MSU Institute of Agricultural Technology celebrates 2026 Commencement with keynote speaker Matthew Bernia
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EmailBernia serves in a workforce‑development role supporting hands‑on, career‑focused agricultural certificate programs delivered through Muskegon Community College
EAST LANSING, Michigan – The Michigan State University Institute of Agricultural Technology (MSU IAT) celebrated its graduates during the 2026 MSU IAT Commencement Ceremony on March 29, featuring a keynote address from Matthew S. Bernia, Program Coordinator with MSU IAT at Muskegon Community College.
Bernia serves in a workforce‑development role supporting hands‑on, career‑focused agricultural certificate programs delivered through Muskegon Community College. His work centers on student advising, applied curriculum alignment, internship coordination, and workforce partnerships that prepare learners for careers across agriculture, food systems, and natural resources. He works closely with students from enrollment through completion, helping them connect classroom learning to real‑world careers and community impact.
In his keynote address, Bernia spoke about legacy, not as something built in a single moment, but through steady effort, learning by doing, and a commitment to serving others. Drawing from his family’s multi‑generationconnection to Michigan agriculture and MSU IAT, he shared how applied education has long served as a bridge between knowledge and community contribution.
“My work at Muskegon Community College allows me to see legacy forming in real time,” Bernia said. “It shows up when students build confidence, master practical skills, and realize they have something meaningful to offer their families, their employers, and their communities. That has always been the promise of MSU IAT.”
Bernia emphasized that the same hands‑on learning model that supported his family’s farm across generations continues to shape modern agricultural education. He highlighted MSU IAT’s longstanding mission to prepare students to return to their communities equipped with the knowledge, skills, and mindset needed to make a difference, whether on a farm, in a business, or within the food system.
At Muskegon Community College, Bernia’s leadership has contributed to improved student retention and completion, strengthened internship experiences, and deeper relationships with agricultural employers. His work reflects MSU IAT’s commitment to accessible, practical education that responds to industry needs while supporting student success.
The ceremony honored graduates who completed rigorous, hands‑on training programs designed to meet real‑world workforce demands. Bernia concluded his remarks by challenging graduates to recognize their own role in shaping the future of agriculture, reminding them that the foundation they built through applied learning now becomes the starting point for the legacy they will create.
