Diversity and Inclusion at Penn

Penn has a number of policies and initiatives that support its efforts to foster inclusive excellence. Diversity and inclusion related data, progress reports on initiatives, a timeline of selected milestones, and stories about members of the Penn community are available here.

Penn is not a single story. Penn is a multitude of stories, a myriad of different perspectives and divergent insights.

The beauty of this place, the great strength of this university, lies in the multitude of stories that make up Penn.

President Liz Magill

“Penn’s commitment to diversity is exemplified in our diverse and talented staff. Their innovation—individually and collectively—supports and advances Penn’s mission. The University benefits greatly from the different perspectives our staff bring to their work.”
Craig Carnaroli, Senior Executive Vice President

“Individuals from different backgrounds, with diverse life experiences and different perspectives, create a richer academic environment. A more diverse faculty, workforce, and student body helps to bring innovative approaches to problems and new ways of thinking. As such, an emphasis on diversity is not just ‘the right thing to do’ but it is important for our success in academic medicine. We should embrace our diversity as a strength.”
J. Larry Jameson, Executive Vice President Penn Health System, Dean

Nighttime skyline of the Schuylkill River Trail

The City of Brotherly Love

About Philadelphia

Philadelphia is the nation’s sixth largest metropolitan area. A vibrant and accessible city of neighborhoods, Philadelphia is home to internationally renowned museums and galleries, exceptional concert and theatre performances, world-class dining and shopping, and vast parks and lush green spaces. Whether it’s to explore the nation’s founding at Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art, browse the bustling stalls of Reading Terminal Market, experience Impressionist masterpieces at the Barnes Foundation, or catch a Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park, the United States’ very first World Heritage City has something for everyone. A dynamic array of colleges and universities, including Penn—the city’s largest private employer—call Philadelphia home. Ideally located just a short train ride from New York City and Washington, D.C., Philadelphia is a favorite destination for visitors from across the country and around the world.

Penn receives pivotal gift to expand support for first-generation to college and modest-income undergraduates

The gift, from Scott and Elena Shleifer, will increase its support and critical resources for students who are in the first generation of their family to attend college and/or from households of modest or limited income.

Visit story

Penn president Amy Gutmann sits in a lounge with four students.