Filmed at J-DAMMIT 2026, the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association’s statewide television program features President Christopher M. Reber, STORMWERX, defense and industry partners, and state Rep. Nate Davidson
HARRISBURG, PA (Oct. 14, 2026) — In late August, the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association (PMA) came to Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) to see how one midsize university is keeping its finger on the pulse of Pennsylvania’s manufacturing sector.
The latest episode of “PMA Perspective,” PMA’s weekly statewide television program, goes inside Harrisburg University and its role in shaping the future of materials science, defense research, and manufacturing innovation. Titled “Inside Harrisburg University: The Future of Manufacturing Starts on Campus,” the episode was filmed during J-DAMMIT 2026 and released on Oct. 11, 2026. It takes viewers into HU’s advanced manufacturing facilities and labs, features conversations with the defense and business partners who work alongside the University’s STORMWERX team, and answers the question at the heart of HU’s mission: how a STEM university can expand America’s manufacturing capacity while producing graduates ready to lead from their first day on the job.
A University Built Around Industry
The episode features an interview with HU President Christopher M. Reber, Ph.D., who took office June 30, 2026. PMA frames HU as a university built from the ground up around STEM and direct partnership with industry; Reber’s conversation explores how Harrisburg University integrates collaboration with business leaders, inventors, and entrepreneurs directly into the classroom and lab experience.
“It’s the first time I’ve led a private university,” Reber said. “I’ve experienced every sector of higher education in Pennsylvania. What attracted me to this position is the fact that this is a distinctive mission, and it’s an exciting institution, particularly at this point in our evolving economic development climate. And it’s home for me.”
Inside STORMWERX
Viewers then tour HU’s cutting-edge facilities, including STORMWERX, the external partnership and research arm of HU’s advanced manufacturing presence in Central Pennsylvania. It works alongside the University’s Bachelor of Science in Advanced Manufacturing program, where students learn machine and computer programming, materials testing, 3D printing and scanning, automation, and product development.
“One classroom in the program is used for meeting space and material discussion,” said LJ Holmes, executive director of STORMWERX. “Everything else happens in the lab. There’s no sitting in auditoriums with 200 of your closest friends here at Harrisburg University; the classroom is the laboratory. By the time our students graduate, we expect them to know two to three robotic processing languages, two CAD packages, the software for three-dimensional modeling, two CAM packages, the software for CNC machining, and have operational knowledge of every piece of equipment in our facility.
“We’ll get about a dozen Marines two or three times a year, and those Marines could be from anywhere on the planet. And they have good ideas that can make their unit better, but they don’t have the technology or know-how to do it. So they come here, and we help train them on the technology. We help prototype their parts. We have over 450 parts and components in active service with the military right now. There is no other university on the planet that can say that.”
A Lawmaker’s View
State Rep. Nate Davidson, D-Cumberland/Dauphin, whose 103rd Legislative District includes part of the city of Harrisburg, also joined the episode to share what he sees in Harrisburg University.
“Harrisburg University is located right here in downtown Harrisburg, and they’re really exploring new, cutting-edge spaces in education,” said Davidson. “They’re one of the only institutions with an advanced manufacturing program. That’s growing every year, and it’s created unique partnerships with not only private business but also our government partners at the Department of War. And they have great partnerships with corporations who sponsor scholarships.”
Real Pathways to Career Readiness
Beyond the labs, the episode explores how HU is widening the path into a STEM education. That includes pathways for working professionals, for military and veteran students, and for high schoolers earning college credit early through HU’s dual enrollment and College in High School program.
The episode also highlights HU’s First Destination Study, which found graduates earning an average salary of $85,000 six months after graduation.
HU graduates go on to work and lead in machine shops, smart factories, mechatronics labs, and defense-focused organizations, at manufacturers like Harley-Davidson and at innovators like Rolka Loube and Phoenix Contact.
Watch the Episode
You can watch “Inside Harrisburg University: The Future of Manufacturing Starts on Campus” right now. To learn more about advanced manufacturing at HU, visit HarrisburgU.edu.
ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY
Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) is an independent, nonprofit university offering degrees in advanced manufacturing, analytics, biotechnology, cybersecurity, nursing, and other critical fields. Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, HU serves a diverse student body through bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs that link research with practical applications. For information about HU’s affordable STEM degrees and professional development programs, call 717.901.5146 or email Connect@HarrisburgU.edu. Stay in the know by following Harrisburg University on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X.com, and YouTube.
MEDIA CONTACT
Do you have questions about this story? Interested in lining up an interview? Please contact Dan Wilhelm, Director of Communications for Harrisburg University, at DWilhelm@HarrisburgU.edu or 717.901.5100×1724
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