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.
Jerry Ratcliffe is a professor of practice and faculty director of the Master of Applied Criminology and Police Leadership in the Department of Criminology at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a former police officer, a scientific advisor to the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and host of the popular Reducing Crime podcast. After an ice-climbing accident ended an 11-year career with London’s Metropolitan Police, he earned a PhD from the University of Nottingham.
When Jason Wang wakes up in Geelong, Australia and attends classes in his first year of medical school, he’s a world away from his previous life as a civil engineer in Canada. “I had my path laid out for me and never thought about different careers or going to universities abroad,” he recalls. Once the idea of pivoting to a career in medicine took root, it took a few years before he was ready to commit to the change—and then he was all in.
As a professional master’s degree, Penn’s Master of Environmental Studies (MES) is designed to support emerging environmentalists who seek to translate their passion for the environment into a meaningful career—and there are many paths that career might take. “The MES program is so incredibly broad, and has grown a lot in the last few years. We have concentrations that span a wide range of topics in environmental studies,” says Dr.
The College of Liberal and Professional Studies is pleased to congratulate Clayton Colmon, from the Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences program, and Nazli Bhatia, from the Master of Behavioral and Decision Sciences program, for being named 2025 distinguished teaching award winners.
On Friday, March 28, 2025, the Department of Earth and Environmental Science hosted the 17th annual Graduate Student Research Conference celebrating academic excellence among the department’s Professional Masters Programs.
Director of the Environmental Innovations Initiative Katie Unger Baillie (MES ’22) started her career at Penn as a science writer for University Communications. Her curiosity about the environment and sustainability led her to enroll in the Master of Environmental Studies (MES) program. Not only did the program deepen her scientific knowledge and inform her work as a writer, it also engaged her lifelong interest in nature.
Dr. Cecil W. Johnson III is a global workforce dynamics researcher and strategist. He also serves as Global Head of Inclusive Business Strategy—Innovative Medicine at Johnson & Johnson, where he has served as a leader in sales, management, learning, talent development, and global talent management. At Penn, Dr. Johnson is currently a visiting scholar in the Organizational Dynamics Programs and also serves as a member of the Penn LPS Employer Advisory Board.
The College of Liberal and Professional Studies is excited to announce that Dr. Cecil W. Johnson III has been selected to address the College of Liberal and Professional Studies Class of 2025 at the graduation ceremony on Sunday, May 18. Dr. Johnson is a global workforce dynamics researcher and strategist. He also serves as Global Head of Inclusive Business Strategy—Innovative Medicine at Johnson & Johnson, where he has served as a leader in sales, management, learning, talent development, and global talent management. At Penn, Dr.
The College of Liberal and Professional Studies is thrilled to congratulate Cindy Srnka and Desra Arriyadi on being named Dean's Scholars by Penn Arts and Sciences. This distinction is presented annually to students who exhibit exceptional academic performance and intellectual promise. The honorees will be recognized at the Stephen A. Levin Family Dean’s Forum on April 8.
The lifelong learning division of Penn Arts & Sciences
3440 Market Street, Suite 100
Philadelphia, PA 19104-3335
(215) 898-7326
lps@sas.upenn.edu
