UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — New Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi speaks to President Emeritus Eric J. Barron about her vision for the University in the next episode of WPSU’s “Digging Deeper” on Sunday, May 22.

“Digging Deeper” will air at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on WPSU-TV and stream online within WPSU-TV’s broadcast area. Those outside of the area can watch the episode starting at 6:30 p.m. on WPSU's YouTube page. Previous episodes are archived at WPSU's "Digging Deeper" page.

In her conversation with Barron, whom she officially succeeded on May 9, Bendapudi said she is more than halfway through her tour of Penn State campuses around the state.

“One of the main draws for me of Penn State was this land-grant mission, which is so typified in each of our Commonwealth Campuses,” she said. “They're all so unique: the challenges they face, the ecosystem of industry, of demographics, of what's happening locally. It just fills me with pride to watch the students and the faculty and staff at each of these places.”

Bendapudi said her number one priority — like Barron’s — is student success.

“How are we going to equip our students, not just to graduate from college, but how do we prepare them for what comes next, for their jobs, for their careers?” she asked. “I really want to focus on how we invest in our faculty and staff. Throughout the pandemic, we have all applauded our healthcare heroes. And we absolutely need to do that. But to me, inside higher education, we have had some extraordinary heroes, faculty and staff who've had to pivot on a dime, who check in on their students — not just their academic preparedness, but mental health, well-being. So, I want to make sure we invest in them because Penn State is its people.”

Bendapudi called herself a “living testament to the transformative power of higher education.” Before her family came to the United States from India, she said, “We never had running water, or the confidence that you could just turn on a switch and there would be electricity,” she said. “These things, no question in my mind, are in my life because of higher education. It's really a mission, a goal, a challenge, an opportunity to create those opportunities for the next generation.”

Asked how the Penn State community could help her succeed, Bendapudi said, “It's been a tough time for everyone. If there's a professor that has made a difference to you, write to them, tell them thank you. If you see a student wherever you are, just say hello to them. There's a sense of appreciation that we all need."

Barron said he was pleased to have had a transition period between the two presidents that allowed Bendapudi to make a fast start in May.

"That to me is exciting, because I don't think it happens all the time,” he said. “I know the University is in good hands.”

Visit the WPSU website for more information on central Pennsylvania’s public media station. WPSU is a Penn State Outreach service.