HARRISBURG, PA — Harrisburg University of Science & Technology (HU) graduate student Abdur Rehman ‘26 has been named a 2025 Global Accreditation Center (GAC) Scholar, a prestigious honor awarded by the Project Management Institute (PMI) to exceptional students pursuing project management degrees in GAC-accredited programs around the world.
Abdur joins another Harrisburg University graduate student, Yovel Baruch ‘26, who also received this recognition for 2025, marking the second HU Project Management student to earn the globally competitive award this year.
Each year, the PMI GAC scholarship recognizes a select group of high-achieving students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership potential, and a strong commitment to advancing the field of project management.
For Abdur, this honor marks a significant milestone in both his personal and professional journey. Currently pursuing his Master of Science in Project Management at Harrisburg University, he embraced a commitment to continuous learning by earning multiple industry certifications, including Certified ScrumMaster (CSM), Professional ScrumMaster (PSM), and SAFe 6.0 Product Owner/Product Manager (POPM).
“I am extremely humbled to have received the GAC Scholarship from PMI,” said Abdur. “After attaining this award, I am more determined than ever to continue this journey of learning and growth as I steer my way to excellence by continuing to add my contributions to the domain of project management.”
Abdur chose Harrisburg University for its reputation as a leader in project management education and its emphasis on real-world learning.
“I already had the privilege of working in the project management field, so my goal was not to explore this field as a career choice, but to attain excellence in it! When I decided to pursue a master’s degree, I wanted to be in a school that not only held a national reputation for project management studies, but also offered a PMI-approved coursework and focused on real-world learning objectives for professionals like myself. Based on my research, HU stood out as one of the best schools for my learning needs. Looking back, I am extremely proud of the decision I made in choosing HU.”
Throughout his program, Abdur has found inspiration and mentorship in HU’s faculty. He credits several professors for shaping his academic and professional growth, including Professor Jen Mowery, Dr. John Clark, Dr. Joe Deklinski, Dr. Richard Bradley, Dr. Joe Malak, Professor Carolyn Shaw, and Dr. Stephen Onu.
“Every professor I learned from has been a role model,” Abdur said. “They’ve not only deepened my understanding of Agile, Waterfall, and Hybrid leadership models, but also inspired me to continuously upskill through professional certifications. The support and encouragement from professors like Dr. Malak and Professor Shaw, who provided recommendation letters for the GAC Scholarship, mean the world to me.”
Abdur currently works as a Technical Program Manager for William H. Sadlier, Inc., a K–12 educational publisher in New York, where he leads the Title II Accessibility Program initiative. After graduation, he plans to continue delivering value through the projects and programs he leads, while also mentoring others in the field. He offers this advice to students who are interested in pursuing a degree in project management:
“Success in any goal requires commitment, determination, and discipline, but people always contemplate where and when to start. In my view, it all starts with establishing a vision. To me, a vision is about imagining ourselves in the future with our perceived goal accomplished and asking if it would add any value to our life. If the answer is yes, then we know we are headed in the right direction.
“If your passion lies in project management or any other field and you see yourself pursuing it for the rest of your work life, then know that every challenge brings with it an opportunity for learning and growth!”
For more information about Harrisburg University’s GAC-accredited Master of Science in Project Management, visit HarrisburgU.edu or start a conversation with the Admissions Team today.
ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY
Harrisburg University was recently recognized by US News & World Report as one of the nation’s most innovative colleges. HU is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is a private, nonprofit university offering bachelor’s and graduate degree programs in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, nursing, and other health science fields. For additional information about HU’s affordable, demand-driven undergraduate and graduate programs, please call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu. Stay updated by following Harrisburg University on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
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