Impact

Abington chancellor talks college's future with chamber of commerce

Penn State Abington Chancellor Damian J. Fernandez. Credit: Pam Brobst / Penn StateCreative Commons

ABINGTON, Pa. — A local chamber of commerce hosted Penn State Abington Chancellor Damian J. Fernandez and other nonprofit leaders recently to discuss developments at the Abington Township organizations.

Fernandez told the audience at the Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce "What's New In Abington?" event that the college “represents the future of higher education today — affordable, accessible and high impact."

"We aspire to be the place where students find pathways to success," he added. “We are of and for the community and an anchor institution in Abington.”

Fernandez noted several priorities and projects at the college:

  • Student success: Hiring 20 new faculty to enhance teaching and learning and adding more online and hybrid learning options.
  • Investments: The new residence hall, the Lions Gate, opens in August; five new standalone programs are in the works, including finance, recreation and parks management, security and risk analysis, and music entrepreneurship; an Invent Penn State hub is open at the Abington Art Center; a $50 million new academic building is in the planning stages.
  • Additional arts and culture programming.

Fernandez was joined by the leaders of Abington Jefferson Health, the Abington School District, and a representative from the the township economic development committee.

Penn State Abington, formerly the Ogontz campus, offers baccalaureate degrees in 18 majors at its suburban location just north of Philadelphia. Nearly half of our 4,000 students complete all four years at Abington, with opportunities in undergraduate research, the Schreyer honors program, NCAA Division III athletics, and more. Students can start the first two years of more than 160 Penn State majors at Abington and complete their degrees at University Park or another campus. Lions Gate, our first residence hall, will open in August.

Last Updated May 12, 2017

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