University Libraries

Sue Paterno supports student well-being through University Libraries

Her $25,000 gift to the Student Wellness Initiative for GivingTuesday furthers Libraries’ efforts to support students during stressful times

Sue Paterno, a longtime champion of Penn State University Libraries, has made a $25,000 gift to its Student Well-Being Fund to help the University Libraries support students during stressful times. Her gift will match others’ GivingTuesday gifts to the Student Well-Being Fund.  Credit: Penn State University Libraries (3) / Penn State. Creative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Sue Paterno, a constant advocate for Penn State students, has pledged a generous $25,000 donation to the Student Well-Being Fund at Penn State University Libraries.  

This contribution will be matched dollar-for-dollar during the University’s GivingTuesday 2024 campaign on Dec. 3, effectively doubling the impact of every donation. Supporting the Student Well-Being Fund is one of the University Libraries’ two GivingTuesday campaigns, also including PSU Press Unlocked. 

Paterno said her commitment to the mental, emotional and physical health of Penn State students is deeply personal. Determined to ensure that students facing mental health challenges have the support they need, she is passionate about addressing this critical issue, she explained.

“I think we’re at a time in our history where we need more help for mental health, and I know there are multiple reasons, but we’ve got to address that before we have more issues or lose more people,” Paterno said.  

The University Libraries is dedicated to supporting student well-being through the Student Well-Being Fund, which helps provide programs and resources that support students' physical, mental, emotional, social, and environmental health. Through its "LibWell" initiative, the University Libraries offers wellness activities, tools and sensory-friendly spaces to help students succeed in school and in life. With funding for wellness kits, e-books and calming spaces, the Libraries’ employees and supporting donors are working to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where every student can feel supported and thrive.  

De-Stress Fest is one of the most successful recurring student-support events of the LibWell initiative. The event, held at most of the Libraries’ locations University-wide, offers a variety of fun, stress-reducing activities with free snacks and hot beverages during finals week. Last spring, five library locations at University Park and 16 campuses participated. At University Park, Pattee Library and Paterno Libraries welcomed 5,877 students, while Commonwealth Campus Libraries reported 9,235 students participating.  

Paterno’s connection to the University Libraries dates to her time as a student at Penn State. She spent countless hours there, a place she fondly remembers not only for academic study, she said, but also for the relationships she built. It was in the library where young Sue Pohland met Joe Paterno, a moment she describes as “the best memory I have in the library.” Their shared passion for the University Libraries led him to be a founding member of the Libraries Development Board in the early 1980s and for her to join a few years later. She has served on the board continuously since then and is its longtime vice chair, a position she said she holds with pride. 

Joe Paterno once said that you cannot have a great university without a great library — Sue Paterno echoed this sentiment when asked why she chose to support the Student Well-Being Fund.

“How could you not? It is the future,” she said. “Without the library, we do not have a university, and the more we can do to make things better for every student, the better. I really believe we reach any student who has a need.” 

Faye A. Chadwell, dean of University Libraries and scholarly communications, expressed her gratitude for Paterno’s continued support.

“Sue’s generous gift is a profound testament to her unwavering commitment to the well-being of Penn State students,” Chadwell said. “Her belief in the power of the library to create a supportive community aligns perfectly with our mission, and we are deeply grateful for her partnership in helping us foster a more inclusive, caring environment for all students.” 

Sue Paterno’s matching gift is a part of Penn State’s 2024 GivingTuesday campaign, which kicked off its early giving window at 18:55 (6:55 p.m. ET) on Monday, Nov. 18, the timing a nod to the year in which the University was founded. GivingTuesday allows Penn State alumni and friends to come together in support of initiatives like the Student Well-Being Fund, helping to provide vital resources and support to students across the University. 

Those interested in contributing to the University Libraries’ Student Well-Being Fund can learn more here

Gifts made on GivingTuesday further advance the University’s historic land-grant mission to serve and lead. Through philanthropy, alumni and friends help students join the Penn State family and prepare for lifelong success, drive research and economic development, and increase the University’s impact on communities across the commonwealth and around the world. Learn more at raise.psu.edu

Last Updated December 3, 2024