PA Education Secretary Mumin Tours CU-Mansfield

Reinforces University's Essential Role in the Northern Tier

MANSFIELD, PA (03/27/2024) — Dr. Khalid N. Mumin, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, visited Commonwealth University-Mansfield on Friday, March 22, to meet with students, faculty, staff, and administrators as part of his Northern Tier tour. An educator of 25 years, Mumin was appointed by Governor Josh Shapiro Secretary and confirmed by the Senate in June 2023.

"The future of Pennsylvania's workforce starts in the classroom, and the schools we visited over the past two days demonstrate the world of possibility open to today's learners," said Mumin said. "By continuing to invest in high-quality educational programs across the Commonwealth, we are setting the stage for a prosperous economy, healthy communities, and happy Pennsylvanians."

At the Traditional Reading Room in North Hall, Mumin sat down with CU President Bashar Hanna along with university leadership, trustees, and a local school administrator. The group included newly appointed student trustee Marvens Ravix, of Norristown, and junior biology student at Mansfield.

Hanna highlighted the increased student scholarship opportunities implemented by Commonwealth University, including the Local Community Scholar agreements in place with more than 50 school districts. The top-level scholarship reduces in-state tuition by $7,000 annually to a cost of $947 per year.

Hanna thanked Mumin for taking time to visit Mansfield. "We are grateful for Secretary Mumin spending time at our CU-Mansfield campus and getting to know our dedicated and passionate students, faculty, and staff," Hanna said. "There are wonderful things happening at Mansfield where we remain focused on providing our students an affordable, high-quality education that prepares them for success. I'm pleased we were able to showcase several of our initiatives to Secretary Mumin and leaders from our local Mansfield community."

Mumin visited South Hall to learn about the newly reimagined Student Success Center, which provides essential student resources all in one convenient location. He toured the TRIO offices, which provide no-cost assistance to low income and first-generation college students and students with disabilities. The secretary met senior psychology majors and TRIO interns, Madison Lord and Kenzie Layton, both of Hallstead, along with Shae Farr, of Lawrenceville, a non-traditional student and mother of four who is a sophomore in the nursing program.

The Student Success Center tour continued with a look at the study and meeting spaces along with areas for students to access financial aid, student billing, the registrar, dean of students, student involvement, and student conduct. Mumin said visiting the center brought back memories of his days as an undergraduate student at Shippensburg University, where he tutored peers in the student center.

The secretary met with Nichole Book, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion coordinator and toured the Martin Luther King Jr. Center in Alumni Hall, which celebrates the diversity of the campus community and advocates for student needs. While at the MLK Center, he recognized a book by Maya Angelou that was important to his family.

Mumin reinforced the important role the university plays in providing education to the Northern Tier of Pennsylvania and stated, "Mansfield isn't going anywhere." In discussing the increase of new students choosing to study at Mansfield and Commonwealth University, he channeled LL Cool J when he said, "don't call it a comeback, we've always been here."

Mumin's last stop of his Mansfield visit was to meet with three senior students at the Career Center in Alumni Hall - safety management major Kevin Butters, of Troy; biology major Faith Cameron, of Center Valley; and English major Bella Folino, of Mont Clare. They discussed why they chose Mansfield, what their experience has been at the university, and what their plans were after graduation.

"I'm so proud of you," Mumin told the students. "I cannot wait to see what you do with your degrees."