Economics Academy summer high school program featured in Penn Today

A recent Penn Today article highlighted this summer’s Economics Academy, a three-week residential program for high school students offered by Penn Arts and Sciences. The rigorous academy, taught by Penn faculty and visiting experts, introduces students to economics in a global, contemporary context and in an engaging way. Additionally, the teens, who live in Penn resident halls during the program, enjoy a glimpse into what college life has to offer.

Master of Applied Economics and Data Science

A practical curriculum for a leading economics department

Ideal for students with some mathematical background, the Master of Applied Economics and Data Science (MAEDS) is a full-time, on-campus degree that combines the quantitative analysis expertise from Penn’s leading Department of Economics with applied learning, preparing graduates to enter the workforce with a practical understanding of the complexities of current economic issues combined with the tools and knowledge to address those issues and succeed in their data-analytic careers.

Storytelling and sustainability in the field

With a Master of Fine Arts in writing, Marin Sklan (Master of Environmental Studies ’24) turned her creative talent toward a career in marketing. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, however, she was overwhelmed by the drive to make a change. “Seeing how connected our world is, watching the administration roll back ESG protections, and understanding the implications of supply chains—something I hadn’t really thought about at that point—I realized I needed to make a pivot,” recalls Marin.

Taylor Brothers

“I’ve wanted to be a doctor since I was 10,” begins Taylor Brothers (Pre-Health ’24). That was the year she dislocated her knee in basketball practice and had an awe-inspiring trip to the orthopedic. “I thought, ‘This is so cool!’” she recalls. The challenging path to a medical career had begun. Following a planned break that she took after college, Taylor searched for a post-baccalaureate pre-health program that would serve as an academic refresher and GPA boost to strengthen her medical school application.

Dreaming big and traveling far for the environment

At the conclusion of his academic journey at Penn, earning a Master of Environmental Studies (MES) in May 2025, Desra Arriyadi has many accomplishments to look back on. He came to the MES program having earned a full scholarship from his home country, Indonesia. While studying at Penn, he completed an internship with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, contributing research to the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference.

2025 graduation award winner Margaret Dunkelberger paves the way for professional advancement with Penn’s Master of Science in Applied Geosciences

“I was so gung-ho on getting a master's degree straight out of undergrad,” begins geotechnical project manager Margaret Dunkelberger (MSAG ’25). Back in 2020, she was expecting to start a traditional on-campus graduate program in the geosciences in the fall. “Then COVID-19 happened. I was out of luck for a bit, but it all worked out,” she says. Soon after pivoting her focus to launching a career, Margaret discovered a new path to graduate school—and professional advancement.

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