HARRISBURG, PA – Central Pennsylvania Business Journal (CPBJ) announced its “Power 100 List” for 2024, and Harrisburg University of Science and Technology (HU) is pleased to announce that President Eric Darr, PhD, was named to the list for the second time in five years.
This is the fifth consecutive year Central Penn Business Journal has compiled its “Power 100 List.” CPBJ’s editor, Ernest Long, noted, “These are the individuals who shape our communities and influence the quality of life in our region. They are leaders – some quite prominent and well-known – as well as those who are behind-the-scenes change-makers. They operate in all spheres of endeavor: law, finance, education, government, healthcare, business, and nonprofits.”
The “Power 100 List” is compiled by CPBJ editorial and leadership staff, and intentionally does not rank or score their choices. The list is meant to celebrate these individuals and their contributions and to “reveal something meaningful about who they are and what makes them tick.”
President Darr always dreamed of building a university. Over the last 20 years, that dream has positively impacted the futures of thousands of students, the economic progress of Harrisburg and the Capital Region, and the development of Pennsylvania as a world-class STEM destination. In 2001, HU became the first new, independent, STEM-focused university to open in Pennsylvania in over a century. Dr. Darr has served Harrisburg University since 2003 – first as Vice President of Finance and Administration, then as Executive Vice President, Provost, and President.
Cameron McCoy, PhD, current Provost and Chief Academic Officer for HU, celebrated CPBJ’s announcement: “Under Eric’s leadership, HU has grown its student body from 500 to more than 7,000 students and added more than 30 new undergraduate and graduate programs. He has built an entrepreneurial culture evident in the regional and global expansion to fulfill HU’s STEM-related economic and education impact mission. Most significantly, Dr. Darr has inspired an inclusive renaissance for the Harrisburg region through collaborative public-private partnerships, like the UPMC Health Sciences Tower at Harrisburg University. It is an incredibly exciting time to serve with him at HU as we develop learners and leaders.”
Harrisburg University will celebrate this and other milestones at its 2024 Gala on April 27. Dr. Darr’s placement on CPBJ’s “Power 100 List” follows other recent University achievements, including:
- The National Security Administration (NSA) has named HU a Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD).
- HU’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) in 2024 enjoyed the most successful application period ever for its launchU startup pitch competition.
- The University launched its first-ever student team in the NASA Lunabotics Competition.
Harrisburg University thanks President Darr for his continuing vision and strong leadership. Our community remains inspired by Dr. Darr’s pioneering spirit and vision for the future of STEM education. Under his leadership, HU sees many more years of world-class scholarship, institutional growth, and sharing good news about students and staff with Pennsylvania and the world.
ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY
Harrisburg University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education and is a private, nonprofit university offering bachelor’s and graduate degree programs in the fields of science, technology, and mathematics. For additional information about the University’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 X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
