Penn State Laureate to begin Commonwealth Campus visits week of Sept. 16

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State Laureate Michele Dunleavy, professor of dance at the University Park campus, will visit Penn State Altoona, Beaver, Shenango and Behrend the week of Sept. 16 for class visits, performances and workshops. It will be the first leg of her tour across the commonwealth during the 2024-25 academic year.

The Penn State Laureate, an honor established in 2008, is bestowed annually on a full-time faculty member in the arts or humanities. The laureate dedicates half of their time during the academic year to enhancing the University's visibility in the arts and humanities, showcasing their work and engaging with various communities across Pennsylvania.

Public events during the week of Sept. 16 include:

• Penn State Altoona - Monday, Sept. 16, 5:30 p.m., Dance Studio (room 148) in the Misciagna Family Center for Performing Arts: Let's Dance movement workshop for all ages and abilities in collaboration with the Penguin Project from Altoona Community Theatre.
• Penn State Shenango - Wednesday, Sept. 18, 12:15 p.m., Shenango Auditorium: Presentation/performance, "Improvising a Life"
• Penn State Behrend - Thursday, Sept. 19, 6 p.m., Junker Hall Gym One: Let's Dance movement workshop for all ages and abilities.

"Let's Dance"

The "Let's Dance" workshops are an outreach offering of the Center for the Performing Arts at Penn State, presented at the University Park campus with the For Good Performance Troupe, a program offered by the Centre Region Down Syndrome Society. The troupe is directed by Krista Wilkinson, distinguished professor of communication sciences and disorders in the College of Health and Human Development. Dunleavy has worked with Center for the Performing Arts staff members Medora Ebersole, Laura Sullivan, Lea Asbell-Swanger and Mark Tinik to take Let's Dance "on tour."

About the laureate

Dunleavy has been a faculty member in the School of Theatre, which is part of the College of Arts and Architecture, since 2004. Her work spans tap, jazz and modern dance. One of Dunleavy's hallmark projects, "Steel Valley Rhythms," explores the intertwining narratives of place, memory and the physical embodiment of generations of Pennsylvania iron and steelworkers through percussive dance. Her commitment to exploring social themes through dance is also evident in her collaborative efforts with Wilkinson, with whom she has developed innovative programs that leverage the performing arts to support communication and social skills in individuals with and without disabilities.

Dunleavy's tenure as Penn State Laureate will focus on further bridging the gap between the arts and community engagement, emphasizing inclusivity and accessibility. Her work with the For Good Performance Troupe, alongside her contributions to disability-affirmative theater and dance, showcases her belief in the transformative power of the arts for individuals of all abilities.