The Power of Penn Arts & Science Campaign Creates a New Future for Students, Faculty, and Campus

Inspiring Impact Penn Arts & Sciences

The Power of Penn Arts & Sciences Campaign concluded on June 30, 2021 with $565.6 million raised in support of undergraduate scholarships, graduate fellowships, professorships, programming, and facilities. 

“We have a strong vision for the future of Penn Arts & Sciences,” says Steven J. Fluharty, Dean and Thomas S. Gates, Jr. Professor of Psychology, Pharmacology, and Neuroscience. “I’m grateful for the generosity and trust our donors have shown, particularly during challenging times. Thanks to their partnership, we can work toward that future, with students receiving the strong liberal arts foundation that will prepare them to be the leaders, thinkers, and problems solvers of tomorrow and faculty creating new knowledge at the fore of their fields.” 

Funds raised in the campaign include more than $113 million for the School’s undergraduate financial aid endowment and support for endowed professorships across all disciplines, and research support for undergraduate and graduate students and faculty. Newly endowed centers and programs include the Andrea Mitchell Center for the Study of Democracy, the Wolf Humanities Center, the Price Lab for Digital Humanities, the Vagelos Institute for Energy Science and Technology, and MindCORE, Penn’s integrative hub for the study of the mind and brain.  

During the campaign, Penn Arts & Sciences received its largest gift to-date. Roy Vagelos, C’50, PAR’90, HON’99, and Diana T. Vagelos, PAR’90, made gifts totaling $70 million to support the construction of the Vagelos Laboratory for Energy Science and Technology, a state-of-the art laboratory space for the activities of Penn’s top energy scientists.  

Engagement and volunteerism grew each year over the course of the campaign, with over 7,000 alums attending Penn Arts & Sciences events or serving as volunteers. The Professional Women’s Alliance and Ben Connect, a mentorship platform, supported connections between students and alumni, while event series including Ben Talks and Career Conversations allowed alums to connect and learn from faculty and each other.

To learn more about the impact of the Power of Penn Arts & Sciences Campaign, click here.  
 

Arts & Sciences News

Fourteen from Penn Arts & Sciences Receive Fulbrights for 2025-26 Academic Year

They will conduct research, pursue graduate degrees, or teach English in places including Thailand, Austria, Indonesia, Moldova, and many other places.

View Article >
Gwendolyn DuBois Shaw Named James and Nan Wagner Farquhar Professor of History of Art

Shaw’s main areas of research include portraiture and issues of representation in the art of the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean, from the 1500s to the present day.

View Article >
Hanming Fang Named Inaugural Norman C. Grosman Professor of Economics

An applied microeconomist who integrates rigorous modeling with data analysis, Fang’s research within the field of public economics focuses on health insurance and healthcare markets.

View Article >
Xi Song Named Inaugural Schiffman Family Presidential Associate Professor of Sociology

Song’s research interests include social mobility, occupations, Asian Americans, population studies, and quantitative methodology.

View Article >
Julie Nelson Davis Named Paul F. Miller, Jr. and E. Warren Shafer Miller Professor of History of Art

Davis specializes in the arts and material cultures of 18th- and 19th-century Japan, with a focus on prints, paintings, and illustrated books.

View Article >
Justin Khoury Named Edmund J. and Louise W. Kahn Term Professor of Physics and Astronomy

Khoury’s research interests lie at the intersection of particle physics and cosmology.

View Article >