Penn State Berks officially welcomed its sixth leader when Radha Pyati assumed the role of chancellor and dean of Penn State Berks, effective July 1, following a national search. Formerly dean of the College of the Sciences and Mathematics at West Chester University, Pyati is an accomplished researcher, teacher, chemist, author, award-winning environmentalist, and a leader in STEM education.
Radha Pyati, former dean of the College of the Sciences and Mathematics at West Chester University of Pennsylvania, has been selected as the new chancellor and dean of Penn State Berks. She will assume her new role on July 1, 2023.
Inspired by the opportunity to memorialize her husband and support the community that brought them together, Penn State graduate Barbara Bradley has stepped forward with a gift of $350,000 to establish the John and Barbara Bradley Scholarship at Penn State Berks.
A series of seed grants from the Office of the Vice President for Commonwealth Campuses has provided Penn State campus leaders with the support to implement transformative initiatives and best practices that have been successful at other University campuses.
The Penn State Berks Advisory Board Annual Scholarship will be awarded to full-time undergraduate students who are enrolled or who plan to enroll at Penn State Berks. First preference shall be given to students who graduated from a high school located within the Penn State Berks service area.
Roger Brindley, vice provost for Penn State Global; Andrea Dowhower interim vice president for Student Affairs; and Renata Engel, vice provost for online education, share resources available for individuals who have been impacted by the earthquake in Syria and Turkey, as well as ways to help with the rescue and recovery.
In a continuation of its longtime partnership with Penn State, Barnes & Noble College, a Barnes & Noble Education company, which operates the Penn State Bookstore, has awarded a 2022-23 round of grants to support a range of programs and initiatives across the University.
Philanthropists with roots in the Reading region have stepped forward with gifts that will establish a total of $2.4 million in endowed support for the Berks LaunchBox powered by Penn State. The LaunchBox delivers a range of entrepreneurship and economic development resources for the Reading community.
"A Greater Penn State for 21st Century Excellence" concluded on June 30, raising more than $2.2 billion for the three key imperatives of a modern land-grant institution: opening the doors of higher education to students from every background; creating transformative experiences for both students and citizens; and impacting the larger world through research, outreach and service. While the nearly $844.5 million raised for the last imperative advanced a wide range of priorities across the University, the campaign focused attention on three opportunities for impact: economic development, resource security, and human health.
Leaders from around the commonwealth gathered at Penn State Berks on Friday, Aug. 26, to celebrate the dedication of the newly renovated and expanded Beaver Athletics and Wellness Center. President Neeli Bendapudi was on hand to mark the culmination of the $30 million project, which revamped the original structure into a 76,000-square-foot modern facility designed to support academic programs and recreational activities.
