Penn State College of Health and Human Development

Pennsylvania’s state-related universities play a critical role in workforce development, research, and economic growth across the Commonwealth.

In a new op-ed, the presidents of Penn State, Pitt, and Temple outline why performance-based funding can strengthen the partnership between higher education and the state to better serve students and communities.

Advocate Penn State

https://www.psu.edu/news/administration/story/pa-higher-ed-leaders-performance-based-funding-investment-states-future?utm_account=Penn+State+College+of+Health+and+Human+Development&utm_campaign=&utm_content=1781704621&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

Supporting students is at the heart of HHD. We want every student to succeed and fulfill their passion. The college recently launched the FirstBridge Initiative, which supports first-generation students.

Developed by Niharika Sharma, assistant dean for student enrollment services and diversity, equity and inclusion, the FirstBridge Initiative supports first-generation students by connecting them with first-generation faculty in HHD through meaningful engagement opportunities.

Learn more about HHD FirstBridge: https://bit.ly/43Kua0n

Genetic tests of how quickly people age are useful to researchers who want to understand what makes people age faster or slower.

Unfortunately, these tests are not accurate at the individual level, which means that a test of biological or epigenetic age is not useful to understanding your health.

Idan Shalev, associate professor of Penn State Biobehavioral Health, recently discussed the use of epigenetic aging tests in an article for The Conversation US.

https://theconversation.com/biological-age-tests-reveal-what-slows-or-hastens-aging-but-theyre-useful-only-for-researchers-not-consumers-275974

White women with high genetic risk for obesity regained weight around two times faster than those with lower genetic risk for obesity, according to new study.

“Obesity is stigmatized and often associated with laziness. That is a stubborn myth. This study demonstrated one way that genetics influence a person’s ability to manage their weight — by affecting how quickly they regain pounds after moderate weight loss.”

— Harold Lee, lead author of the study and assistant professor of Penn State Biobehavioral Health

Read more: https://www.psu.edu/news/health-and-human-development/story/postmenopausal-white-women-genetic-risk-regain-weight-two-times?utm_account=Penn+State+College+of+Health+and+Human+Development&utm_campaign=&utm_content=1779131340&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

Congratulations to Hannah Bucher and Nicholas Eppley on being named the HHD College Student Marshals for the spring 2026 commencement!

Hannah was active in undergraduate research and was a Schreyer Honors Scholar involved in Schreyer for Women. Congrats, Hannah!

Nicholas was a performance nutrition intern for Penn State Olympic Sports and Penn State Football, and a male practice player for the Penn State Women’s Soccer team. Eppley was active in undergraduate research and was a member of the Student Nutrition Association. Congrats, Nicholas!

Read more: https://bit.ly/4cHwidF

Penn State Health Policy and Administration
Penn State Nutritional Sciences

Kiera Papa will serve as the Penn State Biobehavioral Health student marshal for spring 2026 commencement.

She was a member of Schreyer Medical Team and Alpha Epsilon Delta, the national health preprofessional honor society. Papa also worked in the Water, Health, and Nutrition Lab as an undergraduate researcher and with Kesem at Penn State in a variety of roles, including counselor and outreach coordinator.

Congrats, Kiera!

The Penn State College of Health and Human Development is the nation’s #1 school of allied health in terms of National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, according to the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, an independent, nonprofit organization.

Read more: https://www.psu.edu/news/health-and-human-development/story/college-health-and-human-development-ranked-first-nih-funding?utm_account=Penn+State+College+of+Health+and+Human+Development&utm_campaign=&utm_content=1778165703&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

Anna Raquel Duiker will serve as the Penn State Human Development and Family Studies student marshal for spring 2026 commencement.

She served as a Bible study leader for the Navigators at Penn State, director of New Wine Worship Night, and a leader for the student ministry at State College Alliance Church. She also participated in research in Puerto Rico.

Congrats, Anna Raquel!

Olivia Byrnes will serve as the Penn State School of Hospitality Management Student Marshal for spring 2026 commencement. She served as vice president of the Penn State student chapter of the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association. Congrats, Olivia!

Emily Raneri will serve as the Penn State Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management Student Marshal for spring 2026 commencement. While at Penn State, she served as family relations captain and dancer relations captain of Penn State THON. Congrats, Emily!