On Monday, the Pennsylvania Senate confirmed Gov. Josh Shapiro’s cabinet nominations to lead the Department of Education, Department of Insurance and Office of Fire Commissioner.
Shapiro’s office said the Senate confirmed Education Secretary Khalid Mumin, Insurance Department Commissioner Michael Humphreys and Fire Commissioner Thomas Cook by an overwhelming majority.
Education Secretary Mumin comes to the cabinet post with more than 25 years of experience in education – from serving as a teach to dean of students, principal and central administrator. Most recently, he was the Superintendent of Schools at Lower Merion School District. Mumin has also served as superintendent of Reading School District, where he was named the 2021 Pennsylvania Superintendent of the Year by the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators.
“I am elated to have earned the trust and confidence to serve in this position and ensure every child in Pennsylvania receives a quality education,” Mumin said. “I would not be here today without the teachers and mentors who supported me. Our schools are more than buildings: they are conduits of hope. I will take the experiences I have gained through my life and career to carry out Governor Shapiro’s vision so that every Pennsylvania student has the freedom to chart their own course and the opportunity to succeed.”
Already, Mumin’s Department of Education has awarded more than $8 million in competitive Safe Schools grants to 166 schools to improve school safety, as well as another $6.7 million in grant funding for 100 schools to allow high school students to enroll in dual credit programs and $4.1 million for 21 libraries in 15 counties for public library construction and rehabilitation.
Insurance Commissioner Humphreys comes to the cabinet having previously served as Acting Insurance Commissioner under Gov. Tom Wolf. He brings with him 15 years of experience in the insurance industry, having previously served as chief of staff for the Insurance Department and Assistant Commissioner of Insurance at the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to serve the Commonwealth as Insurance Commissioner under Governor Shapiro’s dedicated leadership,” Humphreys said. “Governor Shapiro is leading the charge on holding insurers accountable and ensuring that insurance is affordable and effective for all, and I look forward to carrying out his vision of an industry that works for every Pennsylvanian.”
Shapiro’s office said Humphreys is working to improve licensing response times and is pushing to make the department work more efficiently and effectively when it comes to the licensing process.
Finally, with his nomination’s approval, Commissioner Cook becomes the first Senate-confirmed state fire commissioner and brings more than 36 years of experience in emergency services to the job. Cook was previously the Deputy Fire Commissioner under Gov. Tom Wolf, as well as time as the administrator for the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy and assistant fire chief of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire.
In his new role, Cook will lead the development and operation of the state’s emergency services training program. So far, Cook has modernized training opportunities to improve access to the State Fire Academy, expended outreach from the fire commissioners office and made fire prevention/community risk reduction an office priority.