LeadingAge PA and Penn State University School of Hospitality Management Launch Collaborative Learning Alliance

MECHANICSBURG, Pa. (May 18, 2026) — LeadingAge PA is pleased to announce a first-of-its-kind partnership with Penn State University School of Hospitality Management. The Collaborative Learning Alliance aims to strengthen the aging services workforce pipeline, connect students to careers in the sector, and expand engagement between the association’s members and relevant academic programs.

"In addressing workforce challenges in aging services, we must take a proactive approach, building strong talent pipelines, investing in leadership, and embracing innovation,” said LeadingAge PA President & CEO Garry Pezzano. “Penn State University has a proven track record of educating rising leaders in Pennsylvania, and we are thrilled to partner with the School of Hospitality Management to introduce the next generation to the many rewarding careers in senior living.”

The partnership builds on a longstanding relationship between LeadingAge PA and Penn State University, and formalizes opportunities for collaboration across education, workforce development, and sector engagement.

This partnership also builds on successful models within the sector. For example, Waverly Heights, a Life Plan Community and member of LeadingAge PA, has effectively recruited and developed talent by engaging with the Penn State program. As a result, former students from this initiative have advanced into leadership roles. In addition, previous collaborations, including support from Liberty Lutheran, also a Life Plan Community member, and Waverly Heights for the Discover Hospitality in Senior Living Excellence Endowment, have helped expand student exposure to careers in senior living.

Through the Collaborative Learning Alliance, LeadingAge PA members will have access to a range of workforce development opportunities, including connections to interns and entry-level candidates, participation in on-site and virtual recruitment initiatives, and engagement with students through guest lectures and career-focused programming. Members will also have opportunities to collaborate on research and innovation projects and gain insights from Penn State faculty on best practices in hiring, retention, and workforce development.

For students, the partnership provides meaningful exposure to careers in aging services through internships, mentorship opportunities, and career fairs. Students will also have access to the LeadingAge PA Career Center, creating a direct pathway to connect with employers and explore opportunities across the sector.

"This endowment and partnership reflect the many paths open to student success in hospitality and service, including senior living,” said Donna Quadri-Felitti, Marvin Ashner Endowed Director of the School of Hospitality Management. “It ensures that we can continue to offer transformative experiences that prepare our students to lead with empathy, innovation and a hospitality mindset in a growing and meaningful field, one in which many of our alumni are thriving. We are grateful for LeadingAge Pennsylvania's leadership in engaging the talent of tomorrow from Penn State."

The Penn State School of Hospitality Management, established in 1937, is one of the oldest continuously operating hospitality programs in the United States and serves more than 500 students. Its curriculum includes coursework focused on hospitality in aging services, introducing students to continuing care retirement communities and to the application of hospitality principles in this setting.

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Established in 1937, the Penn State School of Hospitality Management is one of the nation’s earliest and most respected schools of hospitality management. Its top-ranked undergraduate and doctoral programs prepare global leaders with a rigorous, diverse curriculum focused on engaged scholarship, featuring partnerships with Penn State's Hospitality Services, Housing and Food Services, and top global hospitality brands. It is also home to the oldest Penn State alumni program group, the Penn State Hotel & Restaurant Society. The school’s portfolio features an innovative and focused Master of Professional Studies in Hospitality Management graduate degree program.