International Family Welcome 2026

Join us on Thursday, August 20, for a special afternoon designed to welcome and connect the parents and families of our incoming international students and scholars with the Penn State community and resources.

This event will provide valuable introductions, helpful resources, and the opportunity to hear from Penn State leadership and local officials.

The Arboretum at Penn State

East Park Avenue and Bigler Road, University Park, PA 16802

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Thursday, August 20, 2026

03:00pm - 07:00pm

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Schedule of Events

Part 1: Parent and Family Orientation

3:00 p.m.

Event begins

3:00 - 3:10 p.m.

Welcome from Leadership

Interim Vice Provost for Global

Dr. Fotis Sotiropoulos, Executive Vice President and Provost for Penn State

3:20 p.m.

Panel Discussion

A panel of Penn State's global community members (student, staff, parent, alumni) will discuss some of the most frequently asked questions about Penn State and answer questions from the audience

4:00 p.m.

Resource Tables

Explore information tables hosted by university offices, Penn State organizations, and the State College community

Part 2: Welcome Reception

5:00 p.m

Welcome from

Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi

State College Mayor Ezra Nanes

5:30 p.m.

Reception opens

Light appetizers and refreshments will be served

7:00 p.m.

Event concludes

Special Guests and Speakers

Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi began her role as the nineteenth president of Penn State on May 9, 2022. With a nearly thirty-year career as a leader in higher education and business, Bendapudi is a dedicated educator, academic, and executive.

She leads Penn State’s twenty-four-campus network and top-ranked online World Campus with a focus on advancing excellence and creating opportunities for students, faculty, and staff to thrive.

Ezra Nanes is the current Mayor of State College Borough. Nanes is passionate about strengthening the relationship between the State College Borough Council, Penn State, and members of the local community.

Nanes graduated with distinction from the University of Pennsylvania in 1994 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in art history. He later earned a Master of Business Administration in marketing and finance from the Penn State Smeal College of Business in 2012.

Dr. Fotis Sotiropoulos is Executive Vice President and Provost of Penn State, serving as the University's chief academic officer and overseeing all colleges, campuses, and academic support units.

Previously, he served as provost at Virginia Commonwealth University and held leadership positions at Stony Brook University. An internationally recognized scholar in fluid mechanics, he is an elected Fellow of the American Physical Society and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.

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