HARRISBURG, PA — As 2025 draws to a close, we’re taking a moment to celebrate a year of transformation, innovation, and making a real impact here in Pennsylvania. From new academic opportunities and partnerships to milestone anniversaries, the University’s story this year has been one of continuing evolution. Whether you’re a student, alum, faculty member, partner, or supporter from near or far, there’s much to reflect on with pride. And there’s even more to look forward to in 2026.
This year marked pivotal progress on several fronts. Harrisburg University launched an exciting leadership transition. We also unveiled a bold restructuring that aligns education with the fast-evolving demands of technology, healthcare, data analytics, and more. And in the health professions, HU took a major step forward with a provisional milestone for a brand-new doctoral program.
As you explore our Top 10 stories of 2025, join us in celebrating these achievements and experiences that define what it means to learn, lead, and innovate. And here’s to 2026 and HU’s continuing mission: to improve lives through abundant curiosity and applied knowledge.
#10. HU Welcomes the Class of 2029
The return of students to downtown Harrisburg brought both celebration and momentum. As HU welcomed the Class of 2029 during a lively move-in week and a series of campus-wide events, all of Harrisburg celebrated the Class of 2029 – HU’s 20th class overall.
The Class of 2029 includes 121 first-time students and 27 transfer students from 13 US states and Washington, DC, as well as eight countries. The most popular majors among the new students – Computer & Information Sciences, Forensics, and Game Design – highlight HU’s commitment to offering programs that connect to high-impact, workforce-driven STEM fields.
In total, nearly 400 new and returning undergraduate students returned to downtown Harrisburg, with many living within blocks of the main campus and contributing directly to the vibrancy of the city. As HU enters its second quarter-century, we celebrate how far the University has come while looking ahead to what’s next. The arrival of the Class of 2029 signaled a clear message: the next 20 years of Harrisburg University begin now.
See a deeper dive into the demographics and chosen majors of the Class of 2029.
#9. Harrisburg University Esports Students Host Local ‘Cloudburst’ Gaming Tournament
In a first for Harrisburg University, students from HU’s Esports Management degree program and The HU Storm hosted a fighting games tournament for HU students and the local community. Dubbed “Cloudburst,” this event is the first in what students plan to turn into an ongoing community series.
Central Pennsylvania has a passionate fighting games community, or FGC. HU students Todd Sanders (HU ESPT ‘25), Jordan Willey (HU ESPT ‘27), and Josiah Kannel (HU ESPT ‘29) saw an opportunity to bring FGC tournaments right to HU’s campus.
Kannel shared: “I’ve been a part of FGC and Smash locals for years and always loved the events, and the community surrounding it. When I started at HU, I, along with many others, saw the potential for an event that could bring together the local FGC and Super Smash Bros. communities, and we wanted to utilize that event as a volunteer opportunity for the school, and an exciting event for the local players and community members.”
As Esports Management, Production & Performance students, the trio has practical experience running events through their coursework and extracurricular activities; as a result, they were able to translate their skills into leading Cloudburst to success. The students are currently planning an early 2026 return for the event. Read the full story and be sure to follow The HU Storm on social media to stay up to date on Cloudburst and other exciting esports events in the new year!
- Visit their official Harrisburg University webpage.
- Follow the team on Twitter/X.com and Instagram.
- Get team and event updates on Facebook.
- See videos from past competitions on YouTube.
- Watch live gameplay on The Storm’s official Twitch channel.
#8. HU Professor Part of Study on New Fossil Carnivorous Mammals from Himalayan Foothills
Dr. Steven Jasinski, of HU’s Environmental Science & Sustainability program, joined an international team studying fossil carnivorous mammals from northern India’s Himalayan foothills. The researchers described new specimens, including rare mustelids and viverrids, as well as two entirely new species. According to the study, published in Journal of Mammalian Evolution, these new fossil specimens add important new information to our collective knowledge of carnivorous mammals.
“These new fossils are really giving us a better idea of what the ecosystems at the base of the Himalayas would have been like around 5 million years ago,” said Dr. Jasinski. “Our research is helping us not only understand the biodiversity of our world but also providing crucial information for how our world has changed. This is vital to our understanding of how our world will continue to change due to the shifting, potentially volatile, conditions we are currently dealing with. Our study of the past is essential to being able to make predictions about our world’s future.”
#7. HU Is a “Reason to Bet On Pennsylvania in 2025”
A January 8 op-ed published by LNP / LancasterOnline named Harrisburg University a “reason to bet on Pennsylvania in 2025,” citing economic impact and workforce development.
Thomas P. Foley, former college president and current president of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Pennsylvania (AICUP), named Harrisburg University among 85 independent nonprofit colleges and universities which collectively generate $24 billion for the state’s economy and “contribute $1.1 billion in state and local taxes and support nearly 200,000 jobs.”
Foley writes: “Locally, that translates to 11 schools in this region that generate $2 billion in annual economic impact, add $89 million in state and local tax revenue, and support more than 16,000 jobs. The regional list includes Dickinson College, Elizabethtown College, Franklin & Marshall College, Gettysburg College, Harrisburg University of Science and Technology, Lancaster Bible College, Lebanon Valley College, Messiah University, Pennsylvania College of Art & Design, Wilson College and York College of Pennsylvania.
Read more here.
#6. CIE Receives Insight Into Diversity 2025 Inspiring Programs in Business Award
The Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (CIE) at Harrisburg University received the 2025 Inspiring Programs in Business Award from Insight Into Diversity Magazine. According to Insight Into Diversity:
“The Inspiring Programs in Business Award recognizes institutions who are advancing inclusive excellence and belonging in areas such as accounting, economics, entrepreneurship, management, finance, marketing, hospitality management, international business, human resource management, and business administration programs. The Award acknowledges the importance of leadership role models and honors those whose efforts are exemplary.”
“The complex nature of today’s innovations requires teams of people with diverse skills,” said Jay Jayamohan, Executive Director of the CIE. “And healthy startup communities rely upon unencumbered information flows organized in network-based structures. I’m proud of the CIE’s growing influence and the progress we’ve made in fostering a thriving business environment by being the hub of Central Pennsylvania’s startup network.”
#5. Harrisburg University Hosts Pennsylvania Academy of Science (PAS) 100th Annual Meeting
Harrisburg University proudly hosted the 100th Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science (PAS) from April 11–13. The three-day event brought together scientists, educators, and students from across the Commonwealth, under a shared commitment to scientific excellence, innovation, and public engagement. The event signaled strong alignment between HU’s mission and that of PAS: driving discovery, fueling economic development, and serving the societal good in Pennsylvania.
Held at the UPMC Health Sciences Tower at Harrisburg University, the conference welcomed more than 300 attendees and featured research presentations, professional development sessions, and collaborative dialogue from 41 universities, companies, and institutions. HU faculty, staff, and students played a central role in the event’s success.
The conference also marked significant achievements for HU students, including the University’s first-ever PAS Poster Competition Award, earned by Ashley Bonnet ‘26, who placed third among 191 presentations and received a PAS Research Grant. Numerous HU students presented research, volunteered throughout the weekend, and participated in career-focused panels and competitions. With official proclamations from the City of Harrisburg and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the milestone meeting celebrated a century of scientific advancement while looking ahead to the next generation discoverers and innovators.
#4. Study Finds Harrisburg University Generates $274.5 Million Annual Economic Impact in Pennsylvania
An economic impact study released by the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania (AICUP) revealed that Harrisburg University generates $274.5 million in annual economic impact and supports 2,242 jobs statewide. Conducted by Parker Strategy Group using industry-standard methodologies, the study measured the effects of HU’s operations, wages, capital investments, and student and visitor spending, as well as the broader ripple effects across the Commonwealth.
The study found that HU’s economic contributions extend well beyond campus, supporting employment and business activity across sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, hospitality, healthcare, retail, and construction. In addition, the University’s activity is estimated to generate approximately $22 million annually in state and local tax revenues, including sales, property, personal income, and corporate income taxes. “There’s no question that Pennsylvania’s independent, nonprofit colleges and universities serve as vital economic drivers for their communities and help fuel the economic vitality of the Commonwealth,” said Nichole Parker, Managing Principal of Parker Strategy Group.
David Schankweiler, Interim President at Harrisburg University, noted: “This study is just the latest confirmation of what we’ve believed since our founding: that education is not only a pathway for individual opportunity, but also a powerful engine for economic growth. We don’t just teach theory; we empower inventors, entrepreneurs, scientists, and anyone else who has what it takes to make Pennsylvania more productive, profitable, and competitive.”
#3. Harrisburg University Announces Accreditation Candidacy for New Doctor of Physical Therapy Program
Harrisburg University’s new Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) program has been granted accreditation candidacy, a significant milestone that advances technology-forward healthcare education in Pennsylvania. The candidacy affirms HU’s vision for an innovative hybrid DPT model designed to meet growing workforce demand while offering the flexibility needed by working professionals.
HU’s DPT program is distinguished by its use of simulation, telepresence, and immersive technologies, allowing students to build clinical competencies in a hybrid learning environment while remaining embedded in their home communities and clinical settings. “Our inaugural Doctor of Physical Therapy students are trailblazers whose dedication and professionalism set a high academic standard for this new program,” said Kevin Purcell, Ph.D., Provost and Chief Academic Officer. “I am deeply proud of the faculty whose scholarship, vision, and hard work have shaped an innovative curriculum that enables working clinicians to advance their education while continuing to serve their communities.”
Demand for doctorally trained physical therapists continues to grow, with healthcare systems increasingly relying on practitioners who can lead interdisciplinary teams, integrate emerging technologies, and respond to shifting patient needs. According to a recent workforce forecast backed by the American Physical Therapy Association, the US had an estimated shortfall of 12,070 full-time equivalent (FTE) physical therapists in 2022. This gap is projected to persist through 2037.
“Our program was intentionally designed to deliver an innovative, evidence-based curriculum that blends academic rigor with real-world application,” said Tonya Miller, PT, DPT, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Program Lead. As the program moves toward full accreditation, HU remains focused on preparing future physical therapists to lead, innovate, and improve patient care across Pennsylvania and beyond.
Read more about the DPT program’s accreditation candidacy here.
#2. Harrisburg University Unveils Four New Schools: What It Means for Students and Pennsylvania
Earlier this year, Harrisburg University proudly announced the formation of four new academic schools. This was a major step for the University in its mission to prepare students for the rapidly evolving, increasingly STEM-focused economy. Complementing the institution’s growth over the last decade, these four schools will lead the next chapters of Harrisburg University’s educational delivery.
- The School of Analytics & Computational Sciences
- The School of Applied Media & Innovation
- The School of Engineering & Management
- The School of Health & Science
Each school represents a major market cluster in Pennsylvania and the United States, and each serves as a hub for organizing and expanding HU’s academic and administrative strengths.
Ultimately, this new academic structure will allow HU to be even more responsive to workforce needs – through curriculum updates, new programs, enhanced inter-disciplinary collaboration, and more – as we develop the industries most critical for national competitiveness.
#1. Harrisburg University of Science & Technology Launches National Search for Next President
The search for Harrisburg University’s next president is officially underway. This milestone comes during what has already been a year of progress and transition, as the University focuses its talents, resources, and energies on sustaining a world-class, innovative institution of STEM education.
“As we look ahead to the next chapter, the Board of Trustees has formed a Presidential Search Committee to identify and recruit a strategic, engaging, and entrepreneurial leader who will guide our institution forward,” said Michael Fiaschetti, Chair of the Board of Trustees. “Under the leadership of its Interim President and an active Board of Trustees, and with the cooperation of a dedicated faculty and staff, the University has tackled a turnaround in addressing a variety of challenges facing higher education institutions. We are confident that the right president will help us build on our mission and momentum, strengthen our impact, and advance opportunities for every student we serve.”
The Committee is co-chaired by Tim Weston and Dolly Lalvani, both longtime Board members and community leaders, who bring a deep commitment and solid understanding of HU to the task.
Search Committee Chairs Tim Weston and Dolly Lalvani explained: “The Search Committee has unanimously defined its mission: to identify, attract, and select a leader who combines a deep dedication to HU’s mission and values as an academic institution focused on science and technology, with strong business and financial acumen, demonstrated management experience, and insightful and collaborative leadership.”
Together, the committee will oversee a thoughtful, inclusive search process and identify a leader who embodies HU’s commitment to innovation and student success. “I continue to be impressed by the collective talents and insights of this Search Committee, and I’m deeply excited about the future of Harrisburg University,” concluded Mr. Fiaschetti.
The Search Committee has targeted the recruitment and selection process to proceed through the spring of 2026. The Search Committee anticipates, in the later stages of the process, having the top candidate(s) visit the campus and community, with opportunities for discussions with and feedback from a range of stakeholders, including faculty, staff, and community representatives.
You can read more about HU’s national presidential search here.
ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY
Harrisburg University was recognized by US News & World Report as one of the nation’s most innovative colleges for 2025. 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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