Spring-Summer 2017
Penn State Harrisburg was founded in 1966 as Penn State’s Capitol Campus, Pennsylvania’s first upper division and graduate school and one of only three in the nation at the time. In the span of 50 years, the college has grown from eight faculty members, 18 undergraduates and 165 graduate students to more than 5,000 students. Over the college’s five decades, there has been immense change – in academic and co-curricular programming, grounds and architecture, and the college community itself. Here’s a look at the leaders and milestones in the college’s tremendous transformation from an Air Force base to a regional leader in higher education.
1966
Capitol campus opens for classes
1966
George D. Wolf was appointed first faculty member
1967
Enrollment tripled to 564 students
1968
First graduating class of 12 students traveled to University Park for commencement ceremony
1969
First commencement on campus; 251 degrees awarded
1970
Meade Heights housing complex opened to students
1970
Capital Union Building (CUB) construction completed
1980
Current academic units created: Business Administration; Public Affairs; Humanities; Behavioral Sciences and Education; Science, Engineering, and Technology; Library
1984
Science and Technology Building dedicated
1986
Campus gains “college” status; name becomes The Pennsylvania State University at Harrisburg—Capital College
1988
Ph.D. in public administration established—first doctorate offered outside of University Park
1989
Between 1989 and 1994, college academic units received “school” status
1991
Simon Bronner named college’s first Distinguished Professor, in American studies
2000
New library opened
2001
Freshmen admitted into the college’s first four-year program, Information Sciences and Technology
2002
New student housing opened
2003
Began offering all four years of study in five undergraduate majors in science, engineering, and technology
2004
Began admitting first-year students in all programs
2005
Ziegler Commons dedicated
2006
Hoverter Tennis Complex dedicated
2006
2000-pound Nittany Lion Shrine permanently placed on Vartan Plaza
2007
Linda Schwab Holocaust Reading Room dedicated
2010
Shaun Gabbidon named Distinguished Professor of Criminal Justice
2011
100th commencement
2015
Educational Activities Building addition completed
2016
Beverly Cigler named Distinguished Professor of Public Policy and Administration
2016
Student Enrichment Center dedicated
2016
Enrollment reaches 5,046
Penn State Harrisburg leadership over the years
1966-1972
Coleman Herpel
Capitol Campus Director
1967-1973
Richard H. Heindel
Dean of Faculty
1972-1978
Robert E. McDermott
Provost
1973-1978
George D. Wolf
Dean of Faculty
1979-1983
Theodore L. Gross
Provost and Dean
1983-1984
Stanley N. Miller
Acting Provost and Dean
1984-1994
Ruth Leventhal
Provost and Dean
1995
Theodore E. Kiffer
Interim Provost and Dean
1995-1999
John G. Bruhn
Provost and Dean
1999-2000
John L. Leathers
Interim Provost and Dean
2000-2010
Madlyn L. Hanes
Chancellor
2010-Present
Mukund S. Kulkarni
Chancellor