Kupchella Family Donates $1M to Support Penn State Behrend

Penn State Behrend has received a $1 million gift from alumni Brian and Pamela Kupchella that will help advance the college's strategic priorities and strengthen innovative learning opportunities for students.

The funding will be administered through the newly established Brian and Pamela Kupchella Strategic Innovation Fund, providing college leaders with flexibility to invest in emerging needs and new initiatives.

The gift will support Penn State Behrend's strategic plan and its Open Lab model of learning, which connects students with real-world experiences and industry partnerships.

Brian Kupchella, a 1990 graduate of Behrend's plastics engineering technology program, said the donation reflects the family's confidence in the college's future. As a member of the Council of Fellows board of directors, he has gained firsthand insight into the impact Behrend has on students and the region.

"Pam and I wanted this gift to express our confidence in Behrend's future and provide the flexibility to pursue promising new ideas and respond to emerging needs," Kupchella said. "We are proud to support the programs and efforts that will help shape Behrend's next chapter."

Kupchella currently serves as chief executive officer of Clarience Technologies, overseeing 27 companies that develop lighting, safety, and digital technologies for the commercial transportation industry. He previously led Truck-Lite, which relocated its headquarters and research laboratories to Behrend's Knowledge Park in 2021.

Pamela Kupchella, a 1989 Penn State nursing graduate, worked in hospice care in Warren County and has served on the board of directors for Behrend's Women's Engagement Council. The family's connection to the college spans generations, with their son Nathen earning a plastics engineering technology degree from Behrend in 2018.