Thirty-three non-tenure-line faculty will use Opportunity Grants to fund a project of their choosing during the 2026-27 academic year.
Opportunity Grants are designed for clinical, teaching, research and professors of practice faculty to receive funding for professional development through a self-proposed project. First awarded in 2024, grants have been used for a diverse range of development opportunities at campuses across the commonwealth. Grants are administered by the Center for Faculty Development and Advancement, part of Penn State Faculty Affairs.
Josh Stapleton, director of the Materials Characterization Lab (MCL)and associate research professor, earned a research Opportunity Grant for the upcoming cycle, which is funded through the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research.
The MCL faculty and staff train Penn State and industry researchers on how to effectively use advanced characterization instrumentation. Stapleton said that often students working in MCL gain specific technical skills of interest to a wide range of companies. His Opportunity Grant will help fund the exploration of a program that would likely have undergraduates spend some time training on equipment then serving in an industry internship, probably over the course of a year.
“Today, MCL supports industry problem‑solving,” Stapleton said. “The next step is understanding how that same environment can be used more deliberately to train people for the jobs those companies are hiring for.”
He said planning and development will center around what skills companies are looking for, which will require thoughtful analysis before spinning up a new program.
While Stapleton's grant focuses on workforce development, teaching Opportunity Grant recipients are using their awards to strengthen classroom practice and student support across a range of disciplines.
May Lee, assistant teaching professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education, said her project is a response to a rapidly changing educational landscape.
“In classrooms across Pennsylvania, teachers are working diligently to support multilingual learners, often across multiple schools, grade levels and responsibilities,” Lee said. “This project begins by listening to those experiences and asking how we can do better together.”
A central component of Lee’s project is the development of professional learning communities where educators collaborate to address problems of practice such as designing scaffolds that support language development while maintaining rigor and using AI in responsible and effective ways. The insights will directly inform teacher education at Penn State by strengthening alignment between preparation and the reality of today’s classrooms, Lee said.
“Ultimately, the project centers teacher voice, builds partnerships, and works toward more equitable and responsive learning opportunities for multilingual learners,” she said.
Research awards
- Mohamed Khaled Almekkawy, associate research professor, College of Engineering, “Advancing AI-Driven Medical Imaging Research and Education Using a Research Ultrasound Machine”
- Keith Robert Aronson, associate director, Clearinghouse for Military Family Readiness and Social Science Research Institute, “Developing Cross-National Understanding and Partnership for the Health and Well-Being of Post-9/11 Veterans”
- Jennifer Gray, associate research professor, Materials Research Institute, “Development of Ptychography Transmission Electron Microscopy Methods at Penn State”
- Andrea Gregg, director of Learning Experience Design and associate research professor, mechanical engineering, “Advancing Expertise in Artificial Intelligence to Strengthen Mechanical Engineering Education”
- Gail Matters, associate professor, Penn State Cancer Institute, “Attendance at the CABTRAC 2026 National Meeting”
- Joshua James Stapleton, director of the Materials Characterization Lab and associate research professor, Materials Research Institute, “Adapting Core Facilities for Workforce Impact: Professional Development for MCL Amid Higher Education Challenges”
Teaching awards
- Maria Rita Castro, associate teaching professor, College of Health and Human Development, “Sustaining Preclinical Research and Undergraduate Mentorship through Strategic Time Release and Laboratory Support”
- Kyle Chalupczynski, assistant teaching professor of management information systems, Penn State Behrend, “Developing Expertise in AI-Integrated Pedagogy: Course Development and Professional Growth in Frontier AI Capabilities”
- Michael Collins, associate teaching professor of art, digital arts and media design, and digital multimedia design; College of Arts and Architecture, “Open Model Artifacts: Stories Told to Machines About the Places We Call Home”
- Molly Countermine, teaching professor of human development and family studies, College of Health and Human Development, “The Penn State Story Lab: Storytelling to Support Community, Compassion, and Change”
- Megan Costello, associate teaching professor of human-centered computing and social informatics, College of Information Sciences and Technology, “Advancing Legal and Technical Expertise Through CIPP/US Certification in Privacy and Data Protection Law”
- Maria Enriquez, associate teaching professor of theater, Penn State Harrisburg, “Great Lakes Michael Chekhov Consortium Acting Teacher Training”
- Beatrice Epwene, associate teaching professor of communications, Penn State Harrisburg, “The mEditor Platform Adoption Professional Development Plan”
- Sharon Gallagher, teaching professor of English, Penn State Behrend, “Private Lives in the Public Eye: The Story of Three Generations of 19th Century Women in the Fairfield Family”
- Noel B. Habashy, associate teaching professor, College of Agricultural Sciences, “Advancing Global Learning Through a PSU-FAO Partnership: A Professional Development Initiative”
- Teresa Hamilton, assistant teaching professor of English, College of the Liberal Arts, “Bringing the Story Home: Field Research and Developmental Editing to Advance a Research-Based Novel Toward Publication”
- Meredith Holland Handley, associate teaching professor, College of Engineering, “Building Marketing Capacity for Beyond Engineering through Applied Research”
- May Lee, assistant teaching professor of education, College of Education, “Understanding and Strengthening Multilingual Learner Preparation through Community-Engaged Research and AI Literacy”
- Efraín Marimón, associate teaching professor of education, College of Education, “Expanding RJI's Reach: Advancing Digital and AI Literacy, and Workforce Opportunities in Prison Education and for Justice-Impacted Learners”
- Faith McDonald, associate teaching professor of English, College of the Liberal Arts, “From Manuscript to Market: Professional Development in Persuasive Communication and Author Branding”
- Taoufik Meklachi, associate teaching professor of mathematical sciences, Penn State Harrisburg, “A Professional Development Project for Experimental Characterization and Validation of Advanced Nanophotonic Materials”
- Joseph Oakes, associate teaching professor of computer science and information technology, Penn State Abington, “Advancing STEM Education Through the Design and Integration of Humanoid Robots for Experiential Learning and Research Collaboration”
- Christopher Palma, teaching professor of astronomy and astrophysics, Eberly College of Science, “Integrating Research, Teaching, and Advocacy for Improving Dark Skies across the Commonwealth”
- Eric Roman, associate teaching professor of photography, College of Arts and Architecture, “Finding MY America”
- Robert Schneider, assistant teaching professor of theatre, College of Arts and Architecture, “Queer Musicals: A Comprehensive Study and Analysis of Shifting Paradigms in Queer Representation within Musical Theater”
- Elzbieta Sikora, associate teaching professor of engineering science and mechanics, College of Engineering, “Engaging AI in Materials Storytelling: Enhancing Students’ Understanding of Engineering Materials as the Engine of Technological Development and Important Part of Cultural Heritage”
- Pia Smal, associate teaching professor of educational psychology, counseling and special education; College of Education; “Establishing an RHS Undergraduate Mentorship Program to Enhance Teaching, Research Engagement, and Students' Professional Growth”
- Kim Trahan, associate teaching professor of organizational leadership, College of the Liberal Arts, “Professional Development in Contributing to Research that Extends Knowledge in the Teaching and Practice of Organizational Leadership”
- Patrick Joseph Tunno, associate teaching professor and director of the Center for Global Engineering Engagement, College of Engineering, “Advancing Strategic Leadership and Global Management through the Wharton Online Leadership & Management Certificate”
- Deryn Verity, teaching professor of applied linguistics, College of the Liberal Arts, “Preparing a Concept-Based Curriculum for the First-Year Writing Program for Multilingual Students (ESL15)”
- Gina Whalen, associate teaching professor of business, Penn State Schuylkill, “Building CQ Capacity for Teaching, Teamwork, and Employer Outreach”
- Sabri Yilmaz, teaching professor of economics, Penn State Harrisburg, “House-Flipping Activities in the Harrisburg Metropolitan Area (Dauphin County)”
- Bill Zimmerman, assistant teaching professor of advertising/public relations, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications, “Becoming a Professor of the Future to Prepare Students for Rapid Change”
Applications for the 2027-28 cycle will open in fall 2026. Visit the Center for Faculty Development and Advancement website for more information.
The Center for Faculty Development and Advancement is part of Penn State Faculty Affairs. The CFDA empowers faculty and academic administrators to excel at every stage of their careers through innovative programs, tailored resources and meaningful support.