News & Press

Blending empathy & analytics: A Q&A with MSSP+DA student Nature Hu

MSSP+DA student Nature Hu discusses how SP2 taught her to blend empathy with data analysis, connecting individual stories to systemic policy change.

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How markets can help society adapt to climate change 

When carefully designed and supported by thoughtful public policy, markets can play a meaningful role in helping communities effectively and efficiently manage the risks of…

Read More How markets can help society adapt to climate change 

Alice Xu receives Best Dissertation Award from American Political Science Association

Dr. Alice Xu, assistant professor at Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2), has received the 2025 Mancur Olson Best Dissertation Award by the American…

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Planning ahead in an age of longevity

Tamara J. Cadet of the School of Social Policy & Practice discusses strategies for preparing—financially and physically— for an extended lifespan.

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SP2 at SSWR 2026: Leading for Transformative Change

Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) is proud to participate in the 30th Annual Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) Conference, taking place January 14…

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Centering joy in AI development and implementation

PIK Professor Desmond Upton Patton—of Annenberg and SP2—and collaborators introduce a joy-informed framework designed to initiate conversations among engineers, designers, and researchers.

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SP2 faculty, students, and alumni recognized at ARNOVA 2025 Annual Conference

Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) celebrates the achievements of its faculty, students, and alumni recognized at the 2025 Association for Research on…

Read More SP2 faculty, students, and alumni recognized at ARNOVA 2025 Annual Conference

SP2 student among two from Penn chosen as Marshall Scholars

School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) student Adelaide Lyall is among two Penn students chosen as 2026 Marshall Scholars.

Read More SP2 student among two from Penn chosen as Marshall Scholars

SP2’s Dr. Desmond Patton named to AASWSW Class of 2026

Dr. Desmond Upton Patton has been selected to join the American Academy of Social Work and Social Welfare’s Class of 2026 Fellows. 

Read More SP2’s Dr. Desmond Patton named to AASWSW Class of 2026

Breaking down misconceptions on unconditional cash programs

As part of the Politics of Well-Being series, associate professors Amy Castro and Ioana Marinescu shared findings from their research on guaranteed income and universal…

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Penn Forward’s Access, Affordability, and Value co-chairs on creating opportunity

As co-chairs of Penn Forward’s Access, Affordability, and Value working group, Sara Bachman, dean of the School of Social Policy & Practice, and Patrick Harker,…

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SP2 MSW alumni win Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work awards

Two recent graduates from the School of Social Policy & Practice Master of Social Work (MSW) Program are among this year’s winners of the Awards for Clinical…

Read More SP2 MSW alumni win Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Work awards

Debating Trump’s approach to homelessness 

Dr. Dennis Culhane joined WHYY to discuss federal shifts away from Housing First, stressing that decades of research show Housing First outperforms work- or sobriety-based…

whyy.org Debating Trump’s approach to homelessness 

The AI pay boost could peak sooner than you think, professor says 

Dr. Ioana Marinescu warns in Business Insider that her Brookings research suggests wage growth may slow once about a third of cognitive tasks are automated due…

businessinsider.com The AI pay boost could peak sooner than you think, professor says 

How scientists exposed to other people’s trauma find support 

Dr. Millan AbiNader was featured in Nature discussing how researchers exposed to traumatic material can experience vicarious trauma, underscoring the need to acknowledge these risks and build…

nature.com How scientists exposed to other people’s trauma find support 

From Labor Market Theory to Antitrust Policy: A Conversation with Ioana Marinescu 

Dr. Ioana Marinescu joined the Ruled by Reason podcast to discuss labor monopsony theory and how it informs antitrust law and policy, in conversation with…

antitrustinstitute.org From Labor Market Theory to Antitrust Policy: A Conversation with Ioana Marinescu 

Hurricane Helene Ravaged Asheville. A LGBTQ+ Group Is Supporting Youth With Cash

Teen Vogue quotes Dr. Stacia West in a story on direct cash support for LGBTQ+ youth in Asheville, North Carolina, where she highlights how unconditional…

teenvogue.com Hurricane Helene Ravaged Asheville. A LGBTQ+ Group Is Supporting Youth With Cash

Rising housing costs are pushing more seniors into homelessness

On NPR’s All Things Considered, Dr. Dennis Culhane calls the widespread homelessness among elderly and disabled Americans “a national scandal.”

npr.org Rising housing costs are pushing more seniors into homelessness

Too hot to learn: Why school heat is a growing problem

Dialogue Earth features research by Dr. Jisung Park in an article on how rising classroom temperatures hinder student learning and long-term earning potential.

dialogue.earth Too hot to learn: Why school heat is a growing problem

‘Didn’t have a pillow’: the program kitting out foster students starting college

SP2's Field Center for Children's Policy, Practice, and Research was featured by The Guardian in a story highlighting the challenges facing foster youth transitioning to…

theguardian.com ‘Didn’t have a pillow’: the program kitting out foster students starting college

Thriving while surviving: Understanding the social needs of cancer survivors

SP2 researchers and their colleagues have investigated how unmet social needs impact the health and well-being of U.S. cancer survivors. Their findings are relevant for…

penntoday.upenn.edu Thriving while surviving: Understanding the social needs of cancer survivors

The Cost of Homelessness in America | Dr. Dennis Culhane

SP2's Dr. Dennis Culhane is featured in the pilot episode of the Policy Crimes Podcast discussing the cost of homelessness. He shares insights on how…

youtube.com The Cost of Homelessness in America | Dr. Dennis Culhane

Project unloaded empowers chicago teens to change the narrative on guns and violence through social media

SP2’s Dr. Desmond Patton was quoted in the Chicago Tribune about Project Unloaded, a nonprofit that empowers teens to shift attitudes around guns and violence…

chicagotribune.com Project unloaded empowers chicago teens to change the narrative on guns and violence through social media

‘KPop Demon Hunters’ is attracting huge audiences worldwide – young Philadelphians told us K-pop culture inspires innocence, joy and belonging

SP2 Professor Dr. Femida Handy is coauthor of a new article in The Conversation exploring how Korean pop culture, including K-pop and K-dramas, supports mental…

theconversation.com ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ is attracting huge audiences worldwide – young Philadelphians told us K-pop culture inspires innocence, joy and belonging