UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi’s first official visit to the Pennsylvania Capitol on June 13 was marked by a meet-and-greet event in the Capitol rotunda with members of Pennsylvania’s General Assembly hosted by the Office of Government and Community Relations.

During her remarks to those gathered in the rotunda, Bendapudi reminded everyone of Penn State’s mission as Pennsylvania’s sole land-grant university and the 167-year partnership Penn State shares with the commonwealth.

“Every day I walk into Old Main, I am greeted with the words of our land-grant mission,” Bendapudi said. “For me, the land-grant mission is about social mobility through education, economic development, and research that makes an impact — on our communities, Pennsylvania, and the world.”

Bendapudi highlighted the far-reaching economic impact of Penn State’s partnership with the state, noting that the University contributes more than $11.6 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy while supporting 105,000 jobs across the state.

She also underscored the significance of Penn State's Commonwealth Campuses to the University’s mission and the communities they serve, calling them gems in the state and key social centers. She said that Penn State’s Commonwealth Campus structure, which is unique in higher education, places a Penn State campus within 30 miles of 96% of Pennsylvanians, providing unequaled access to the life-changing benefits of higher education.