Penn State Harrisburg to hold spring 2025 commencement May 10

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — Penn State Harrisburg will hold its spring 2025 commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 10 at 9:30 a.m. at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. 

A livestream of the commencement ceremony for the benefit of graduates’ family members who may not be able to attend in person will be available. Visit the website for more ceremony details and the livestream link.

Khalid Mumin will serve as keynote speaker at the ceremony. For over 27 years, Mumin, a Penn State Harrisburg alum, has served in various capacities as a teacher, administrator and Pennsylvania Secretary of Education. He was recently named superintendent of the Reading School District, where he also served as superintendent from 2014–21.  

He earned a doctor of education degree in educational leadership from the University of Pennsylvania, a master of education in teaching and curriculum from Penn State Harrisburg, a bachelor of arts in secondary English education from Shippensburg University, and an associate of arts in English from Northeastern Christian Junior College. He also graduated from the Leadership Maryland Program in 2012 and is a member of several national and local organizations.  

Mumin’s leadership revolves around being a student-centered educator who has a vision of success for all students. Mumin said he is committed to promoting and sustaining student achievement, equity and access to educational programming for all students, as well as creating plans that are fiscally responsible, and he maintains a focus on fostering collaboration with stakeholders.  

Mumin has been recognized nationally as a “School Board-Savvy Superintendent,” and is the author of the book “Problem Child: Leading Students Living in Poverty Towards Infinite Possibilities of Success.” He has received several awards, including Innovative School Leader from the Pennsylvania School Boards Association in 2018; the Jesse S. Heiges Distinguished Alumni Award from Shippensburg University in 2019; Pennsylvania Superintendent of the Year from the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators in 2021; and the Alumni Achievement Award from Penn State Harrisburg in 2024. 

Tyler Muessig will serve as student speaker. During the ceremony, Muessig will receive a bachelor of science in computer science with dual minors in business and human resources management, as well as a certificate in human capital management. 

Muessig, of Vineland, New Jersey, said he is honored to represent the graduating class and is especially proud to be the first in his family of five siblings to finish college. During his time at Penn State Harrisburg, he embraced every opportunity for leadership, service, and innovation — both on campus and off. He credits the campus community with helping him discover his voice, refine his goals and develop the confidence to make a lasting impact. 

A passionate leader, Muessig has served as chief of staff in the Student Government Association and as president of both the National Society of Leadership and Success and the Club for Technical Education and Career Success, a student organization he founded to help peers build essential skills for success in the technical workforce. He also served as a workshop speaker at the Penn State Leadership Conference last year and has attended for the past three years. Muessig is a 2+2 student who started at Penn State York. 

Following graduation, Muessig will join Fast Enterprises as an implementation consultant. 

Mariah Kupfner, assistant professor of American studies and public heritage in the School of Humanities, will serve as faculty speaker. Kupfner serves as program coordinator of the Heritage and Museum Practice graduate certificate, was named a 2024-26 Penn State Teaching and Learning with Technology Fellow, and was the recipient of Penn State Harrisburg’s 2025 Teaching Excellence Award. 

Kupfner was honored for having demonstrated exceptional teaching prowess across multiple criteria, evidenced by her innovative use of virtual reality and 3D scanning, recognized by the Teaching and Learning with Technology Fellowship and award. Nominators said her adaptation to diverse learning styles was clear through varied activities like virtual exhibits, internships, review articles, and open discussions, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving, supported by positive student feedback highlighting an inclusive and understanding environment. Kupfner’s integration of research with teaching was highlighted as reflecting a strong engagement in teaching scholarship. 

Kupfner holds a doctorate in American and New England studies from Boston University. Her research is in the intersection of material culture and women's and gender studies. She previously worked as a postdoctoral curatorial fellow at Historic New England and as a program coordinator for the Boston University Public Humanities Undergraduate Fellowship Program.