Xu Cheng
Model misspecification; Strong cross-sectional or time-series dependence; High-dimensional estimation and inference with machine learning methods
Five tips to make the most of your semester
When I arrived to the US, my Uber ride from Philadelphia’s airport to UPenn was basically an elongated “I made it” moment filled with excitement and satisfaction, until I was dropped in the middle of 4 anonymous buildings. With no Wi-Fi, three heavy suitcases, and zero idea which building was my dorm, I just stood there laughing at my own unpreparedness.
Hitomi Yoshida, MPhil ’25
Throughout her career in higher education, Hitomi Yoshida (Master of Philosophy in Organizational Dynamics ’25) has focused on community needs, engagement, and empowerment. When she decided to return to school for a second, more advanced graduate degree, she looked for an academic opportunity that embodied a similar sense of community and collaboration.
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.
Francis X. Diebold, MAEDS Faculty Director
Applied econometrics and dynamic predictive modeling; Financial market volatility; Business cycle and macroeconomic monitoring; Empirical network modeling; Climate change; Statistical machine learning
The Neubauer Family Foundation to support City of Philadelphia police leadership education through LPS’ Master of Applied Criminology and Police Leadership program scholarships
A collaboration between the University of Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD), and the Neubauer Family Foundation will provide tuition support for senior PPD officers to enroll in Penn’s new Master of Applied Criminology and Police Leadership (MCPL) program.
Congratulations to the Penn LPS Class of 2025
On Sunday, May 18, Penn’s College of Liberal and Professional Studies (LPS) welcomed family, friends, faculty, and the Class of 2025 for a graduation ceremony in Marian Anderson Hall at the Kimmel Center in downtown Philadelphia. This year, LPS conferred 476 degrees on graduating students: 89 undergraduate degrees and 387 master’s degrees. Of these graduates, 230 are international students representing 18 countries in all.
