Diversity, equity, and inclusive excellence play a central role in our college’s core mission to prepare our students to live, work, and lead in a global environment. The College of Earth and Mineral Sciences’ broad and multifaceted diversity efforts are inclusive of nationality, ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ability, veteran status, socio economic status, first generation to college status, religion and more and apply to students, faculty, staff, and leadership.
We aim to provide all students with a world-class education. By fostering an environment that values diversity, inclusive excellence and belonging, we hope to help all students find their place in our college.
In addition to the programs below, our office provides guidance to students, connecting them with information, resources, and opportunities. We support student-led and student organization initiatives. And we work closely with departments and with the Graduate School to recruit and retain a diverse graduate student body.
Outreach, Recruiting and REU Programs Open to Undergraduate Students
Fox Graduate School Open House -- Underrepresented junior and senior undergraduates and Master's students with strong academic records and research programs and an interest in applying to graduate programs in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences are invited to submit an application.
Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program -- The Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program (also known as the McNair Scholars Program) is one of the federally funded TRiO programs at Penn State. It is designed to provide one-on-one support to undergraduate students in their pursuit of a Ph.D. The McNair Scholars program does not provide financial support or scholarships.
Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) — The Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) is a gateway to graduate education at Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) universities. The goal of the program is to increase the number of underrepresented students who are pursuing graduate study and research careers. SROP helps prepare undergraduates for graduate study through intensive research experiences with faculty mentors and enrichment activities. The program includes professional development workshops, seminars, field trips, and social activities.
GENIUS – The Geography Education Networking Initiative for Underrepresented Scholars (GENIUS) is a three-day workshop designed for rising third- and fourth-year students, including first-generation college students and those who have faced barriers to access in geography-related fields.
Interdisciplinary Climate Science Research – This nine-and-a-half-week program is available to undergraduate students to pursue research in climate science, scientific inquiry, and science communication. The program seeks to expose students to the full range of scientific exploration, from the generation of hypotheses to communicating research findings and their implications to other scientists and the general public. For more information contact Co-Directors: Dr. Manzhu Yu, mqy5198@psu.edu, or Dr. John Peters, John.M.Peters@psu.edu.
Engagement And Professional Development
Office of Graduate Educational Engagement Programs – The Office of Graduate Educational Engagement Programs (OGEEP) serves as the student-facing and engagement-driven unit within the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School. OGEEP leads the school’s efforts to cultivate community and promote inclusive excellence across academic, social, and professional dimensions of the graduate student experience. The office also works to connect both undergraduate and graduate students to essential programs, resources, and opportunities that support their success and development.
Professional Development - Penn State graduate students have access to dozens of resources at the University for improving their professional skills — through their program or college, through the J. Jeffrey and Ann Marie Fox Graduate School, or through other Penn State administrative support units. Learn more about the most commonly used resources and support options for professional development. Once you begin your graduate studies, watch for opportunities offered by your graduate program, college or school, and other organizations around Penn State.
BUILD - Broadening Understanding and Inclusion through Learning & Dialogue - At Penn State we recognize the importance of creating a welcoming environment for our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and donors. The voluntary initiative, BUILD @ Penn State, provides Penn Staters resources that offer insight for ways to create a community where everyone can thrive and succeed.
Graduate Student Programs
We Are For Science/EMS Graduate Fellows for Science Advocacy and Diversity – WE ARE For Science (WAFS) promotes a diverse and inclusive scientific community through advocacy, outreach, and community-building activities in EMS and beyond. Two graduate students serve as fellows each year, hosting engagement events and programs, and collaborating with graduate and undergraduate student organizations in EMS.
Graduate Engagement Program – The Graduate Engagement fosters a welcoming environment for all graduate students within the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. The program cultivates community across departments through extracurricular engagement, including welcome events, resource workshops, and community building; all in collaboration with graduate student leaders and graduate student-focused staff. Outcomes of this project include: improved mental well-being and sense of belonging; increased knowledge of University resources for graduate students, especially marginalized graduate students; and a strengthened sense of belonging, community, involvement, and cross-disciplinary interactions. To get involved, contact edequity@ems.psu.edu.
Rising Graduate Institute – EMS participates in Penn State’s Rising Graduate Institute, which is a site within the national program. The RGI consists of a two-day workshop followed by monthly meetings to ease the transition to graduate school for incoming master’s and doctoral students in STEM. Our goal is to help prepare students to successfully navigate their degree programs and provide a network of support at Penn State. Incoming graduate students who identify from backgrounds considered underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and math are strongly encouraged to participate.
Rainbow EMS Network – The Rainbow EMS Network fosters a fully inclusive environment in our research groups and identifies research groups that have received advanced training in LGBTQ issues beyond the Safer People Safer Places Network. If your research group is not already a member of the Rainbow Network, talk to your lead faculty member about completing the steps to join.
Student Organizations
Each of our departments has department/discipline specific organizations supporting diversity, inclusive excellence, and belonging. These include:
- Women in 3D printing
- Society for Supporting Women In Meteorology (SSWIM)
- Supporting Women in Geography (SWIG)
- Association for Women Geoscientists
Our events and programs are open to all students regardless of sex, gender, sexual orientation, race, or any other protected class. EMS is committed to building a community of belonging for all.
Check your department’s website or talk with your department’s Associate Head for Graduate Programs or Associate Head for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for more information about what clubs exist or are forming within your department.
Additionally, here is a small sampling of some of the belonging-focused student organizations our graduate students have been involved with during their time at Penn State. For more student organizations, browse Penn State Registered Student Organizations. Student organizations and events are open to any student who is interested in the topic and mission of the organization.
- Out in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (oSTEM)
- Black Graduate Student Association (BGSA)
- Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)
- Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
- American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES)
- National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
- Phi Sigma Rho Sorority (Women in science and engineering)
- Minorities in Agriculture and Natural Resources (MANRRS)
- Minority Graduate Students (MGS) in STEM
- National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE)
- Physics and Astronomy for Women+ (PAW+)
- Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
- Graduate Women in Science (GWiS)
- Graduate Women in Engineering (GradWIE)
- Multicultural Engineering Graduate Association (MEGA)
- Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE)
Penn State has many more student organizations, which you can browse through in the student organization directory. You can filter by graduate student orgs. You can also filter by categories such as "graduate student orgs - community", "science and mathematics", "engineering and technology", and more.
Department Resources for Graduate Students
Each of our EMS departments has an Associate Head for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Contact the Associate Head for your department to learn more about programs and events in your department.
- Department of Geography: Dr. Beth King bethking@psu.edu
- Department of Geosciences: Contact Dr. Liz Hajek eah21@psu.edu
https://www.geosc.psu.edu/about/who-we-are/diversity-equity-and-inclusion - John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering: Contact Dr. Chiara LoPrete cxl63@psu.edu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering: Contact Dr. Allison Beese amb961@psu.edu
https://www.matse.psu.edu/undergraduate/undergraduate-student-experiences/diversity-equity-inclusion-and-belonging - Department of Meteorology and Atmospheric Science: Contact Dr. Eugene Clothiaux eec3@psu.edu
EMS Graduate Student Ombuds program -- The Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS) Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Scholar Ombuds Program provides graduate students and postdocs with a neutral, third-party to assist with conflict resolution and solutions-oriented support. Graduate students and postdocs within EMS can choose to meet with any ombudsperson across the College, regardless of department affiliation.
University Park Campus Resources for Graduate Students
Help or Assistance
EMS Graduate Student Ombuds program -- The Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS) Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Scholar Ombuds Program provides graduate students and postdocs with a neutral, third-party to assist with conflict resolution and solutions-oriented support. Graduate students and postdocs within EMS can choose to meet with any ombudsperson across the College, regardless of department affiliation.
Penn State offers numerous resources specifically for underrepresented students seeking assistance with a variety of concerns. We also encourage you to contact staff in our Office for the Associate Dean for Educational Equity, who can work with you and may be able to point you to additional resources.
- Fox Graduate School Ombuds Program
- Student Legal Services
- University Police — Report a Crime
- Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
- University Health Services
- Report Bias
- Office of Sexual Misconduct Prevention & Response
We recommend these important University references:
- Belonging at Penn State Calendar
- Penn State Statement on Belonging
- Strategic Planning
- Equity at Penn State
- Penn State Resources
- Addressing Bias: Rights, Responsibilities and Responses
- DEIB Dashboard
If you have questions about any diversity-related initiative in the college, please contact the EMS Office of the Associate Dean for Educational Equity.
