Academics

Mahsa Kazempour

Berks science educator receives President’s Award for Engagement with Students

Mahsa Kazempour, associate professor of science education at Penn State Berks, has received the 2025 President’s Award for Engagement with Students. The award is given to a faculty member who goes beyond his or her responsibilities to engage and encourage students in learning. The honorees have made themselves available to interact with students outside class, link students to opportunities and help them build their confidence as learners and potential contributors to society.
Staff and student at Earth Day event

Penn State Berks to host Earth Day event, tree planting, City Nature Challenge

Spring has sprung at Penn State Berks, and the college’s Sustainability Council will host its annual Earth Day celebration on Monday, April 21. Later that week, on April 23, the Sustainability Council will plant trees donated by PepsiCo in the student commuter parking lot. Then, Penn State Berks will host an event with Berks County's Parks and Recreation Department as part of the City Nature Challenge on Sunday, April 27. 

Penn State Berks hosts evening exploring the power of AI on April 16

In celebration of AI Week, Penn State Berks will host an evening exploring the transformative power of AI for small- to medium-sized businesses on Wednesday, April 16, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. The event will be held in the Flemming Creativity, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (CEED) Center, located within the Gaige Technology and Business Innovation Building. Cost is $20 for dinner (exact payment accepted at the door) and is free for Penn State students with ID. All attendees must register in advance.
A woman giving a speech at a podium

Penn State Global announces 2024-25 awards recipients

Penn State Global has announced the 2024-25 recipients of its annual awards that recognize the outstanding contributions of individuals and academic programs at Penn State who have contributed to advancing the University’s global engagement goals.
Martha Constantinou in front of equations

Berks hosts lecture on the 'Secrets of the Proton’s Spin'

The 12th annual Penn State Berks Losoncy Lecture in Physics and Astronomy will be presented by Martha Constantinou, associate professor of physics and vice chair of department of physics at Temple University. Constantinou will present “Unlocking the Secrets of the Proton’s Spin: Insights from Simulations of the Core of Visible Matter” on Wednesday, April 9. A reception will begin at 4 p.m. in the college’s Perkins Student Center Multipurpose Room and the lecture begins at 4:45 p.m. in the Perkins Student Center Auditorium. This event is free and open to the public. 
 

Berks student members of the team are pictured by the Lion Shrine.

Berks students receive award for pollution-cleaning robot in Nittany AI challenge

A team of Penn State Berks students recieved an award in the Prototype Phase of the Nittany AI Challenge, an annual competition sponsored by the Nittany AI Alliance that provides students from all campuses the opportunity to use AI and machine learning to address pressing global issues while gaining hands on experience. The students' project is B.E.A.N., which stands for "Bio Environmentally-friendly Aquatic Navigator."