Ignited by our past. Inspired by tomorrow. Committed to a future made by hand.
What began as a group of individuals passionate about fighting joblessness during the Great Depression has now made Pennsylvania College of Technology a national leader in applied technology education. I am grateful to the leaders before me and around me. Their high expectations and culture of continuous improvement created a solid, progressive foundation that we – alumni, corporate partners, employees, parents, students and friends – continue to strengthen together. I love our mission, what we represent and the opportunities we create for tomorrow’s workforce.
A recent example of our collaborative commitment, The Legacy Campaign for Penn College, raised a record $37.2 million to support student success, accelerate our growth and advance our mission. I look forward to building on our collective strengths; we thrive in a collaborative environment. Our team is goal-centered, transparent and transformative. The best ideas emerge when various points of view and data are used to advance opportunities and solve complex challenges.
Our relevance, industry connections, hands-on approach, faculty expertise and alumni success make us truly unique. We need not be shy about the positive impact our graduates make throughout the commonwealth and beyond. Our hardworking, tomorrow-minded students are big-picture focused. Their innovative spirit and critical thinking shape practical solutions – qualities craved by industry leaders. Our graduates are placed on a faster trajectory for long-term success and enjoy sustainable careers that include salaries well above the state and national averages. Continued engagement will maximize our collective expertise, spark innovation and modify systems that will move our institution forward.
Together we will:
- Build stronger connections with high school teachers and parents, especially career and technical education programs, which directly align with most of our degree options.
- Increase part-time and weekend/evening opportunities for working adults who want to complete a degree.
- Recruit a more diverse employee population to best prepare our students to enter the global workforce.
- Adapt our labs, technologies and equipment to ensure our faculty and students remain on the leading edge.
These objectives ensure more parents, teachers and students are keenly aware of how a Penn College degree can accelerate professional advancement while addressing employee shortages across the nation, particularly within the high-demand fields aligned with our degrees.
Your advocacy empowers us to meet our priorities and fuels our forward movement. Your generosity creates greater access for those passionate about their craft and breaks down financial barriers – opening doors to our unique and innovative educational model. Thank you for making Penn College a sustainable investment in the workforce of tomorrow.
The world is looking to us, and I am honored to collaborate with you to write the next chapter – an innovative future made by hand.
Michael J. Reed, Ed.D., president, Pennsylvania College of Technology