Welcome, Pittsburgh-area Penn Staters and Friends!

Whether you’re Black & Gold born and raised or your journey has brought you here for business, we are your resource for all things Penn State in Pittsburgh. Our Chapter was founded in 1898, making it the oldest in the Penn State Alumni Association. We’re also the largest Chapter in the network, and so are considered the “Alpha Chapter”. We work hard to foster strong partnerships with other local Chapters, Societies, & Alumni Interest Groups, provide a variety of ways for our members to give back to the University, and support the diverse community of Alumni in our area.

We strive to provide ways for everyone to connect with our Penn State Family in Pittsburgh, whether in person or virtually, socially or through service. Watch our calendar of events here and on our social media channels to learn about happy hours, networking events, and game watch parties as well as group outings and joint ventures with other Alumni affiliate groups. We show appreciation for our place in the Pittsburgh community by supporting local organizations; we’ve answered phones for the WDVE Rocks for Children’s Telethon and WQED On-Air Pledge Drives, organized blood and food drives through Vitalant and the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, and collected supplies for other groups in need. We're always open to suggestions for fun new events, speaking engagements, or community service opportunities so feel free to reach out with your ideas!

Our fundraising efforts support several worthy causes throughout the year. Our endowed Chappie Hill Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to two Pittsburgh-area Penn State students in need. We're in the final stages of establishing the first endowment by an Alumni Chapter in the country for the FastStart Mentorship Program, two full years ahead of schedule. FastStart matches first-year underrepresented students at University Park with an Alumni Mentor and a Faculty/Staff Mentor to provide guidance and help get off to a "fast start"; our endowment will eventually help the program expand to our Commonwealth campuses and provide more resources to the students and mentors involved. And, we of course support THON's mission year round through our THON Alumni Committee’s annual Blue White Ball, which will celebrate its 15^th year in 2024. The Ball has contributed nearly $200,000 to the fight against childhood cancer to date.

Getting involved is easier than ever – if you're a member of the Penn State Alumni Association, you're a member of our Chapter! Visit alumni.psu.edu to learn more about member benefits and how to join. If you'd like to become an Alumni Volunteer, or if you have any questions or feedback about our Chapter, contact us directly at [email protected]. I look forward to seeing you soon!

For the Glory,

Kristen Conti, Class of 2005
President