Excellence in Diversity Awards are awarded to a campus community member and a local resident who demonstrate a genuine commitment to making the world a more diverse and inclusive place.
Recipients of Penn State Scranton's Excellence in Diversity Awards were honored at the campus' annual Martin Luther King Day celebration at the campus in 2025. Campus winner Francesca Orellana, at left, a fourth-year HDFS major received the campus award for her work in promoting diversity, equity and inclusion through her roles with campus clubs and leadership positions. Retired campus chancellor Marwan Wafa, Ph.D., and his wife, Sahar Al-Masri received the Community Excellence in Diversity Awards for their work in creating a welcoming and inclusive environment both at Penn State Scranton and within the local community.
The Penn State Scranton awarded its Excellence in Diversity Awards at the 2023 MLK Day event, honoring Keshia Vilchert, Director of Student Equity and Inclusion at Marywood University and Dharti Ray, Assistant Director of Student Services and Engagement at Penn State Scranton.
Pictured from left to right: Emily Glodzik, Coordinator of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Penn State Scranton, Keshia Vilchert, Dr. Marwan Wafa, Chancellor, and Dharti Ray.
Chancellor Marwan Wafa presents Rashida Lovely with the 2021 Excellence in Diversity Award, a local resident who demonstrates a genuine commitment to making the world a more diverse and inclusive place.
Chancellor Marwan Wafa presents Penn State Scranton Associate Director of Learning and Disability Services Eileen Giovagnoli with the campus Excellence in Diversity Award 2021 for her genuine commitment to making campus a more diverse and inclusive place.
James Hart, lecturer in communication arts and sciences was the 2020 Excellence in Diversity Award recipient, for a campus member.
Sean McHale, vice president and chief operating officer of the Advocacy Alliance and administrator of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Diversity Education Consortium (NEPDEC) was awarded the 2020 Community Recipient of the Excellence in Diversity Award.
Campus recipient for the 2020 Excellence in Diversity, Dr. Ray Petren, assistant professor of Human Development and Family Studies (right), pictured with Chancellor Marwan Wafa during the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemoration and awards luncheon on January 20, 2020.
The Centre Dimensions jazz ensemble will offer "A Night of Penn State Jazz" on Oct. 15 at the historic Ritz Theater in Scranton.
Campus recipient for the 2019 Excellence in Diversity, Brad Kovaleski, director of student services and engagement (left), pictured with Chancellor Marwan Wafa, and the community award recipient was Laura Ducceschi, president and CEO of the Scranton Area Community Foundation.