January 2026 – Edition 52
The Wharton Impact Newsletter has a new name and a new look: say hello to Catalyst, your source for stories on the meaningful outcomes of philanthropy to Wharton. While our look is different, the intent of this newsletter remains the same – to keep you informed and engaged. You’re receiving this exclusive monthly email because you’re a valued donor to the School.
Amish Jani, W’99, WG’00, and Svetlana Dunaevskaya, WG’06, support student innovation by naming labs in Tangen Hall; Anita Vasserman, W’28, a recipient of the Jodie and Peter Berkman, W’88, Endowed Scholarship Fund, shares what she learned in Australia last summer; and the Penn Wharton Budget Model, a donor-supported initiative, has produced a new brief on AI and the economy.
Wharton Alumni Dedicate Spaces in Tangen Hall, Home of Venture Lab
Tangen Hall is a multipurpose hub for student innovation and creativity at Penn, serving as the home for Venture Lab and featuring tools like 3D printers used by budding entrepreneurs. Inspired by the ambitious, collaborative spirit on display within its walls, Amish Jani, W’99, WG’00, and Svetlana Dunaevskaya, WG’06, were both moved to make their mark on campus by dedicating labs within the building.
By providing space for students to join forces and develop game-changing concepts and products, Jani and Dunaevskaya hope to empower industrious thinkers from across the University — all while honoring their own legacies.
Support That Deepens Perspective
Through Penn’s Global Research and Internship Program (GRIP), Anita Vasserman, W’28, spent the summer in Sydney, Australia, where working and living abroad reshaped how she thinks about business, relationships, and what truly matters beyond the 9-to-5.
A recipient of the Jodie and Peter Berkman, W’88, Endowed Scholarship Fund, Vasserman became immersed in Australia’s business culture and strong sense of “mateship.” She found clarity in living in the moment and prioritizing community alongside ambition.
Vasserman’s story demonstrates how philanthropy fuels opportunity and exploration. Generous scholarship support from the Berkman Family enables generations of students like Vasserman to attend the University and have such formative experiences.
New Penn Wharton Budget Model Brief Explores the Impact of Generative AI on Productivity and GDP Growth
A Penn Wharton Budget Model (PWBM) brief published this fall indicates that generative AI will have a profound effect on the economy in the next decade, leading productivity and GDP to increase by 1.5% by 2035. On an episode of Wharton’s This Week in Business podcast, Faculty Director Kent Smetters noted that AI could automate “at least 50% of the tasks” in approximately 40% of the employment considered for the brief. “It’s not a small impact by any measure.”
The PWBM is a donor-supported, nonpartisan initiative whose research helps policymakers make decisions that consider the impact of public policy on today’s economy. Grounded in rigorous research, the PWBM’s briefs touch on a variety of topics, including tax policy, health care, and trade — as well as the impact of generative AI.