Corporate communications professor named 2026 Global Learning Fellow

DUNMORE, Pa. — Penn State Scranton Assistant Professor of Corporate Communication Stephanie Longo has been named a faculty fellow for the University’s 2026 Global Learning Fellows Program, a year-long professional development opportunity supporting full-time Penn State faculty who want to implement global learning in an existing undergraduate course.

“This program is a year-long dive into ‘internationalizing’ the Penn State experience,” Longo explained. “Essentially, it’s a partnership between Penn State Global, English for Professional Purposes Intercultural Center (EPPIC) and the Schreyer Institute for Teaching Excellence that helps faculty take a domestic course and give it a truly global heartbeat. Being selected for this cohort is an honor because it recognizes that our work at the Scranton campus is vital to the university’s broader mission of global engagement.”

She said she will use the program to provide the structure and mentorship she needs to take her class, "Intercultural Communication," to the next level. Her goal is to shift the course toward more experiential hands-on learning.

Longo said she is most looking forward to the opportunity to collaborate with other Global Learning Fellows.

“There is something incredibly energizing about brainstorming with colleagues who are just as passionate about teaching as you are, especially when we’re focused in the same goal: bettering the student experience," she said.

She said she also sees this fellowship as an opportunity to continue educating herself, which will then benefit her students.

“By the time my students walk into the classroom next fall, they won't just be reading about other cultures, they’ll be engaging with them through redesigned modules that emphasize collaborative problem-solving," she said. "This fellowship ensures that the ‘global’ in ‘Global Learning’ isn't just a buzzword, it's a lived experience in the classroom.”

Longo said that today’s students need to be “globally curious,” meaning they need to get rid of preconceived notions of other cultures and recognizing that every culture is valid. She added that her goal is to “sharpen the focus on global business contexts so students graduate with tangible, marketable skills.”

Upon learning she had been selected as a Global Learning Fellow, Longo was thrilled.

“I’m incredibly proud to represent Penn State Scranton in this cohort. It’s easy to get stuck in a box with your teaching methods after a few years, so receiving this news felt like the green light to keep growing, keep improving, and keep pushing the boundaries of what a corporate communications class can be,” she said.

The Global Learning Fellowship comes with $1000 award and requires awardees to participate in a virtual orientation; attend the in-person Global Learning Summer Institute; teach their redesigned course in the 2026-27 academic year; present their experiences at the 2027 Global Learning Showcase; provide feedback on the Faculty Fellows program and resources; and participate in Community of Practice and Fellows meetings.