Special to Franklin County Free Press
MONT ALTO — Teresa D. Miller, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS), will address the Penn State Mont Alto graduating Class of 2019 during their May Commencement.
During the ceremony, Penn State Mont Alto will honor 102 graduating students and confer 105 degrees — 51 bachelor’s degrees and 54 associate degrees.
Miller has served as secretary of DHS since August 2017, where she is focused on collaborating across agencies to advance Governor Tom Wolf’s health innovation and workforce development agendas, overseeing the successful launch of managed care for long-term care services, and supporting efforts to address social determinants of health such as food security and housing.
“I am sure that our students, particularly those receiving degrees in the allied health and human services fields, will find Secretary Miller’s experiences and insights inspirational,” said Penn State Mont Alto Chancellor Francis K. Achampong.
Over the past two decades, Penn State Mont Alto has graduated nurses, occupational therapy assistants, physical therapist assistants, and human development and family studies professionals who work in all areas of healthcare and education.
In addition, the campus recently added bachelor’s degrees in health policy and administration and psychology to its offerings.
Prior to leading DHS, Miller served as Pennsylvania’s insurance commissioner, where she prioritized increasing the Insurance Department’s consumer protection, outreach, and education efforts.
Before coming to Pennsylvania, Miller held positions at the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, where she worked on implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
She also previously served as the administrator of the Oregon Insurance Division.
Miller received her J.D. from Willamette University College of Law, and her B.A., magma cum laude, from Pacific Lutheran University.
The 2019 graduation ceremony starts at 10 on May 4 begins at 10 a.m. in the Multipurpose Activities Center (MAC) on the University’s campus.
