Campus Events

Part of America 250 at Penn programming, this exhibit explores the overlooked yet essential role of nurses during the American Revolution, whose vital work helped shape early American healthcare. It challenges the widespread belief that nursing began in the 19th century with Florence Nightingale by providing rare evidence of a world of nursing and caretaking that thrived before, during, and after the American Revolution. Free and open to the Penn community.

This exhibition, on view in the Annenberg Center lobby and curated by the Arthur Ross Gallery inaugural faculty director Gwendolyn DuBois Shaw, will present a selection of recent paintings by Penn alum Allison Zuckerman that exemplify her exuberant, layered approach to image-making. Using paint and collage, Zuckerman creates densely constructed compositions that draw from art history, popular culture, and the internet. Her paintings celebrate the history of the image-making medium while reimagining who has the power to shape its future. Free and open to the public.

Participants of all ages and backgrounds are invited to this Common Press workshop to print a copy of the Declaration of Independence. The composition will be set in Caslon metal type and ready to print on the studio’s 1889 cast-iron handpress. These hour-long demonstrations are part of America 250 at Penn programming. Groups of up to 20 people are welcome. Reserve a time slot.

The Arthur Ross Gallery’s fall exhibition, “At Liberty: Life in the City of Brotherly Love During the Early Republic,” will explore Philadelphia during the nation’s formative years through paintings, sculptures, and works on paper drawn from major regional and national collections. The exhibition is curated by Gwendolyn DuBois Shaw, inaugural faculty director of the Arthur Ross Gallery, and will include images of the era made to celebrate important national anniversaries, such as the marking of America’s 150th in 1926, through to the present moment. Free and open to the public.

From Aug. 29th through Dec. 13th, Penn students will offer comprehensive tours of the Arthur Ross Gallery’s fall exhibit “At Liberty: Life in the City of Brotherly Love During the Early Republic.” Visitors are invited to explore, ask questions, and connect with the history of Philadelphia through the Revolutionary social landscape. Tours are offered on a first-come, first-served basis throughout the run of the show on Wednesdays from 4:00-6:00 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00-3:00 p.m. The tours are limited to groups of 10. Free and open to the public. No preregistration is required.

This exhibition explores the history behind what was often a fraught relationship between women students and scholars and Penn faculty and administration. It highlights how women moved beyond earlier stereotypes to integrate themselves into all academic and professional disciplines, including all aspects of University life. From early memorabilia and photographs of women on campus to athletics, literary journals, and community work, the vast and ongoing influence of women on the evolution of the University will be on display. Free and open to the public.

The Weitzman Fall 2026 Lecture Series offers perspective on some of the most pressing issues facing built environment professionals, cultural leaders, and policymakers today. Spanning over 25 events, the series welcomes more than 40 designers, artists, scholars, and policymakers from the U.S. and abroad who are tackling sociocultural and environmental issues. Free and open to the public. Registration is required for some events.

This fall, the 60-Second Lectures—a Penn Arts & Sciences tradition since 2003—will feature a series of lively, one-minute talks delivered by Penn Arts & Sciences faculty, with each lecture starting at 12:00 p.m. in front of the Benjamin Franklin Statue by College Hall.

Caroline Winterer, William Robertson Coe Professor of History and American Studies at Stanford University, will deliver three Penn Public Lectures focused on select themes exploring classical antiquity and the contemporary world. The first lecture on Sept. 10 will be at the National Constitution Center. The second and third lectures on Sept. 15 & 17 will be at the McNeil Center for Early American Studies. Free and open to the public. Register to attend.

Participants will get an opportunity to investigate the smaller specimen trees at the Morris Arboretum & Gardens that make a vital impact. Ranging in height from 15–30 feet, visitors will learn about the special features of these trees, including their unique bark, shapes, flowers, and leaf colors. Attendees will meet at the Welcome Center. Free with Penn ID.

Held annually in September, GradFest is a weeklong celebration that connects graduate and professional students across the University. GradFest programming, much of which is hosted at the Graduate Student Center (pictured), introduces participants to the student organizations, resources, and opportunities available to them on campus and beyond. Registration is required for some events.

The School of Arts & Sciences Community Forum brings the School’s scholarly expertise to bear on current issues, offering analytical rigor and ethical insight. This forum will focus on current perspectives and insights on the war in Iran. Panelists will include Julia Lynch, professor of political science, and Brendan O’Leary, Lauder Professor of Political Science. Lunch will be provided. Free and open to the public. Register to attend.

The Siren! editorial collective will celebrate the launch of their inaugural magazine issue, Resurfacing Feminist Currents. This program will bring together editors and scholars for a roundtable conversation on feminist publishing, alternative knowledge-making, and what it means to build spaces for voices often pushed to the margins. Free and open to the public. Register to attend.

In this talk, Emily Brooks, associate director of digital research in the humanities at the Price Lab for Digital Humanities will introduce her research in ornamental codex culture, ranging from historical to contemporary pop culture books adorned with metals, gemstones, and decorative edges. She will also discuss her work in bespoke book digitization, including 3D scanning and experimental 4D volumetric captures. Food will be provided. Free and open to the public. Register to attend.

More than 350 undergraduates representing a range of disciplines will present posters of their research projects. Attendees will learn about the vast array of research opportunities embraced by students at Penn. The event aligns with the Center for Undergraduate Research & Fellowships’ 25th anniversary. Free and open to the Penn community.

This program offers attendees an opportunity to learn more about the Wharton Sports Analytics and Business Initiative (WSABI). Attendees will hear from WSABI faculty co-director and Wharton professor of statistics and data science Abraham (Adi) Wyner, executive director Michelle Young, and student club presidents as they introduce WSABI, research opportunities, student organizations, teaching assistant roles, and other ways to engage with the Wharton community. Free and open to the Penn community. Register to attend.

Participants will join historian Stacy Schiff and constitutional scholar Akhil Amar for an afternoon of storytelling and conversation about Benjamin Franklin, the Founders, the drafting of the Constitution, and Philadelphia’s central role in it all. Part of Penn’s America 250 speaker series, this program falls on National Voter Registration Day, coincides with Constitution Week, and will remind attendees of the enduring power of civic participation. President J. Larry Jameson will share opening remarks and vice provost for global initiatives Ezekiel Emanuel will moderate. Free and open to the public. Register to attend.

During this special live recording of the “How to Really Run a City” podcast—involving The Philadelphia Citizen in partnership with Penn’s Public Service & Policy Initiative—former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter will discuss his new Impact Scholars program with former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and former Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum, the inaugural scholars. They’ll discuss the frontlines of urban change-making, what drew them to public service, the lessons that shaped their thinking and leadership, and how they’re building the next generation of civic talent. Free and open to the Penn community.

During Penn’s annual GradFest, the Penn graduate student community is invited to get to know the Penn Women’s Center (PWC) at their fall open house, featuring PWC merch giveaways, fun activities, sweet treats, and more. Free and open to Penn graduate students.

Benedetta Tagliabue, an architect and the co-founder of EMBT Architects, will explore how architecture can foster well-being by transforming public spaces into places of comfort, healing, and belonging. Tagliabue will examine how renaturalization, adaptive reuse, and human-centered design can help us reimagine cities as environments of care, where nature and architecture come together to create warmth and a sense of home within the urban fabric. Free and open to the public. Register to attend.

This Constitution Day Spirited Debate program will feature Patrick Brennan, professor of law at Villanova University, arguing for the proposition that equality is paramount in the American constitutional tradition and ought to be pursued as such. His lecture will be followed by two responses: Anne Norton, professor emerita of political science in Penn’s Political Science Department, and Stefan McDaniel, assistant professor at University of Notre Dame School of Law. Lunch will be provided. Free and open to the public. Register to attend.

Drawing on his recent book, “The Once and Future World Order,” Amitav Acharya, Distinguished Professor of International Relations at American University, will discuss how world order has never been solely a Western project, and how the shift away from Western-led dominance may open the door to a more equitable, multipolar system rather than global disorder. Free and open to the public. Register to attend.

SAS Commons engages students, scholars, and the public in exploring a single theme across the arts and sciences over a two-year period. In this kickoff event, Penn Arts & Sciences dean and physicist Mark Trodden, along with current director of the SAS Commons and historian Sophia Rosenfeld, will introduce and discuss the 2026–28 theme: Democracy and Knowledge. Free and open to the public.

During this opening reception, the Burrison Gallery will present “Beyond Exactitude: Works by Rob Mooij,” curated by Andreea Dimofte. A retired physicist, Mooij finds beauty in those aspects of the world allowing for exact description. Inspired by artists like Soutine, Vuillard, Auerbach, and Ann Gale, he embraces portraiture and landscapes, and is experimenting with abstraction. The Burrison Art Gallery, located adjacent to the dining room on the 2nd floor of the Inn at Penn, features monthly exhibitions and member receptions. Free and open to the Penn community.

This Health Center Career Day program will feature Helen Castro, a clinical assistant professor at the University of Illinois Chicago College of Nursing and lead trauma nurse practitioner at the University of Chicago Medicine, discussing ways to safer communities and advance firearm safety and prevention. Attendees will have the opportunity to network with local community health professionals and learn about career pathways in the field. Free and open to the public. Register to attend.

During Penn’s annual GradFest, the Penn graduate student community can connect with fellow first-generation graduate students and staff who are first-generation college graduates. This free program is also open to members of the Penn community who are interested in learning more about resources and strategies available to help support first-generation college graduates throughout the graduate experience at Penn. Register to attend.

Featuring more than 150 original cartoons and artworks by Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonists Tony Auth and Signe Wilkinson, this exhibition—on view at the Annenberg School for Communication for the 2026-2027 academic year—will explore decades of American life through themes including politics, media, social issues, and Philadelphia culture. The opening reception will include a discussion with Auth and Wilkinson. Register to attend.

Celebrated for their signature blend of roots, blues, indie rockers, and singer-songwriters, the outdoor XPoNential Music Festival features WXPN’s “impeccably curated” mix of established, emerging, and local artists. WXPN, a nationally recognized leader in Triple A radio, is the public radio service of the University of Pennsylvania. WXPN members receive up to a 50% discount on festival tickets.

This conversation, hosted by SNF Paideia Program and moderated by Sarah Banet-Weiser, dean of the Annenberg School for Communication, will feature insights from media, academic, and civic leaders in the Philadelphia area, highlighting the work that individuals can do to help their communities be better informed of their constitutional rights and more easily able to participate in civic and democratic processes. Refreshments and lunch will be served. Free and open to the public. Register to attend.

Perry World House and Penn Climate will convene global leaders, policy experts, and academics working at the intersection of climate science, urban design, and public health to discuss how to transition global climate-health governance from reactive crisis management to collective readiness. The program will start with a keynote presentation from 9:30-10:30 a.m. The first panel, themed “One Health & Integrated Disease Surveillance,” will run from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. The second panel, themed “Built Environment — Urban Design, Heat Mitigation & Infrastructure,” will run from 2:00-3:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. Register to attend individual sessions.

Candace Henry, assistant professor of higher education and student affairs at the University of South Florida, will discuss her research on young Black women’s financial possibility development. Through participatory activities, attendees will consider how college access initiatives, financial education, advising, mentoring, and youth-development programs can move beyond teaching young people to make “responsible choices” and begin creating the material conditions, supportive relationships, and resources needed to make more expansive financial futures attainable. Free and open to the public. Register to attend.

Nurse leaders from Penn hospitals, University researchers and innovators, Penn Global, the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, and experts from the International Council of Nurses will convene to highlight the impact of a nurse-led innovation on outcomes in over 60 hospitals in six European countries with 1:1 twinning with U.S. Magnet hospitals made possible by Penn’s distinctive university-health system partnership. The program will be introduced by Kevin Mahoney, CEO of the University of Pennsylvania Health System. Lunch will be provided. Free and open to the public. Register to attend.

Sponsored by nine research centers and labs under the Wharton AI & Analytics Initiative (WAIAI) umbrella, this information session will preview WAIAI fall programming, online resources, research opportunities, and experiential learning available to students. Philly-themed snacks and Wharton swag will be available. Open to all Penn students. Space is limited. Register to attend.

Penn Libraries curators Alicia Meyer and Lynne Farrington will discuss their current exhibition, “To Secure These Rights: 150 Years of Women at Penn,” honoring generations of women scholars at Penn who advocated for their right to an equal education and made significant contributions to the University’s success. Free and open to the public. Register to attend.

Shoshana Aronowitz, assistant professor of family and community health at Penn Nursing, and Anthony Spadaro, assistant professor of emergency medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, will host a conversation about emerging health economics research on substance use disorder treatment, and the HCV and HIV care of people who use substances. Free and open to the public. Register to attend.

This lecture-performance by Ralph Lemon, the David Evans Family Artist-in-Residence at the Arthur Ross Gallery, and curated by Emily Zimmerman, the Gallery’s director of exhibitions and curatorial affairs, will integrate Lemon’s ongoing artistic exploration on water as a metaphor. Free and open to the public. Register to attend.

Drawing on the Ancient Western Asian seal collection at the Morgan Library & Museum, Pınar Durgun, an archaeologist trained in art history, will explore how seals can open broader questions of material performance and innovation. Participants will learn how stone has been viewed as the pinnacle medium in traditional hierarchies of value and will gain a more expansive perspective on seal materials that recognizes experimentation, technical knowledge, and creativity. Free and open to the public. Included with Museum admission. Registration is required.

Participants can enhance their search for full-time postgraduate positions and/or summer internships by connecting with a variety of employers. All students, postdocs, and alumni served by Penn Career Services are invited to attend. Online students in a degree program are also encouraged to participate.

During this talk hosted by the Penn Cultural Heritage Center, archaeologist and economist Peter Gould will explore the economic challenges arising from shifting philanthropic and government priorities; destabilized heritage markets due to competitive, demographic, and cultural transitions; and the dilemmas for heritage arising from global political conflict, climate change and a rapidly transforming global economy. Free and open to the public. Reserve tickets in advance.

With 2026 marking the centennial of Michel Foucault’s birth and the 50-year anniversary of the publication of his landmark “History of Sexuality, Vol. 1,” this two-day symposium, hosted by the Kislak Center, will convene an international group of Foucault specialist to offer a renewed assessment of Foucault’s influential thought. The Thursday session will be 2:00-8:00 p.m. and the Friday session will be 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Free and open to the public. Register to attend.

Drawing on themes from her bestselling 2019 book “How to Do Nothing,” author Jenny Odell will examine anxieties about our ability to focus and the way that the issue is often emptied of social, political, and spiritual content. Odell will discuss how modern advice regarding the practice of attention can often be inadequate because it misses the role of purpose, commitment, and love. The talk will be followed by a Q&A and book signing. Free and open to the public.

A panel of Penn alumni journalists, writers, and editors will discuss media-related career paths, internships, graduate school opportunities, and more. Attendees will gain insight into preparing for first jobs and careers in print, broadcast and online media, publishing, and similar fields. Free and open to the public. Register to attend.

This group-exhibition project, developed by Zairong Xiang of Duke Kunshan University in Shanghai and Denise Ryner of the University of Pennsylvania, focuses on historical and social circumstances of solidarity as a process through artistic investigations of primarily Black, African, and Chinese diasporic and economic networks. The exhibit will feature the work of nine artists—representing the Caribbean, South Pacific, West Africa, Taiwan, China, and the U.S.—including video projections, installations, prints, and archival reproductions. Free and open to the public.

For this installment in the Institute of Contemporary Arts’s “Entryways” project series, the vividly-colored, abstract work of artist Saif Azzuz—a member of the Yurok Tribe, whose ancestral lands are located in present-day northern California—will fill ICA’s Sansom Street-facing windows. The project—informed by research into the natural history of Philadelphia—and its placement on the ICA building exterior is designed to prompt conversations about how communities and the natural environment can support each other. Free and open to the public.

In the inaugural iteration of the Institute of Contemporary Art’s new research residency program, interdisciplinary artist Wilmer Wilson IV will explore how squirrels can reflect shifting ideals of American behavior and belonging. Wilson will follow the squirrel across a range of overlooked cultural and political histories—such as Benjamin Franklin’s rodent diplomat Mungo to the recent viral controversies of TikTok star Peanut—and will examine how categories such as “pet,” “pest,” and “wildlife” produce hierarchies of care, visibility, and disposability. SKIRL! will feature a site-specific installation, sculptures, performances, and works on paper. Free and open to the public.

Waste Scenes is a two-channel video created during Maia Chao and Fred Schmidt-Arenales artist residency at Philadelphia-based Recycled Artist in Residency. Working inside an active recycling center, the artists built short, performative vignettes choreographed by various materials including discarded books and old tapes found on site. This video installation explores how the accumulation of debris embodies the failed aspirations of post-industrial Northern U.S. Through episodic narration, Schmidt-Arenales and Chao reinterpret material decomposition to encourage recognition of the throwaway culture of contemporary America. Free and open to the public.

This presentation, co-sponsored with the Department of Health Care Management at the Wharton School, will review emerging evidence from Transparency in Coverage data. Participants will learn how improved analytics, consumer-facing applications, and policy reforms can strengthen competition and reduce health care spending. Free and open to the public. Register to attend.

This reception will feature Annenberg School of Communication faculty sharing their recently published books and research articles with the Penn community. A selection of books and articles will be on display. Free and open to the public. Register by Sept. 18th to attend.

During the 2026 Evan C Thompson Chair Lecture on Excellence in Teaching, Jie Deng, the Andrea B. Laporte Endowed Professor at Penn Nursing, will consider how to create classes that allow students to connect and learn no matter their preparation. By sharing strategies for bringing students’ individual interests and past experiences into the classroom, Deng will discuss ways of widening the range of learning possibilities for all students. A reception will follow. The event will take place in the Class of 78 Pavilion on the 6th floor of Van Pelt-Dietrich Library. Free and open to the Penn community. Register to attend.

The Penn Center for AIDS Research’s annual symposium will focus on this year’s theme: “HIV Frontiers: Healthy Living and Progress to Cure,” featuring keynote speakers and convening experts across the field of HIV/AIDS research, treatment, and patient care. Free and open to the public. Register to attend.