Homecoming 2025: Powered by Penn Engineering

During this year’s Homecoming Weekend (Nov. 6 – 9), the Penn Engineering community returned to campus to celebrate connection, innovation and the spirit of discovery that defines the School.

A Spark of Discovery: Faculty Lightning Talks

Friday afternoon provided a glimpse into the impact of the School’s labs with a series of Lightning Talks that showcased the pioneering research driving Penn Engineering forward. Faculty from multiple departments and disciplines shared high-impact ideas in rapid succession, giving alumni and guests a window into the cutting-edge questions shaping the field today.

From understanding the resilience of soft earth to advancing genome editing for precision therapeutics, the presentations highlighted the breadth and depth of the School’s fundamental research questions. Speakers included Sherry Gao, Presidential Penn Compact Associate Professor in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Douglas Jerolmack, Edmund J. and Louise W. Kahn Endowed Term Professor of Earth and Environmental Science and Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics (MEAM), Christopher Madl, Assistant Professor in Materials Science and Engineering, Marc Miskin, Assistant Professor in Electrical and Systems Engineering, and Noor Momin, Stephenson Foundation Term Assistant Professor of Innovation in Bioengineering.

Sherry Gao presents her research at the Homecoming event.

Building a Sustainable Future

Alumni and students gathered in Amy Gutmann Hall’s Stavis Family Auditorium for Building a Sustainable Future: Empowering the Next Generation, a fireside chat with Ramanan Raghavendran, ENG’89, W’89, LPS’15, Chair, Penn Board of Trustees and founder of Amasia, and Vijay Kumar, Nemirovsky Family Dean of Penn Engineering and Professor in MEAM.

In a wide-ranging discussion, Raghavendran reflected on his journey from a Penn undergraduate to venture capitalist, philanthropist, and University leader. He spoke about his mission-driven approach to investing — supporting companies that advance sustainability, from clean air initiatives to environmentally responsible purchasing — and how purposeful capital can drive social change.

The conversation also explored the transformative role of higher education. Raghavendran described universities as engines of social mobility and intellectual discovery. He shared how his own Penn experiences, from Engineering coursework to volunteer engagement spanning decades, including leadership on the School of Arts & Sciences Board and now as Chair of the Board of Trustees, shaped his understanding of impact and stewardship.

Ramanan Raghavendran (left) and Vijay Kumar (right) discuss career trajectories and the future of education at Penn at the 2025 Homecoming event.

Looking ahead, the conversation turned to innovation in higher education and Penn’s ongoing transformation through Penn Forward, a strategic initiative focused on agility, measurable progress and institutional renewal. Both speakers reflected on the rapid rise of AI and the critical role Penn Engineering plays in ensuring that the University remains at the forefront of technological change.

“AI is transforming the workplace at a pace that outstrips any previous technology, faster than mobile, faster than the internet,” said Raghavendran. “A working knowledge of how these tools function, and how to apply them, is quickly becoming mandatory in every field. Penn Engineering has a huge role to play in ensuring Penn remains at the forefront of that transformation, it’s in the very DNA of this place.”

The discussion closed on a personal note, with reflections on favorite Penn traditions such as Hey Day, reminders that while Penn Engineering is always evolving, its community and legacy endure.

Homecoming 2025 wrapped up with a spirited tailgate with alumni, friends and family and a Quaker football game at Franklin Field cheering on the Red and Blue.