Penn State Health Policy and Administration

08/26/2026

62% in the U.S. say they have no or limited statistical knowledge, but 90% say they would use statistics more if they understood them better, according to a new study from our researchers ⤵️

Many people in the U.S. believe that their statistical knowledge is limited, but they would rely on statistics for decision-making more if they understood statistics better, according to a new study led by a Penn State researcher.

07/28/2026

Meet Loren, a current second-year majoring in Health Policy and Administration with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies 👋

Loren is a Bunton-Waller Fellow and an active member of the Educational Equity Scholars Living Learning Community, which supports students from diverse backgrounds in transitioning to college and building a strong academic and social foundation. She is also a member of the HPA Peer Mentoring program and credits the experience with helping her navigate her first semesters at Penn State, as well as becoming familiar with the major and the campus.

“Being a part of these two communities provided the chance to transform my first-year college experience. I was able to step outside of my comfort zone and navigate the college lifestyle.”

“These opportunities have also helped me develop the art of patience. Very often in college, you are not working on your own timing but on the schedule of others, and it has been important to keep in mind that I should continue to be flexible and understanding.”

Loren encourages other students, especially those in their first year, to ask for help.

“If you’re struggling, there are people here who can support and help you — you don’t have to do it alone. “

06/04/2026

Our Penn State Master of Health Administration program was ranked #19 in the latest U.S. News and World Report rankings for health care management programs nationwide!

This ranking reflects the dedication of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni who are shaping the future of health care leadership. We're proud to see our program recognized among the best in the nation!

05/20/2026

Meet Anya, a current student majoring in health policy and administration with a minor in information sciences and technology.

Anya co-founded Minority Women in Health Fields (MWIHF), a student organization dedicated to supporting minority women pursuing a career in health-related fields through volunteer opportunities, networking events, guest speakers, skill-building workshops, and more.

"Penn State is a large University, and it can sometimes be difficult to find your community," Anya said. "We wanted to create a space for minority women to have that sense of community, and grant them exciting opportunities along the way. MWIHF includes all health-related majors at Penn State. By taking this 'one-health' approach, we can share this space and community with students in majors across the University."

When asked what advice she would offer to other students who want to establish a new student organization, Anya said, “Just go for it!”

“I think the most important thing is to make sure you know why you want to start, and what your goals for the organization are,” Anya said. “You have the chance to create a legacy at Penn State with an organization that will continue to grow after you leave. Penn State has so many resources available to its students, and I would encourage others to tap into them and get involved.”

Penn State College of Health and Human Development

05/10/2026

Hannah Bucher will serve as one of the College of Health and Human Development’s student marshals for spring 2026 commencement. She was active in undergraduate research and was a Schreyer Honors Scholar involved in Schreyer for Women. Congrats, Hannah!

Read more: https://bit.ly/3OmE6JHhttps://bit.ly/3OmE6JH

05/07/2026

Hannah Bucher, HPA '26, has been named a finalist for the Robert F. Guentter Jr. Outstanding Undergraduate Thesis Award! These awards are given annually to three finalists with outstanding Penn State undergraduate theses grounded in quality research.

Finalists will give presentations on Thursday, May 7, at 3 p.m. in Pattee Library and Paterno Library's Foster Auditorium. The ceremony is open to the public. Remote attendees may register in advance to join via Zoom.

Congratulations, Hannah!

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4tZfDts

Penn State College of Health and Human Development

05/06/2026

Liam Mercader will serve as the Penn State Health Policy and Administration student marshal for spring 2026 commencement. While at Penn State, he served as president of the Penn State chapter of Global Medical Brigades and vice president of Penn State Holistic Horizons. Congrats, Liam!

Learn more: https://www.psu.edu/news/students/story/college-health-and-human-development-names-2026-program-marshals

Penn State College of Health and Human Development

04/24/2026

Meet Hannah, a current senior (and soon to be alumna!) majoring in health policy and administration, with minors in Spanish and information sciences and technology in health policy and administration.

During her time at Penn State, Hannah worked in the Center for Health Care and Policy Research (CHCPR) under the advisement of Dennis Scanlon, distinguished professor of health policy and administration and director of CHCPR.

Hannah's work has focused on projects examining opioid settlements across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to better understand how counties are spending funds to prevent opioid misuse and to help those with opioid use disorders. She hopes to take what she has learned working with CHCPR into her future career, and plans to continue working in the substance use treatment and opioid misuse areas following graduation.

"My experience conducting undergraduate research has prepared me for my career in a multitude of ways," Hannah said. "I have improved my communication skills and learned how to work with a variety of individuals, increased my knowledge about opioids and addiction medicine, and improved my critical thinking skills to approach problems in my future career with creativity."

Penn State College of Health and Human Development

04/14/2026

The application for our Penn State Master of Health Administration program is still open for fall 2026!

Apply by May 1 to join the next generation of health care leaders.

hhd.psu.edu/mha

04/02/2026

Thank you to our alumni who recently returned to campus as part of our Professionals in the Classroom event! They shared their career experiences and wisdom with current students, providing impactful insights and networking opportunities.

Interested in participating in Professionals in the Classroom in the future? Join our Penn State HPA Alumni LinkedIn group to stay up to date on future events! Link in comments⬇️