Opens in a new window The Nittany Lion Way is dedicated to cultivating a diverse, inclusive, and equitable environment where every member of the Penn State family—whether staff, coaches, student-athletes, or others—feels supported, safe, and welcomed. We strive to ensure that everyone can fully engage with the Penn State experience, both intellectually and socially, and flourish as part of our community.
Our mission is to foster a climate of mutual respect and support, where individual differences are not just recognized but celebrated. Regardless of race, creed, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, or ethnicity, every individual is empowered to reach their full potential. We are committed to creating a unified community, free from prejudice, discrimination, and harassment.
We uphold this mission by embodying Penn State's core values of Integrity, Respect, Responsibility, Discovery, Excellence, and Community. Additionally, we align with Intercollegiate Athletics' (ICA) core values: Tradition, Teamwork, Diversity, and Innovation.
The Nittany Lion Way hosts and amplifies a variety of events throughout the year designed to bring the Penn State community together, fostering a sense of belonging and mutual respect. These events provide spaces for open dialogue, cultural exchange, and community building. In addition, we offer opportunities for student-athletes and staff to participate in educational trips and experiences aimed at broadening their perspectives and deepening their understanding of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
August
National Civility Month
- August 7 – Purple Heart Day
- August 9 – International Day of the World’s Indigenous People
- August 13 – Left-Handers Day
- August 17 – Marcus Garvey Day (Jamaican)
- August 19 – World Humanitarian Day
- August 21 – Senior Citizens Day
- August 26 – Women’s Equality Day
- August 26 – Krishna Janmashtami (Hindu)
September
Hispanic Heritage, National Guide Dog, Suicide Prevention Month
- September 2 – Labor Day
- September 5 – International Day of Charity
- September 11 – Patriot Day (U.S.A.)
- September 15 – International Day of Democracy
- September 16 – Mexican Independence Day
- September 21 – International Day of Peace
- September 21 – World Gratitude Day
- September 22 – American Business Women’s Day
- September 27 – National Native American Day
- September 30 – National Day for Truth & Reconciliation (Canada)
October
Breast Cancer Awareness, Bullying Prevention, Domestic Violence Awareness, Filipino-American Heritage, German-American Heritage, Italian-American Heritage, LGBTQ History, National Work and Family, Polish-American Heritage, Family
- October 2 – Rosh Hashanah begins (Jewish)
- October 3 – Navrati begins (Hindu)
- October 10 – World Mental Health Day
- October 11 – National Coming Out Day (LGBTQ+)
- October 11 – Yom Kippur (Jewish)
- October 14 – National Indigenous Peoples’ Day (United States)
- October 14 – Thanksgiving Day (Canada)
- October 16 – Sukkot (Jewish)
- October 16 – Bosses’ Day
- October 19 – Spirit Day (LGBTQ+ anti-bullying)
- October 20 – Birth of the Bab (Baha’i)
- October 20 – Sikh Holy Day (birth of Guru Granth)
- October 21 – Waste Reduction Week
- October 22 – International Stuttering Awareness Day
- October 31 – Halloween
- October 31 – Diwali (Hindu)
November
Diabetes Awareness, National Native American, American Heritage Month
- November 1-2 – Dia de Muertos
- November 1 – All Saints’ Day (Roman Catholic)
- November 1 – National Stress Awareness Day
- November 2 – All Souls’ Day
- November 9 – World Freedom Day
- November 9 – World Adoption Day
- November 11 – Remembrance/Veterans Day
- November 12 – Birth of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i)
- November 13 – World Kindness Day
- November 16 – International Day for Tolerance
- November 19 – International Men’s Day
- November 20 – Transgender Day of Remembrance
- November 20 – Universal Children’s Day (Human Rights, U.N.)
- November 28 – Thanksgiving
- November 25 – Day of the Covenant (Baha’i)
- November 27 – Ascension of Abdu’l-Baha (Baha’i)
December
HIV/AIDS Awareness, Universal Human Rights Month
- December 1 – World AIDS Day
- December 3 – International Day for People with Disabilities
- December 5 – International Volunteer Day
- December 9 – International Genocide Prevention Day
- December 10 – International Human Rights Day
- December 21 – Yule Winter Solstice (Pagan)
- December 25 – Christmas (Christian)
- December 25 – Hanukkah begins at sunset (Jewish)
- December 26 – Kwanzaa week (Celebration of African Customs & Cultures)
- December 26 – Boxing Day
- December 31 – New Year’s Eve
January
January is National Mentoring Month/Slavery and Human Trafficking Awareness Month
- January 1 – New Year’s Day
- January 4 – World Braille Day
- January 7 – Coptic Orthodox Christmas
- January 25 – Mahayana New Year (Buddhist)
- January 13 – Maghi (Sikh)
- January 21 – World Religion Day
- January 15 – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
- January 24 – International Day of Education
- January 26 – International Customs Day
- January 27 – International Holocaust Remembrance Day
February
February is American Heart and Black History Month
- Black History Month
- February 1 – National Freedom Day
- February 4 — Rosa Parks Day
- February 6 — Safer Internet Day
- February 10 — Chinese New Year (Year of the Dragon)
- February 11 – International Day of Women & Girls in Science
- February 12 – International Epilepsy Day
- February 13 – Mardi Gras
- February 14 – Ash Wednesday
- February 14 – Valentine’s Day
- February 15 – Nirvana Day (Buddhist)
- February 15 – International Childhood Cancer Day
- February 19 – Family Day (Canada)
- February 20 – World Day of Social Justice
March
March is Women's History; Developmental Disabilities Awareness; Ethnic Equality, Gender Equality, Greek-American Heritage, Irish-American Heritage, National Colon Cancer Awareness, National Kidney, National Multiple Sclerosis Awareness and Education
- March 1 – Employee Appreciation Day
- March 8 – International Women’s Day
- March 8 – Maha Shivarati (Hindu)
- March 10 – Ramadan begins (Islam)
- March 14 – Pi π Day
- March 14 – Equal Pay Day
- March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day
- March 21 – World Down Syndrome Day
- March 23 – Purim (Jewish)
- March 25 – International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
- March 24 – Holi (Hindu)
- March 24 – Palm Sunday (Christian)
- March 29– Good Friday (Christian)
- March 31 – International Transgender Day of Visibility
- March 31 – Easter (Christian)
April
Arab-American Heritage, Autism Awareness, Celebrate Diversity, Earth Month, National Child Abuse Prevention, National Volunteer Month
- April 2 – World Autism Awareness Day
- April 5 – Laylat al-Qadr (Muslim)
- April 9 – Eid-al-Fitr/End of Ramadan (Muslim)
- April 12 – National Day of Silence (LGBTQ+)
- April 21 – Start of Ridvan (Baha’i)
- April 22 – Passover begins (Jewish)
- April 22 – Earth Day
- April 30 – Passover ends
May
ALS Awareness, Haitian Heritage, Indian Heritage, Jewish-American Heritage, Mental Health Awareness, National Asian American and South Pacific Islander Heritage, Older Americans, South Asian American Heritage Month
- May 5 – Cinco de Mayo
- May 5 – Yom Hashoah (Jewish)
- May 17 – International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia
- May 20 – Victoria Day (Canada)
- May 21 – World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development
- May 23 – Declaration of the Bab (Baha’i)
- May 29 – Ascension of Baha’u’llah (Baha’i)
- May 27 – Memorial Day
June
June is LGBTQ+ Pride, Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness, Black Music, National Caribbean American Heritage Month
- June 5 – World Environment Day
- June 9 – Race Unity Day
- June 12 – Loving Day
- June 16 – Eid al-Adha (Muslim)
- June 19 – Juneteenth
- June 20 – World Refugee Day
- June 20 – Litha, Summer Solstice (Pagan)
- June 21 – National Indigenous Peoples Day (Canada)
- June 24 – St-Jean-Baptiste Day (Quebec)
- June 28 – Pride Day (LGBTQ+) (varies by city and country)
July
French American Heritage Month
- July 1 – Canada Day (Canada)
- July 4 – Independence Day (USA)
- July 7 – Muharram Islamic New Year
- July 9 – Martyrdom of the Bab (Baha’i)
- July 11 – World Populace Day
- July 14 – Bastille Day
- July 18 – International Nelson Mandela Day
- July 24 – Pioneer Day (Mormon)
- July 26 – National Disability Independence Day (commemorates the signing of the Americans With Disabilities Act)
- July 30 – International Day of Friendship
Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity: https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/csgd
Multicultural Resource Center: https://equity.psu.edu/offices/multicultural-resource-center
Gender Equity Center: https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/genderequity
First Generation Student Success: https://success.psu.edu/first-generation-psu
Paul Robeson Cultural Center: https://studentaffairs.psu.edu/cultural
Student Disability Resources: https://equity.psu.edu/offices/student-disability-resources