UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Recently tenured and promoted Penn State faculty members across the University were honored Sept. 15 through Penn State’s Promotion and Tenure Recognition Program, now in its 23rd year.
Honorees, their guests and invited colleagues were welcomed by Faye A. Chadwell, dean of University Libraries and Scholarly Communications, during a private event held in the Paterno Family Humanities Reading Room on the second floor of Pattee Library at the University Park campus.
“It is a privilege for the University Libraries to host this event that celebrates this academic and professional milestone of Penn State’s faculty,” Chadwell said. “We take great pride in the part that the Libraries plays in your teaching and research, and therefore ultimately in your success.”
To commemorate their achievement, each newly tenured or promoted faculty member is asked to select a book title for the University Libraries’ permanent collection and to submit a personal statement explaining why they chose that book. The Libraries purchases titles that are not already in its collection.
Each faculty cohort’s book selections and personal statements are listed online, searchable by year and by last name. This year’s selected titles and words of dedication were on display at the Sept. 15 event.
“Of the 179 honorees this year, 70 have chosen a book,” Chadwell said. “As you can imagine, the books chosen are as diverse as the areas of specialty in this room. What they all have in common is they hold some special place in the honorees’ journey, some personal significance that they will always possess. They really are the highlight of this celebration.”
“I especially love the tradition of choosing a book to symbolize your journey,” said President Neeli Bendapudi. “What a beautiful way to share the ideas that have shaped you, and to leave a legacy for future scholars. Long after tonight, your selections will continue to inspire others who browse the shelves of our University Libraries.”
Provost Fotis Sotiropoulos noted that the University Libraries, as “the heart of scholarship and discovery at Penn State,” is a perfect place to honor newly promoted and tenured faculty.
“Just as we hold a high bar of academic excellence across Penn State, we also hold our rigorous and thorough promotion and tenure processes in very high regard,” he said “Through them, we foster long-term excellence by cultivating and growing an esteemed, distinguished faculty — one that is appropriate for a major research university with a staunch commitment to stellar scholarship.”
President Bendapudi concluded with thoughts on what makes the promotion and tenure process meaningful.
“They are not just about achievement; they are about endurance, resilience and a commitment to continue making an impact,” she said. “You are shaping students’ lives. You are pushing the boundaries of human knowledge. You are modeling what it means to serve the greater good. And you are carrying forward Penn State’s reputation as a university of impact and distinction.”
To read each faculty member’s entry and learn more, visit the Promotion and Tenure Recognition Program website.