Student Development
Makuu’s philosophy on student support is to work with the whole person – from their academic pursuits, to their student organization involvement and leadership positions, to their general health and well-being. Our efforts here are two-fold. First, our professional staff engages students in meaningful ways, opening the door to better understand their needs, talents, interests, and stories. Second, Makuu seeks to inform and empower students so that they can play an active role in informing and empowering each other. We expect students to lift as they climb, and to ensure that the collective excels. This is the part of the work that is extremely difficult to quantify, but is the reason why so many students call Makuu “home.”
Community Building
Throughout the year Makuu seeks to foster opportunities for collaboration across offices and departments at Penn, among various undergraduate and graduate student groups, between community-based and citywide agencies, and/or linked to other colleges and universities. In a fast-paced environment such as Penn, this is often not easy to coordinate, but when successful, it produces truly memorable experiences that bring together people, ideas, and resources in uniquely innovative and effective ways.
Alumni Connections
Graduates from the University of Pennsylvania go on to do some amazing things in nearly every field and in virtually every part of the globe. Makuu has maintained contact with many of these alumni, bringing them back to campus for talks and gatherings, connecting them with undergraduate mentees, introducing them to each other so they can collaborate, and much more.
Please visit our Resources page for links to alumni-owned businesses and endeavors. Reach out to them and let them know that Makuu sent you!
Research
The University of Pennsylvania is one of the leading research instituitons in the world. Makuu has contributed to the production of new scholarly knowledge by advising numerous student projects and theses, and undertaking our own studies on the center’s impact, student engagement theories, cultural relevance, and more.