WYOMISSING, Pa. — A new class of nearly 200 Penn State Berks students will receive their baccalaureate and associate degrees at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 15, at the Santander Arena in downtown Reading, when Berks hosts its fall 2022 commencement ceremony.
The honorary keynote speaker this year will be Pamela Shupp Menet, director of Community and Economic Development for Berks County. In this position, Shupp Menet is responsible for guiding business attraction marketing strategies, resulting in new businesses and job creation successes for the county and eastern Pennsylvania. She also leads the development of policies and programs for Berks County, as well as the implementation of the newly created IMAGINE Berks Strategic Economic Development Action Plan — the county’s first formally adopted plan for guiding investments and proactive strategies for the county’s growth.
Widely recognized as a thought leader in economic development in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and northeast United States, Shupp Menet has served a president of the Pennsylvania Economic Development Association and the Northeast Economic Development Association.
Shupp Menet has over 35 years of experience in planning and housing, economic, and community development with various private companies and public organizations. She started her career with the City of Reading, ultimately leading planning, community development, and redevelopment. She is known for championing several innovative and collaborative initiatives between neighborhoods, nonprofits, businesses and government. Her extensive community involvement includes serving as the president of the Twin Valley Community Education Foundation and as a member of several local nonprofit boards. She also serves as the chair of the Penn State Berks Advisory Board.
A native of Berks County, Shupp Menet is a graduate of Bloomsburg University. She is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners, American Planning Association, and the International Economic Development Council as a Certified Economic Developer. She resides in Robeson Township, with her husband, Brian.
