This University-wide initiative aims to position work-based learning as a signature program for Commonwealth Campuses and help ensure Penn State graduates are workforce-ready.

"We are already succeeding," said the chancellor. She pointed to campus experts and the success of events like the business, technology, and engineering career fair, where company representatives from manufacturing, health care, IT, retail and engineering came to campus to speak with students about full- and part-time internships and job opportunities. The Lehigh Valley’s economy continues to expand, with a regional gross domestic product near $56 billion, a surge in job creation and a national reputation as a top market for economic development, clearly signaling strong future opportunity for students, employers and the broader community.

Achievements

The chancellor also recognized achievements that will continue to benefit the campus in the year ahead.

Penn State Lehigh Valley has embraced technological advancements in education, including the completion of a new engineering lab and the planning of an additional lab scheduled to begin construction in 2026. Information sciences students recently presented a poster titled "Development of Immersive Virtual Reality for Anti-Cyberbullying Training," demonstrating how emerging technologies such as AI and immersive media will shape future careers. Campus faculty have partnered with colleagues across Pennsylvania to lead sessions on the effective use of AI in the classroom. In 2026, the campus will also welcome a new four-year engineering program, a much in-demand degree for businesses and corporations throughout the growing local community.

With the hiring of Todd Askins, the women’s basketball program will return in the new year following a one-year hiatus. Askins brings more than 20 years of coaching experience at both the collegiate and high school levels. His career is marked by revitalizing programs, elevating performance, and building winning cultures grounded in player development and deep knowledge of the game.

Throughout the presentation, Richardson emphasized the campus’s most important priority: students.

"Students," she noted, "remain at the center of campus success and the heart of what makes Penn State Lehigh Valley special."

She reminded everyone that the campus will celebrate student achievements with an on-campus ceremony for the practical nursing graduates, while also recognizing graduates at the fall semester commencement at University Park. Penn State Lehigh Valley will host an on-campus ceremony in May 2026.

Looking ahead

Richardson noted President Neeli Bendapudi's recent end-of-year message to the Penn State community, in which the president reflected on the collective impact Penn Staters made throughout 2025. “Across our classrooms, labs, offices, student organizations, sports venues and community spaces, your work has been extraordinary,” Bendapudi wrote.

It is a reminder of shared goals of student success, innovation, community engagement and belonging, said Richardson, adding that, working together with University leadership, the Lehigh Valley campus continues to demonstrate how collaboration and shared purpose translate into meaningful outcomes for its students and the broader region.

Richardson closed with forward-looking optimism and determination: “Every day is not perfect,” she said. “But you can get a lot done on an imperfect day — and Penn State Lehigh Valley gets things done.”