College of Arts and Architecture at Penn State

Firefly Rep, the professional summer theatre company within Penn State Centre Stage, returns for its second season in partnership with the Arboretum at Penn State. Running June 24–28, “Would I Lie to You?” is an energetic evening of scenes and original songs featuring Shakespeare's most notorious fibbers and unscrupulous schemers. Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. at the Overlook Pavilion. There are no tickets required and seating is available on a first come, first served basis. Donations are kindly accepted.

Happy Juneteenth! One way to celebrate the day is by visiting the Woskob Family Gallery for their Juneteenth 2026 opening reception beginning at 5:30 PM.

The 2026 Juneteenth Art Exhibition brings together six artists—three established and three emerging—whose work explores the enduring themes of freedom, justice, and equality. Across a range of media, they offer distinctive perspectives rooted in both personal experience and collective history. Participating artists: Kennedy Ferguson, Barry King, Irvin Moore, June Ramsay, Helen Velásquez Martinez, and Aiysha Watson. The show is curated by Dr. Grace Hampton.

Photos from the 2025 Juneteenth Exhibition.

A throwback to the spring semester Rock Fest with the Penn State Rock Ensemble. 🤘🎸

Photos by Emily Maciejczyk & Tess Dubler

School of Visual Arts faculty member Brian Alfred's "The Ultras!," a video installation exploring the collective energy of sports culture, is on display in Times Square through June 23. His solo exhibition, "Plus Ultra," opens June 25 at Miles McEnery Gallery. The exhibition features more than 30 of Alfred’s acrylic on canvas paintings as well as a video display of the Times Square animation. Coinciding with the FIFA World Cup, the exhibition will run through Aug. 15.

Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/48z6rej2

Penn State Centre Stage kicks off its summer season with "Wild Child," a developmental co-production with Penn State Musical Theatre in association with the Breathe Project. Directed by John Simpkins, the new musical explores themes of digital dependence, human connection, and the challenges facing young people in an increasingly virtual world. "Wild Child" runs June 11-14 at the Downtown Theatre.

Penn State Centre Stage summer productions focus on human connection | Penn State University This summer, Penn State Centre Stage in the College of Arts and Architecture is embracing the idea of connection to nature, community, and experiences with performances centered on human connection, imagination, and what we discover when we look up, and take notice of the world around us. Shows incl...

A bequest to Penn State from the late Alvin and Jean Snowiss provides $3 million to establish the Alvin L. and Jean Y. Snowiss Endowed Directorship for the Palmer Museum of Art. It also completes a $1 million pledge from the Snowisses for the new Palmer Museum of Art and provides the museum with a significant collection of American art.

The Snowisses’ support for the Palmer Museum dates to the late 1980s when both served on the museum’s National Advisory Council and were leadership donors to the first campaign to expand the museum.

$11.75 million gift to benefit Palmer Museum and Office of Undergraduate Education | Penn State University The bequest provides $8 million to enhance the endowment of the Alvin L. and Jean Y. Snowiss Scholarship and more than $3 million to the Palmer Museum of Art.

There was an impromptu School of Theatre reunion at a performance of RECON$TRUXION at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival last month. Left to right: Curtis Craig, Richard St. Clair, Mark Light-Orr (MFA alum and actor in the production), Steve Broadnax (director), Dan Carter.

A beautiful day in State College, PA! ☀️



Photos by Tess Dubler

Congratulations to Mihyun Kang, A&A director for sustainability and research professor in the Stuckeman School, and Alivia Cross, doctoral candidate in art education, who are recipients of 2025-26 Penn State Sustainability Awards.

Mihyun received the John Roe Sustainability Impact Faculty Award/
Excellence in Engaged Scholarship Award for her "visionary leadership and sustained service that have transformed the college’s culture and created a lasting impact across the University community."

Alivia received the John Roe Sustainability Impact Student Award in recognition of her role in organizing and expanding the Arts and Architecture Sustainability Showcase and for her sustainability-related doctoral research.

Congrats, Mihyun and Alivia!

Congratulations to our recently promoted faculty:

Promotion to Professor:
Taylor Greer, Music
William Kenyon, Theatre
Aaron Knochel, Art Education

Promotion to Associate Professor:
Emily Burns, Graphic Design
Christine O. Roberts, Theatre

Promotion to Associate Teaching Professor:
Yasmine Abbas, Architecture
Erin Carter, Office of Digital Learning
Joshua Davis, Music
Samuel Osheroff, Theatre
Ashley Shank, Music
Chris Stubbs, Office of Digital Learning

Promotion to Associate Clinical Professor:
Alec Spangler, Landscape Architecture

Promotion to Assistant Teaching Professor:
Teresa Sekhon, Art Education