Penn State Explores 'Fragmentation' in Latest 'Moments of Change' Study

The College of the Liberal Arts initiative examines how disconnection and change impact language, culture, and society.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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Penn State's College of the Liberal Arts is launching a new year-long theme for its 'Moments of Change' initiative, exploring the concept of 'fragmentation' and how disconnection and change are reshaping language, literature, culture, technology, and politics. The program will feature lectures, events, and stories highlighting how shared experiences and long-standing institutions are shifting due to globalization, political polarization, and rapid technological change.

Why it matters

The 'Moments of Change' initiative aims to help the Penn State community better understand the complex challenges of the present moment by examining specific examples of fragmentation, both historic and contemporary. The diverse disciplinary frameworks within the College of the Liberal Arts are seen as crucial for equipping students and faculty to confront these issues and find ways to repair, heal, and build for the future.

The details

The 'Fragmentation' theme will kick off with lectures by faculty members Michael Kulikowski on the fall of the Western Roman Empire and Bradford Vivian on the threat of polarization to academic freedom. Other planned programming will explore topics like multilingual identities, community displacement, and the role of language in both dividing and connecting society. Throughout the year, the college will also highlight related student, faculty, staff, and alumni work, as well as relevant courses and resources.

  • The 'Moments of Change: Fragmentation' theme will continue through spring 2027.
  • The first lecture by Michael Kulikowski will be held on February 25, 2026 from 4:30-5:30 PM.
  • The second lecture by Bradford Vivian will be held on April 15, 2026 from 4:30-5:30 PM.

The players

Clarence Lang

Susan Welch Dean of the College of the Liberal Arts at Penn State.

Mark S. Morrisson

Liberal Arts Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies and co-chair of the theme committee.

Tommaso M. Milani

Head of the Department of Applied Linguistics, director of the Jewish Studies Program, and Edwin Erle Sparks Professor at Penn State.

Michael Kulikowski

Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of History and Classics at Penn State.

Bradford Vivian

Professor of communication arts and sciences at Penn State.

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What they’re saying

“Today, our long-standing institutions and shared experiences are shifting in ways that are frankly hard to absorb due to such things as globalization, political polarization and rapid technological change.”

— Clarence Lang, Susan Welch Dean of the College of the Liberal Arts (Mirage News)

“It can be difficult to imagine how we might even begin to address the destructive consequences unfolding around us every day - yet we have been here before many times.”

— Mark S. Morrisson, Liberal Arts Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies (Mirage News)

“Whether we look at the complexities of multilingual identities or the histories of communities marked by displacement, fragmentation reminds us that language is never neutral. It can wound and divide, but it can also connect and repair.”

— Tommaso M. Milani, Head of the Department of Applied Linguistics, director of the Jewish Studies Program, and Edwin Erle Sparks Professor (Mirage News)

What’s next

The new 'Fragmentation' theme will continue with additional lectures, events, and programming throughout the 2026-2027 academic year.

The takeaway

Penn State's 'Moments of Change' initiative demonstrates how the diverse disciplines within the College of the Liberal Arts can provide crucial insights and tools for understanding and addressing the complex societal challenges of fragmentation, polarization, and rapid change that are reshaping our world.