culture and identity
For over 40 years, the Penn Women's Center has been active in promoting the rights of women on campus and beyond. The mission of the Penn Women's Center is to promote gender justice, and to empower, support, and advance personal and professional development for women and female-identified persons. The Penn Women's Center seeks to achieve this by sponsoring student groups, highlighting the work of women and female-identified persons, advocating on a wide range of issues, and providing confidential crisis and options counseling.
Learn more about the Penn Women's Center.
The Pan-Asian American Community House (PAACH) is a hub of academic, personal, and professional growth for University of Pennsylvania students interested in Asian American culture and the Asian American Diaspora. Through advising, leadership development, advocacy, social and cultural programming we expand student access to the University's resources.
Learn more about PAACH.
Penn's Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Center increases the general Penn community's awareness, understanding, and acceptance of its sexual and gender minority members. The primary activities of the Center are outreach and education, supportive services for individuals and campus organizations, including network facilitation, and advocacy for sensitive, inclusive University policies and practices. Whether you are questioning your identity, in the process of coming out, proudly identify as LGBTQ+, or an ally, the Center is your space.
Learn more about the LGBT Center.
La Casa Latina: Center for Hispanic Excellence is a crossroad of academic, personal, and professional growth for University of Pennsylvania students interested in Latinx and Latin American cultures. Through advising, leadership development, academic, social, and cultural programming, La Casa Latina expands access to the University's resources to help students achieve their fullest potential.
Learn more about La Casa Latina.
Natives at Penn (NAP), founded in 1994, is a student organization representing Native American, Native Hawaiian, and Alaska Native students on Penn's campus, which is on Lenape land. Undergraduate and graduate students meet with university faculty and staff to increase awareness of contemporary Indigenous issues, attend interschool events such as the All-Ivy Native Conference, attend events hosted by local tribes, and host Penn's Annual Powwow. NAP is a member of Penn's United Minorities Council, and is supported by the Albert M. Greenfield Intercultural Center (GIC).
Learn more about the GIC.
The Albert M. Greenfield Intercultural Center (GIC) is Penn's resource for enhancing students' intercultural knowledge, competency, and leadership through our programs, advising, and advocacy. The GIC also offers numerous courses for credit, programs, and services designed to engage students around diversity and enhance their cultural competency skills for the 21st century.
Learn more about the GIC.
Makuu: The Black Cultural Center is a nexus of academic, professional and personal growth for University of Pennsylvania students interested in Black culture and the African Diaspora. Through advising, leadership development, network facilitation, and cultural programming, we extend academic, social, and cultural support while expanding Penn's resources and enhancing our campus community.
Learn more about Makuu.
Learn more about the Asian Pacific American Leadership Initiative here.
To prepare today’s students for their lives after graduation, Penn admits and fosters a community vibrant with a breadth of experience across cultural identity, academic interest, religious belief, sexual orientation, extracurricular interest, regional affiliation, national origin, and more. Read more about Penn's diverse community.
To prepare today’s students for their lives after graduation, Penn admits and fosters a community vibrant with a breadth of experience across cultural identity, academic interest, religious belief, sexual orientation, extracurricular interest, regional affiliation, national origin, and more.
Since its founding in 1992 within the School of Arts & Sciences (SAS), CASI has continued to uphold Penn's global reputation as a leading U.S. institution of research in South Asian studies and scholarship on India. Through workshops, visiting scholars, seminars, conferences, and an online quarterly publication, CASI engages in relevant research that focuses on contemporary issues facing India and nurtures student interest in India.
Learn more about CASI.
Penn's commitment to the written word goes far beyond the classroom. Kelly Writers House is a unique programming space that is home to over 150 public programs and projects every semester. These unique opportunities include events such as live poetry, readings, film screenings, lectures, dinners, art exhibits, musical performances, workshops, and so much more. Additionally, the creative writing program at Penn highlights and supports student work both from students who are enrolled as Creative Writing majors or minors and students who are taking the courses for fun.
Learn more about Kelly Writers House and creative writing at Penn.
The Office of the Chaplain supports the academic mission of the University by facilitating and encouraging initiatives concerned with the moral, ethical, and spiritual dimensions of university life. The Spiritual and Religious Center (SPARC) provides space for regular prayer, scripture study and meditation sessions for individuals and groups. Spaces can be reserved in advance or used on a drop-in basis. Our Office serves and supports a wide range of student organizations, fellowships and religious communities on our campus. We also develop programming designed to improve interfaith understanding and build meaningful, collaborative relationships across religious difference. And our Chaplains are always nearby to offer support or space to talk.
Learn more about spiritual and religious life at Penn.
Live your passions at Penn—and find others who share them. Penn is home to over 450 student groups that cover everything from academics, the arts, community service, cultural groups, political groups, and recreational organizations. Can't find exactly what you want? Starting a club and creating a community is easy and accessible.
