Dr. Sarah Zappe on Academic Leadership, Innovation, and the Arts in Engineering
Dr. Sarah Zappe on Academic Leadership, Innovation, and the Arts in Engineering  
Podcast: Expressions of Leadership
Published On: Tue Mar 03 2026
Description: Host Michele Kawamoto Perry speaks with Dr. Sarah Zappe, Assistant Dean for Teaching and Learning and Director of the Leonhard Center for the Enhancement of Engineering Education at Penn State, about what it means to lead with authenticity at the intersection of engineering, innovation, and the arts. As the first non-engineer to serve in her role within the College of Engineering, Dr. Sarah Zappe shares how she integrates creativity into technical education, supports faculty in developing communication and professional skills, and helped launch interdisciplinary initiatives like an arts-and-engineering teaching gallery at the Palmer Museum to spark deeper conversations about ethics, identity, and what it means to be an engineer. They also explore navigating resistance to change, why creativity is not a “soft skill” but a core leadership capability in STEM, and how empowering faculty and students can transform academic culture. Beyond academia, Dr. Sarah Zappe discusses founding Kaleidoscope PA, her arts-based wellness company that brings mindful watercolor workshops into community spaces, and offers practical insight on trusting yourself, empowering others, and building a more human-centered learning environment.   Connect with Dr. Sarah Zappe and learn more about Kaleidescope PA: Website:  www.kaleidoscopepa.com LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-zappe-b8670a4/ Instagram:  @kaleidoscope_pa Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094117775883 Don't miss an episode! Be sure to click on the follow and subscribe buttons. Follow Expressions of Leadership on YouTube and Instagram @ExpressionsOfLeadership. You can also catch the show on Radio Evolve at www.radio-evolve.rocks every Saturday and Sunday at noon PT. Discover more about host Michele Kawamoto Perry and The Forward Project’s expertise in culture transformation and leadership development at www.theforwardproject.co.