The Wharton School is committed to fostering a dynamic environment where faculty, students, staff, and alumni feel a sense of connection, purpose, and belonging as they thrive and contribute to our shared mission.
Wharton Community Engagement creates opportunities that encourage collaboration, build meaningful connections, and enhance the Wharton experience for all. As a community, we embrace curiosity, dialogue, and mutual respect as essential elements of our culture. Through signature programs, events, and partnerships that extend across Wharton, Penn, Philadelphia, and beyond, we strive to ensure that all members of the Wharton community feel supported, heard, and valued.
Community Initiatives and Events
Explore ongoing events and initiatives including the Dignity and Discourse Series and Connections at Wharton.
Community Engagement
Discover community engagement opportunities that allow you to connect with the Penn and Philadelphia communities. Build trust and meaningful relationships through the shared experience of serving others and making a positive impact together.
Founders in Philly: A Conversation on Entrepreneurship
Date: Wednesday, April 16, 2025
About the Event
Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Location: JP Morgan Chase Community Bank, 15 S. 52nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19139
Join us for a dynamic panel event spotlighting small business founders who are building and growing their ventures in Philadelphia. Attendees will hear firsthand stories of entrepreneurship and resilience, and gain insights into the resources available to support new and growing businesses.
The event will also feature small business coaches from JP Morgan Chase who will be available to answer questions and provide guidance.
All are welcome to attend. Space is limited.
The Wellness Empowerment (WE) Project Summit
This family-friendly event is a collaborative effort between Penn Medicine’s Neurology Department and Wharton Community Engagement, with incredible co-sponsors that include the University of Pennsylvania Health System and Penn Medicine. It is designed to empower Philadelphia residents by providing access to essential health and financial resources with doctors from various specialties such as diabetes and stroke neurology, attendees will have access to a wealth of health-related support, as well as blood pressure screenings and resources on financial health and investment.
Saturday, October 19, 2024 | 10am-2pm
Saunders Park Greene (39th and Powelton Streets, behind Penn Presbyterian Medical Center)
The Dignity and Discourse Series
The Dignity and Discourse Series is designed to emphasize the importance of respectful dialogue, even in the face of disagreement. Notable speakers and faculty will lead discussions that incorporate diverse cultural perspectives and examine how institutional policies can promote and reflect these values.
Dignity and Discourse Series: Dignity-Driven Leadership
Featuring Professor Cait Lamberton, author of Dignity in the Marketplace
Date: Monday, April 7, 2025
About the Event
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM
Location: Steinberg Conference Center, Bell Atlantic Amphitheatre
Join us for a timely and thought-provoking conversation with Professor Cait Lamberton as part of the Dignity and Discourse series. Drawing on insights from her book Dignity in the Marketplace, Professor Lamberton will explore what it means to lead with dignity in today’s educational institutions and workplaces.
This session will engage participants in reflecting on how dignity can be centered in leadership practices, especially in times of institutional challenge, transition, and growth.
All Wharton students, staff, and faculty are welcome.
The Truth About Immigration
Professor Zeke Hernandez shares insights from nearly 20 years of research on one of today’s most debated topics. This talk will explore immigration’s role in the economy, innovation, culture, and national security—grounded in data and research. It promises to spark thoughtful discussion and deepen understanding of this important issue.
Tuesday, February 11, 2025 | 12 – 1:15pm
JMHH G60
Audience: Wharton Community
Unreasonable Cultures
Join Renita Miller, Executive Director of Community Engagement at the Wharton School, for an engaging session on building Unreasonable Cultures—workplaces that pursue excellence through prioritizing dignity, engagement, empowerment, and psychological safety. Discover how prioritizing people and exceeding expectations can transform organizational culture and foster inclusive excellence.
Wednesday, February 26, 2025 | 12 – 1:15pm
JMHH F90
Audience: Wharton Staff
Economic Antisemitism, Part II
Dr. Sara Coodin, Director of Academic Affairs from the American Jewish Committee, will discuss the historical underpinnings of Western ideas about Jews and finance, including the early origins of tropes about Jewish greed and control of money markets that helped generate antisemitism’s earliest and most influential conspiratorial scripts.
Tuesday, March 4, 2025 | 12 – 1:30pm
JMHH 345
Audience: Wharton Community
Connections at Wharton
A new initiative that fosters a deeper sense of belonging through experiential, psychological, and intellectual events like outdoor activities, speaker series, and community convenings.
Connections & Cuisine
Join fellow MBA students for a hands-on cooking class, where you’ll create delicious dishes and connect with your peers, guided by our talented chefs. Come for the food, stay for the connections!
Wednesday, October 23rd | 12:00 – 1:30pm
Quaker Kitchen, Gutmann College House
Audience: MBA Students
Gratitude Study Break
Take a break and join us for a gratitude-themed study break! Open to all faculty and students, this is a relaxed opportunity to enjoy good food, great company, and a moment of gratitude—no agenda, stay a little or stay awhile!
Wednesday, February 19, 2025 | 4:30 – 6pm
JMHH 8th Floor
Audience: All Wharton Faculty & Students
Venture X | MBA
To systematically broaden and deepen connections in the Wharton ecosystem, with the goal of developing a community that can be resilient both in response to individual needs and robust in future macro-level crises.
See MBA Venture X for details.
Audience: MBA Students
Community, Cocoa & Comfort with Penn Restorative Practices
Join us for cocoa, comfort, and community! Enjoy sweet treats while connecting with fellow undergraduate students through our community-building circles.
Monday, November 4th | 4:00 – 5:30pm
Academic Resource Building (ARB) 140
Audience: Undergraduate Students
*This is a collaboration with Restorative Practices @ Penn.
Canines & Connections
Unwind and connect at our Canine & Connection event! Spend time with friendly therapy dogs and enjoy some stress-free moments with fellow students—no agenda, just paws, relax, and enjoy!
Wednesday, December 4th | 1pm – 2:30pm
Hoover Lounge
Audience: Wharton Community
Venture X | Undergraduate
To systematically broaden and deepen connections in the Wharton ecosystem, with the goal of developing a community that can be resilient both in response to individual needs and robust in future macro-level crises.
See Undergraduate Venture X for details.
Audience: Undergraduate Students
Community in Action
Programs
Stories from the Wharton Community
Renita L. Miller, PhD
Executive Director, Wharton Community Engagement
BIO
As the Executive Director of Community Engagement, Renita L. Miller, Ph.D., leads efforts that foster connection, collaboration, and dialogue across the Wharton School and beyond. With nearly two decades of experience as a senior administrator, scholar, and educator, she brings a deep commitment to community engagement and academic excellence.
Before joining Penn, Dr. Miller held senior leadership roles at Princeton and Yale Universities, including Associate Dean of Access, Diversity, and Inclusion at Princeton’s Graduate School and Dean of Berkeley College at Yale.
Dr. Miller has created and led signature programs that center dialogue, dignity, and inclusive leadership across educational institutions and communities. Her work has been deeply rooted in partnerships—spanning academic departments, nonprofits, and civic organizations—to support pathways of opportunity and engagement.
She earned her Ph.D. and M.A. in Political Science from Rice University and holds a B.B.A. in Marketing from Baylor University. A political scientist by training, she has taught at Princeton, Yale, and Texas A&M and is passionate about bridging scholarship, leadership, and community engagement to create transformative impact.