Dr Bashar Hanna
Bashar Hanna – Award-Winning University Administrator
Appointed president of the Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania. in 2022, Bashar Hanna also serves as interim president at Lock Haven University and president at Bloomsburg University. Described as a “student-focused leader driven by a passion for public higher education” by Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education chancellor Dan Greenstein, Bashar Hanna is leading a team responsible for the Northeast Integration of the three academic institutions. He has been president of Bloomsburg University since 2017. Since then, he has increased student retention by 5 percent and established the President’s Commission on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, among other accomplishments.
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CU-Lock Haven raises more than $260K during All In Day of Giving fundraiser
LOCK HAVEN –Commonwealth University-Lock Haven’s 10th anniversary All In Day of Giving fundraising event was one for the record books, with more than $260,000 raised and over 1,300 donors rallying together in a powerful demonstration of Haven pride. Held from 10 a.m....
Commonwealth University enters Academic Agreement with Luzerne County Community College and Hazleton Area School District to Combat the Teacher Shortage
Hazleton, PA (05/01/2025) — Commonwealth University (CU) announced an educational partnership with Luzerne County Community College (LCCC) and Hazleton Area School District (HASD) at a ceremony at LCCC's Hazleton Center on Thursday, May 1. The partnership, dubbed the...
Commonwealth University Leadership Challenge Surpasses Goal to Support Student Retention and Emergency Scholarships
PA (05/13/2025) — During this year's All In Day of Giving, held April 10-11, Commonwealth University (CU) alumni in leadership roles came together to support one of the most critical priorities facing students today: staying enrolled and on track to graduate. The...
More than $270,000 Raised During LHUF’s 10th Anniversary All In Day of Giving Celebration
The Lock Haven University Foundation’s 10th anniversary All In Day of Giving fundraising event was one for the record books, with more than $270,000 raised and over 1,300 donors rallying together in a powerful demonstration of Haven pride. Held from 10 a.m. Thursday,...
Celebrating Women’s History Month
March is here and with it comes a time to celebrate Women's History Month. It’s a time to recognize and celebrate the contributions and achievements of women throughout history. It also allows us a time to highlight the often overlooked or underappreciated roles...
Celebrating Black History Month
Originally published here February is Black History Month, a time to honor the achievements, contributions, and resilience of Black individuals throughout history. It serves as an opportunity to reflect on the struggles faced in pursuing justice and equality while...
High Impact Practices in Education
According to the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AACU) there are several High Impact Practices (HIP) that have been proven to enhance students’ experience - https://www.aacu.org/trending-topics/high-impact. At Commonwealth University, Internships...
Commonwealth University Receives Transformational $5 Million Gift to Support Nursing at all CU Locations
Historic Gift Renames Critical Nursing Education Institution the Breiner School of Nursing Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (CU) has received its first-ever transformational gift. The $5 million gift from Ed and Julie Breiner, both 1977 graduates of the CU...
Transformative $6 Million Gift from Steph and Allie Pettit Enriches the Arts at Bloomsburg
The Bloomsburg University Foundation and Commonwealth University-Bloomsburg (CU-Bloomsburg) are thrilled to announce a transformational $6 million gift from Steph Pettit ’89 and his wife, Allie, to establish the Steph and Allie Pettit Center for the Arts at...
After a multi-year consolidation process, former Bloomsburg University President Bashar Hanna recently took over leadership of the new Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania.
“We will preserve the founding principles of each campus and continue to provide vibrant, on-campus student experiences while serving as pillars of our three communities,” Hanna said. “The power of three will create a higher education experience — the likes of which is not possible without integration.”
This recognition demonstrates our university’s commitment to supporting and celebrating our students who proudly defend our nation,” said BU President Bashar Hanna. “As a university community, we strive to serve our military students in exemplary ways because they deserve nothing less than our very best.”
This recognition demonstrates our university’s commitment to supporting and celebrating our students who proudly defend our nation,” said BU President Bashar Hanna. “As a university community, we strive to serve our military students in exemplary ways because they deserve nothing less than our very best.”
CRAIG DIEHL ’82 HONORED FOR $1.5 MILLION GIFT TO CREATE CENTER FOR LAW SCHOOL PREPARATION AT BLOOMSBURG UNIVERSITY
“The excitement that I think we are all feeling is that our students, regardless of which campus they call their home campus, will have access to an increasing number of academic programs,” said Hanna, who had served as president of Bloomsburg University since 2017 prior to taking on his new role.
Bloomsburg, PA (04/19/2023) — On Wednesday, April 18, Commonwealth University co-hosted a college expo in partnership with Sen. Art Haywood at Enon Tabernacle Church in Philadelphia. During the expo, high school students from Sen. Haywood’s district gathered to learn about the college application process and college life.
LOCK HAVEN — Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania was named a winner of the 2023 Ellucian Impact Awards in the Institutional Resilience category. Ellucian is the leading higher education technology solutions provider.
Bashar Hanna, president of Commonwealth University, one of the two consolidated PASSHE institutions, said the tide is starting to turn. This fall, in welcoming its second class, the university saw a 10 percent jump in first-time enrollment and a nearly 25 percent increase in graduate student enrollment.
A Q&A with Bashar Hanna
President, Commonwealth University
