Penn State Highlights Global Sustainability via SDGs

University's SDG Progress page connects research, teaching, operations and community engagement to UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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Penn State Sustainability has launched an SDG Progress page to highlight the university's wide-ranging contributions to global sustainability through its research, teaching, operations and community engagement. The page allows visitors to explore how Penn State is advancing all 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals, serving as a public-facing hub for sustainability-related data, examples and stories.

Why it matters

By organizing Penn State's sustainability work within the internationally recognized SDG framework, the university is strengthening its visibility in national and global sustainability assessments, while also acknowledging and uplifting the incredible work being done across its campuses and with partners around the world.

The details

The SDG Progress page was developed by Penn State Sustainability with initial design support from the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research. It originally was created in part to support reporting for Penn State's participation in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings, but more broadly reflects an ongoing effort to make the university's sustainability work more visible, accessible and connected.

  • The SDG Progress page was launched in March 2026.

The players

Penn State Sustainability

The department at Penn State responsible for developing the SDG Progress page and highlighting the university's contributions to global sustainability.

Krista Bailey

The assistant director of sustainability strategy and assessment for Penn State Sustainability.

Diana DeLeon

A fourth-year Penn State student studying civil engineering with a minor in engineering leadership development, who helped develop the SDG Progress page.

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What they’re saying

“The SDG Progress page demonstrates the breadth and depth of work happening across the University. It allows people to see how our research, teaching, and operations directly contribute to global goals, from 'Responsible Consumption' to 'Good Health and Well-Being'.”

— Krista Bailey, Assistant Director of Sustainability Strategy and Assessment, Penn State Sustainability (Mirage News)

“Seeing the impact that the University has on the future of sustainability has made me proud to be a Penn State student, and eager to find avenues on how to get more involved with the resources, research and opportunities that the University provides.”

— Diana DeLeon, Fourth-year Penn State Student (Mirage News)

What’s next

Penn State plans to continue expanding the SDG Progress page to ensure it represents the full scope of the university's collective sustainability efforts.

The takeaway

Penn State's SDG Progress page demonstrates the university's leadership in sustainability by highlighting its wide-ranging contributions to the UN's global Sustainable Development Goals across research, teaching, operations and community engagement.