The Board of Governors of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education has selected Dr. George F. “Jody” Harpster Jr. ’74M as the 16thpresident of Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Harpster has served as the university’s interim president since May 2013.
He previously was the university’s executive vice president for external affairs and government relations and also held the position of interim president from June 2005 to February 2007. He came to Shippensburg in 1995 as vice president for student affairs after having earlier earned a master’s degree there.
“Dr. Harpster’s long, successful history at Shippensburg makes him the ideal choice to continue to lead the university into the future,” said Board of Governors Chair Guido M. Pichini. “He is dedicated to the university and to its students, and to ensuring that both succeed.”
Dr. Harpster has been instrumental in the university’s academic growth, including the introduction of a series of engineering programs in recent years, all of which were developed in cooperation with business and industry in the region. Among them is the first electrical engineering degree program that will be offered within the State System beginning in the fall. The university currently offers degrees in both computer engineering and software engineering.
“It took forward-thinking leadership to develop these programs,” said State System Chancellor Frank T. Brogan. “Dr. Harpster has demonstrated that kind of leadership in every one of the important roles he has held at Shippensburg over the last two decades. I look forward to continuing to work with him on behalf of the university and the State System.”
Dr. Harpster said he also looks forward to continuing to lead Shippensburg University as its president.
“I am honored and humbled to have been selected as the next president of Shippensburg University,” he said. “As an alumnus and long-time member of the Ship family, I’m proud to serve this institution whose traditions of academic excellence and strong commitment to its students span 144 years. Thank you to all those involved in the selection process for your time and effort and for your confidence in my ability to lead.”
