Our Impact

The people of Penn GSE create opportunity wherever they go.

Our research, field placements, and partnerships improve education on the ground across The School District of Philadelphia, addressing a microcosm of national issues in education. Our programs for working professionals and expertise in entrepreneurship infuse the professional landscape and education marketplace with ideas that make a difference. Our intercultural programs unleash the power of education locally and globally across linguistic and national boundaries. More than 500 of our alumni work in key positions at Penn, from heads of human resources and institutional data to our own vice dean of development and alumni relations. And our community of more than 16,000 alumni has a global impact in an array of professions that transform lives through education.

Reading The Penn GSE Magazine will keep you updated on the research, innovations, and impact of the School and our community. Learn about the accomplishments and perspectives of our alumni, friends, faculty, and students. Read stories of our extraordinary impact below or browse our magazine archive.

A Landmark of Twenty-First Century Learning: Penn GSE Plans State-of-the-Art Home for Education on Campus

An international leader in education research and practice, Penn GSE is embarking upon a building expansion to keep the School at the forefront of a new era in education.

Creating Through Electronic Textiles and DNA: Penn GSE’s Dr. Yasmin Kafai Advances Active Learning

Whether she uses e-textiles, video games, or—most recently—synthetic biology to improve learning, Dr. Yasmin Kafai focuses on access, creativity, and community.

Penn students walking on Locust Walk in the summer

Shaping the National Landscape: Penn GSE Produces College Presidents

Four Penn GSE alumni who have gone on to the top position at a college or university share their professional paths, accomplishments, and perspectives.

Penn GSE in Philadelphia: Partnering Locally for National Impact

Learn how Penn GSE’s partnerships are addressing public school students’ academic performance, physical health, and mental health.

Fostering Understanding: Penn GSE Student James Busacca Prepares to Teach Globally

A master’s student in the Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) program, James Busacca is pursuing his dreams of an international career.

Aerial view of teacher kneeling next to student on laptop

Teacher in Training: A Day in the Life of a Teacher Education Student

The opportunity to learn on the ground in a Philadelphia school field placement drew Miriam Rock to Penn GSE’s Teacher Education Program.

Male graduate student sitting and listening in classroom.

Imagining What’s Possible: The Life of an Education Entrepreneurship Student

Chris Parris’s dream of putting more Boston public school students on a path to college brought him to Penn GSE’s M.S.Ed. in Education Entrepreneurship program.