WYOMISSING, Pa. — Statewide media organization City & State PA recently recognized Radha Pyati, chancellor of Penn State Berks, as one of its 2024 Trailblazers in Higher Education. City & State PA is a multimedia news firm that provides nonpartisan coverage of Pennsylvania’s state and local government, political, and advocacy news. In addition, Lehigh Valley Business featured Pyati in this year’s Education Power List, which includes 25 area leaders across the education industry in the Lehigh Valley.
Pyati assumed the position of chancellor of Penn State Berks more than a year ago. During that time, she has made significant contributions to the college. During Pyati’s relatively short tenure, she has expanded the college’s relationship with the Hispanic / Latino community; hosted meaningful engagements with elected officials; advocated for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging; proudly participated in time-honored campus traditions; celebrated the unique contributions of students, faculty and staff; and acted as a stalwart leader through changing times. And she shows no signs of slowing down.
Reaching out to Hispanic / Latino community
One of Pyati’s main priorities is ensuring that Penn State Berks is accessible and well-equipped to serve the needs of the Hispanic and Latino communities.
According to the 2020 census, the Hispanic and Latino population of the City of Reading is nearly 69%, up from 58% in 2010. To meet the needs of this growing population, Penn State Berks is expanding its efforts to engage with and support the local Hispanic and Latino communities with several new initiatives.
“Penn State Berks is located about five miles from the City of Reading, whose Hispanic and Latino population is growing and thriving, and we want to be a part of their story,” Pyati explained. “We want prospective students and families to know that Penn State is possible. We have Spanish-speaking faculty and staff who are here to help students with the admissions process, financial aid, and any other challenges they may face. They are here to cheer them on and support their growth and success as well. At Penn State Berks, students will find a home away from home and a supportive environment to succeed.”
This year alone, 20% of the incoming first-year class at Penn State Berks is Hispanic / Latino. This growing population currently makes up 14% of the college’s overall enrollment, which is growing each year.
Pyati meets regularly with the college’s Latino Advisory Council, which is comprised of community leaders, and learns about their concerns — and more importantly, how the college can help. As a result of regular meetings and ongoing dialogue, Penn State Berks has developed a deeper understanding of the issues that Hispanic and Latino families face. The college has also become more engaged in the local community and expanded its participation to include additional involvement with such organizations as Centro Hispano Daniel Torres, the Berks Latino Chamber of Commerce, the United Way of Berks County, and many others.
Recently, Penn State Berks wrapped up its celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month with its 12th annual Latino Forum, an outreach effort for local high school students. Pyati provided a warm welcome to the students in Spanish, and she reached out to both students and the greater Latino community through a Facebook Live interview on La Mega Radio Station, a Spanish-language station who was on site for the event. Pyati was also interviewed live on La Mega’s Morning Show in early October.
Penn State Berks has forged additional efforts to better communicate with the Spanish-speaking community. The college added a Spanish-language option to its phone menu for those who prefer to speak with a faculty or staff member in Spanish. Penn State Berks has a website dedicated to Spanish-speaking prospective students and their families titled “Estudiantes Latinas” and a Spanish-language brochure, and is making a concerted effort to translate more materials to Spanish.
This summer, members of the college’s Administrative Council, the senior leadership group, enrolled in a “Spanish for the Workplace” certificate program through the Penn State Berks Office of Continuing Education. The goal was for college leaders to become more fluent in Spanish so they could communicate more effectively with Spanish-speaking students and families.
In addition, Pyati has appointed Latino / Hispanic community members on the college Advisory Board to represent the needs of the community. Rick Olmos, commissioner, Governor’s Advisory Council on Latino Affairs, and Cory Varona-Corniel, co-founder of OCOA and Berks alumna, joined the board this fall.
Building relationships with key stakeholders
Pyati has invited elected officials to hold discussions and to advocate for Penn State Berks. The following officials have visited the college, and met with Pyati and other administrators, faculty, staff and students:
- Pennsylvania Chief Diversity Officer Norman Bristol Colón, who will be this December’s commencement speaker
- U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06)
- Pa. Rep. Barry Jozwiak (5th District)
- U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack
- National Climate Advisor and Assistant to the President Ali Zaidi
- Pennsylvania State Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding
