The Power of PennWest

As we mark the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, this special episode brings together three members of the PennWest community whose work reflects the depth, complexity and evolution of the American story. Today we’ll speak with one faculty scholar, whose journey bridges generations, and shaped by a pivotal immigration story. Another faculty member guest connects local experiences...

This summer, PennWest students and faculty aren’t just leaving campus – they’re stepping into the world. From rainforest research in Madagascar and reef studies in Thailand to creative mentorship in Japan and community advocacy closer to home, these experiences highlight learning beyond the classroom. Today’s episode celebrates bold plans, global exploration and hands-on opportunities shaping futu...

Today is the second part of the 2-part series with our May 2026 PennWest commencement student speakers. Just like last week’s episode, today celebrates transformation – the journey from uncertain beginnings to confident leadership. Our guests embody what happens when passion is met with resilience, when service fuels purpose, and when perseverance shapes impact. From classrooms to athletics, advoc...

Today is Part 1 of our 2-part series with our May 2026 PennWest commencement student speakers. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be celebrating the graduating Class of 2026 and the voices that rise to represent it. Today’s episode begins that celebration by honoring students whose journeys reflect the very best of PennWest. Through perseverance, leadership, service and academic purpose, they have shape...

PennWest recently launched a new initiative bringing together innovative economic development programs across our three Western Pennsylvania campuses. P.E.A.K. @ PennWest supports regional business growth while offering students meaningful, real-world learning experiences. Through partners like the Clarion SBDC, California’s APEX Accelerator, PennWest Edinboro’s Beehive, the Career Center, and aca...

On today’s episode, we’re talking about learning by doing. You can read about a career. You can watch a video about it. Or you can step into a lab, pick up the tools, make mistakes, solve problems and discover whether this path is truly for you. At PennWest, learning doesn’t stop at the textbook. It comes alive in automation labs where students wire and program real systems. In studios where stori...

This Earth Day, we’re celebrating the science that gets its hands dirty and its ideas moving. Across PennWest, students and faculty are turning STEM knowledge into real solutions – protecting ecosystems, restoring landscapes and rethinking how we care for our planet. From field sites to labs, from data to action, this is where curiosity becomes impact. Today, we have two students and one faculty m...

In today’s episode, we sit down with three remarkablePennWest students and one dedicated faculty mentor to explore how research andcreative scholarship have influenced their academic paths, expanded theiropportunities, and helped them discover their own voices as emerging scholars.  And speaking of presentations – our conversation today alsooffers a preview of PennWest’s signature academic events:...

Today, we’re shining a spotlight on the heart of healthcare – nursing, and more importantly, the dedicated nursing majors and programs at PennWest that are shaping the next generation of caregivers. We’re exploring why strong, community focused nursing education matters now more than ever. You’ll hear from PennWest nursing students who have stepped into rural Pennsylvania communities – places wher...

In today’s episode, we’re spotlighting three remarkable alumni from the three PennWest campuses – California, Clarion, and Edinboro – each of whom has taken their passion for teaching into schools and communities across the region. They’ll share their personal journeys into education, the moments that lit the spark and the experiences at PennWest that prepared them to lead, encourage and uplift th...

Tradition meets impact as we spotlight student leaders redefining what fraternity and sorority life looks like at PennWest. Through service, philanthropy, and authentic leadership, they’re building community and character that last far beyond college. Today, we’ll meet four students whose passion, purpose, and commitment are transforming Greek life into a force for good on every campus they call h...

Leadership isn’t just taught at PennWest – it’s lived every day. In today’s episode, we sit down with three remarkable student leaders who share how programs like the PennWest Leadership Academy and Rising Leaders have shaped their confidence, skills and sense of purpose. From speaking up to stepping into new roles, these students demonstrate how PennWest cultivates authentic changemakers. Today&#...

For this Valentine’s Day edition, we’re sharing the stories of two PennWest couples – four employees whose journeys with each other began through their journeys with us. Whether they met as students navigating late‑night study sessions, or as professionals working side‑by‑side to support our university’s mission, each couple reminds us that PennWest isn’t just a place to learn and work – it’s also...

Speech-language pathologists play a vital role in helping individuals communicate, learn, and thrive – making the field essential in healthcare and education. PennWest’s innovative online Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology program expands access to this impactful profession through a flexible curriculum, simulation‑based training, and an immersive on‑campus intensive. Today, we welcome...

Today, we spotlight the newly launched PennWest CORE — the Office of Community, Opportunity, Responsibility, and Engagement. CORE leads initiatives that promote dignity, belonging, leadership development, and community engagement across our campuses. We’re joined by two students and two faculty members who are helping bring CORE’s mission to life. They’ll share how this new office is shaping stude...

Welcome back to The Power of PennWest – we are excited to begin the fourth season of the podcast. This year, the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference will celebrate its 75th anniversary, highlighting the conference’s proud history. The conference will honor 300 influential contributors who shaped the legacy of athletics in Pennsylvania. Among them are standout PennWest student athlete alumni who...

In today's episode, we sit down with PennWest’s new Vice President for Strategic Enrollment Management to explore how enrollment is evolving – and why it’s about so much more than numbers. Two members of PennWest’s administration also join to discuss how enrollment management impacts the entire college experience. We’ll dive into what enrollment really means today – access, equity, student suc...

Today’s conversation is one I’ve been looking forward to all semester. Commencement is such a special time – it’s a celebration of hard work, resilience, and the incredible journeys our students have taken to reach this milestone. In this episode, I have the privilege of sitting down with the three commencement speakers from each of our campuses. These individuals represent the very best of PennWe...

What does it take to turn a college experience into a career launchpad? In today’s episode, we follow the journeys of students who are doing just that – through internships, mentorships and career development opportunities that are shaping their futures. And from our career center’s executive director who discovered his passion while attending a PennWest campus. Today's guests include: Lauren...

In today’s episode, we shine a spotlight on the trailblazers – our first-generation college students. These are the pioneers who are the first in their families to pursue a college degree, navigating higher education with courage, resilience and determination. Join us as we hear their voices, celebrate their victories, and explore how PennWest supports and empowers first-gen students every step of...

Today’s episode is a special tribute in honor of Veterans Day. Across our campuses, military service and academic excellence walk hand in hand. In this episode, we’re proud to spotlight three extraordinary members of the PennWest family whose journeys reflect the deep connection between service and scholarship. Their stories are powerful reminders that service doesn’t end when the uniform comes of...

Today, we’re donning our academic robes and wizard hats to explore the spooky season from a scholarly perspective. What makes monsters so memorable? Why do ghost stories linger in our cultural consciousness? And how does Harry Potter cast such a long shadow over both pop culture and pedagogy? From Frankenstein to folklore, from haunted houses to Hogwarts, we’re unpacking the academic angles of Hal...

Sometimes the most powerful decision you make in college isn’t about choosing a major – it’s choosing to change direction entirely. In this episode of Power of PennWest, we dive into the transformative journeys of PennWest students who transferred in search of something better: a stronger sense of purpose, a deeper connection to their community and a clearer vision for their future. Today’s guests...

What drives someone to dedicate their life to understanding the human mind – or helping others heal and grow? In this episode of Power of PennWest, we explore the powerful intersection of science and compassion through the stories of students and faculty in psychology and neuroscience. You’ll hear why they chose these fields, what fuels their curiosity about thought, emotion and behavior and how t...

Today we’re bringing our alumni back to the place that helped shape them. This October, we celebrate Homecoming across the California, Clarion and Edinboro campuses by sharing the stories of students, faculty and alumni whose lives were transformed by their time at PennWest. In today’s episode, we’ll hear how college life sparked lifelong friendships, launched careers and created memories that sti...