The university’s Arts and Architecture Alumni Society Board President — and a past award recipient himself — handed out this year’s awards to seven recipients.
On Oct. 14, Frank Dittenhafer served as co-master of ceremonies with Dean B. Stephen Carpenter II for the 2022 Penn State University College of Arts and Architecture Alumni Awards event. As president of the Alumni Society Board, he was presenting awards to recipients at the annual gathering for the second time.
But his dedication to Penn State alumni goes back much further.
‘A very energizing context’
Dittenhafer, co-founder of Murphy & Dittenhafer Architects, began serving on a Penn State Architecture alumni board several years ago and then was asked to be its representative on the College of Arts and Architecture Alumni Society Board. After serving in that role, he was asked to consider a leadership post, and in 2021 began serving as president of the Arts and Architecture Alumni Society Board.
“I very much enjoy being active in the College alumni organization,” says Dittenhafer, who was the Architecture Alumni Award recipient in 2021.
The College of Arts and Architecture encompasses seven Departments at Penn State University: Architecture, Art History, Graphic Design, Landscape Architecture, Music, Theater, and Visual Arts.
While Dittenhafer’s career has been focused on Architecture, he has long had a high regard for a much broader expression of the arts.
“It’s a very energizing context for me personally and for Penn State,” he says. “As much as I’m passionate about Architecture, I’m equally interested in all of the other six units.”
Community changemakers
The award recipients, who are chosen annually by their respective Department faculty at Penn State, have all made significant contributions — not just in their fields but in their communities, Dittenhafer points out.
This year’s recipients are architect Samantha Josaphat, the 397th African American female to achieve architectural licensure in the U.S.; renowned art historian William Eisler; O’Hara Project founder Katherine O’Hara; Viridian Landscape Studio founder Tavis Huth Dockwiller; Andrew Davis, founding dean of the Kathrine G. McGovern College of the Arts at the University of Houston; award-winning actor, artistic producer, and educator Paul-Jordan Thomas Jansen; and arts advocate Nashormeh Norma Lindo.
At the October event, Dittenhafer recounted their backgrounds as each recipient approached the stage at the Palmer Lipcon Auditorium at University Park. The winners received an award designed and crafted at Penn State before sharing inspiring stories of their career accomplishments.
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“Recognizing those who have accomplished impressive things personally and made significant contributions to their communities and have been active geographically around the country and the world―it’s inspiring,” says Dittenhafer.
At the event, Dittenhafer had the opportunity to talk with each of the recipients and hear their reflections on the significant impact that Penn State professors and classes have made in their lives through the decades.
“It’s a full-circle scenario of hearing, listening, and seeing very positive, inspiring stories from out in our communities,” he says.
Once Dittenhafer’s term as board president ends in July 2023, he plans to stay involved and continue to encourage and edify his fellow College of Arts and Architecture alumni.
“It’s a very impressive, inspiring program,” he says. “It’s very fulfilling.”
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