On Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, the Eberly College of Science announced the recipients of the Dean’s Climate and Diversity Award and Seed Grant in recognition of their extraordinary commitment to enhancing the environment of mutual respect and diversity in the college. The annual award is supported by the Santacroce Family Climate and Diversity Fund at the Eberly College of Science. 

Dean’s Climate and Diversity Award 

Rachel Fernandes 

Fernandes, a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, has been deeply involved in improving the overall climate of the department for many years, according to a nominator. She leads the Astronomy and Astrophysics Climate and Diversity committees’ efforts in working to improve the Davey Lab through the beautification of the hallways. 

Outside of this effort, Fernandes is described as a dedicated advocate for international members of the college. She works diligently to make sure that those on a visa are at the center of decision making and keeps those issues at the forefront of peoples’ minds. 

One nominator noted that Fernandes is making the department a more welcoming place by helping to increase people’s sense of belonging. 

"This award meant a lot because I am in a temporary role. As a postdoc, you are constantly aware that you will eventually move on," Fernandes said. "Receiving this award made me feel that I was not just passing through, but that I contributed something lasting to the department. That sense of having left a positive mark is very meaningful to me."

Murali Haran

Haran currently serves as a professor of statistics and formally served as the head of the Department of Statistics from 2018 to 2024. He led the team through significant challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and budget problems.

“His leadership was defined by calm and optimism,” said one nominator. “He understood that a healthy climate does not simply happen but must be proactively nourished.”

Murali is regarded as a faculty member who upholds his commitment to inclusivity thought his daily interactions.  

“He acts as a ‘cheerleader’ for the department, constantly highlighting the successes of faculty and students in newsletters and personal interactions,” said another nominator on how Murali fosters such a positive climate.

Beyond creating a positive environment among faculty and staff, Murali has also implemented lightning talks, lunches for postdocs, and “research speed dating” to help support early-career researchers.

“He understands, and has frequently articulated, that a healthy climate that respects diverse points of view is not something that simply happens; it must be continuously and proactively nourished,” said Dave Hunter, professor emeritus of statistics. 

Stephen Paolini 

Paolini joined the Department of Physics in the fall of 2021 and a nominator said that he came in with the attitude to have a positive impact on the entire department and the physics community. Paolini has served as a role model and mentor to many graduate and undergraduate students within the department, including all underrepresented groups. 

“I have very rarely seen a student so invested in everyone else’s success, the growth of the entire community, and is so successful at making all of it happen. Our entire department is better because of Stephen’s contributions,” said one nominator. 

From coordinating hikes and theatre trips to joining the Physics Graduate Student Association (PGSA) and revamping the social aspect of the PGSA to starting “forum spaces” for students to communicate and learn from each other and share their ideas for the entire department, nominators expressed that Paolini has had an immense impact on the climate of the department. 

“Over the years, I have been lucky to work with several students, faculty, and staff to serve our community and to celebrate our diverse histories and perspectives,” said Paolini. “We are a community that wants to understand together, grow together, and celebrate together.”

Emma Steinebronn

Steinebronn is a graduate student that joined the Department of Physics in the fall of 2021. In her second and third years at Penn State, Steinbronn received the physics department's Service Award. She is extensively involved in outreach, as the outreach coordinator for PAW+ and the Physics and Astronomy for Women student organization. 

“She excels in teaching, mentoring, outreach, community engagement, and research,” said a nominator. “Climate and diversity are central to all her work, in all these contexts.”

Steinebronn’s work has also included mentoring, from mentoring undergraduate students to junior graduate students to reviving the entirety of the peer mentoring program. Her love for mentoring has translated to her true passion for teaching. In each of her classes, she has received excellent feedback for her ability to create an engaging, welcoming, and inclusive learning environment. 

“Receiving the Dean's Climate and Diversity award is not only an absolute honor personally but also a reminder of how grateful I am to be a part of a department that truly supports its graduate student members,” said Steinebronn.

Dean’s Climate and Diversity Seed Grant 

• "Supporting Mental Health in the Chemistry Department," The Chemistry Department Climate and Diversity Committee
• "Statistics Connect and Dine: Expanding Conversations Beyond Advising Relationships,” The Statistics Department Climate and Diversity Committee
• “THRIVE: Department-Embedded Wellbeing Workshops and Graduate Student Peer Wellbeing Ambassadors,” Tierra Dinkins and the Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology (BMMB) Department Climate and Diversity Committee
• "Building Belonging: Inclusive Mentorship and Teaching Events for STEM at Penn State,” The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and BMMB Department Climate and Diversity Committee