The Shippensburg area welcomed George “Jody” Harpster as Shippensburg University’s newest president, on Friday, Oct. 2, during an inauguration ceremony at H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center.

A theater nearly-filled with about 1,000 state university officials, professors, staff members, students and Shippensburg residents watched as Harpster took his oath of office and officially became SU’s 16th president.

The ceremony comprised musical compositions from the SU concert choir and SU concert band, as well numerous speeches dedicated to the achievements of Harpster.

Among the speakers was Bruce Hockersmith, mayor of the borough of Shippensburg, who ended his brief praise of Harpster by saying “Rest easy; interim is over,” signifying the end of a two-year period in which SU lacked an official president.

Guest speaker and former SU president Anthony Ceddia spoke highly of Harpster, even calling him “the best man for the job.” “Jody is not God on a good day, Jody is a good man everyday, and consistently a good leader,” Ceddia said.

Before Harpster spoke, he was given the ceremonial mace by SU professor Dale Bluman.

Upon being introduced, the theater erupted in thunderous applause for SU’s newest president. Students, SU staff members, state officials and Harpster’s colleagues from around the nation greeted Harpster with a prolonged and welcoming ovation.

Despite receiving a seemingly never-ending amount of praise from his colleagues, when it was his time to speak, Harpster said nothing about himself. Instead, he took the time to talk about the value of higher education.

Harpster went on to discuss SU’s role in the American dream.

“The American dream is alive and well here at Shippensburg University. We change young people’s lives in very positive ways,” Harpster said. “I want our students to come to Shippensburg and live that American dream with us from day one.”

The sense of togetherness among students was also a key speaking point for Harpster, who said, “Shippensburg is a place of inclusion...There is room here for everyone.

“Our students are more than consumers of an educational product,” he said, explaining the sense of family he experiences at SU.

The ceremony was brought to an end by a prayer from the Rev. Diane Jefferson, followed by a recessional musical piece by the SU concert band.

Harpster has worked for SU before as the vice president of student affairs in 1995. He later served as SU’s interim president from 2005–2007 and 2013 to January 2015. Harpster was selected for his position by the Board of Governors of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education on Jan. 22.

After graduating from Juniata College in 1972 with a bachelor’s degree in psychology, Harpster went on to receive his master’s degree in counseling and college personnel administration from SU in 1974. Ten years later in 1984, Harpster received his doctorate in adult and higher education from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 

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