The Penn State Board of Trustees is the 38-member governing body for Pennsylvania State University. Its members include the university's president, the Governor of the Commonwealth, and the state Secretaries of Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources, and Education, as well as a representative for the Governor. The other members include six trustees appointed by the Governor, nine elected by alumni, six elected by Pennsylvania agricultural societies, six by a board representing business and industry enterprises, 3 at-large, 1 student, and 1 academic trustee. Undergraduate students do not elect any trustees; the court case Benner v. Oswald ruled that the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment did not require the undergraduate students be allowed to participate in the selection of trustees.
As of 2022, the chair of the board of trustees is Matthew W. Schuyler, a graduate of Penn State and chief brand officer at Hilton.
The main responsibilities of the board are to select the president of Penn State, to determine the goals and strategic direction of the University, and to approve the annual budget. Regular meetings of the board are held bi-monthly and take place primarily on the University Park campus, although on occasion meetings are held at other locations within the Commonwealth.
Current membership Members listed below as of May 31, 2022. Note: The date in parentheses following each name below indicates the year in which the term will expire. Trustees appointed by the Governor serve until their successors have been appointed and confirmed.
Members ex officio Neeli Bendapudi, President, The Pennsylvania State University (Secretary of the Board of Trustees) Josh Shapiro, Governor, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Russell C. Redding, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture Cynthia A. Dunn, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Eric Hagarty, Acting Secretary, Department of Education, Pennsylvania Department of Education
Appointed by the Governor Abraham Amorós (2024) Director of Operations, PA Municipal League Daniel J. Delligatti (2023) President and Owner/Operator, M&J Management Corporation J. Alex Hartzler (2022) Managing Partner & Founder, WCI Partners, LP David M. Kleppinger (2022) Chairman Emeritus, McNees Wallace and Nurick, LLC (Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees) Terry Pegula (2024) CEO, Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Sabres, and JKLM Energy, LLC Stanley I. Rapp (2023) Partner, Greenlee Partners, LLC Governor's Non-Voting Representative: William S. Shipley, III, Chairman, Shipley Group
Elected by Alumni Edward B. Brown, III (2022) President & CEO, KETCHConsulting, Inc. Alvin F. de Levie (2024) Attorney and Founder, Law Offices of Alvin F. de Levie Barbara L. Doran (2022) CEO/CIO, BD8 Capital Partners, LLC Anthony P. Lubrano (2023) President, A.P. Lubrano and Company, Inc. William F. Oldsey (2022) Independent Consultant/Educational Publishing Joseph Vincent “Jay” Paterno (2023) President, Blue Line 409 LLC Alice W. Pope (2023) Retired Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, St. John's University Brandon D. Short (2024) Executive Director and Portfolio Manager, PGIM Real Estate Steven B. Wagman (2024) National Healthcare Business Leader, Siemens Industry, Inc. – Smart Infrastructure Division
Elected by Delegates from Agricultural Societies Randall “Randy” E. Black (2023) CEO and President, First Citizens Community Bank Donald W. Cairns (2024) Owner/Operator, Cairns Family Farm Valerie L. Detwiler (2022) Senior Vice President, Senior Commercial Banker, Reliance Bank Lynn A. Dietrich (2023) Retired Professional Engineer (PE) M. Abraham Harpster (2022) Co-Owner, Evergreen Farms, Inc. Chris R. Hoffman (2024) Vice President, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau
Elected by Board Representing Business and Industry Mark H. Dambly (2023) President, Pennrose Properties, LLC Robert E. Fenza (2024) Retired Chief Operating Officer, Liberty Property Trust Walter C. Rakowich (2023) Retired Chief Executive Officer, Prologis Mary Lee Schneider (2024) Former President and CEO, SG360° Vacant Vacant
Elected By Board At-Large Kathleen L. Casey (2022) Senior Advisor, Patomak Global Partners, LLC; KLC Consulting Group, LLC Julie Anna Potts (2024) President and CEO, North American Meat Institute Matthew W. Schuyler (2023) Chief Brand Officer, Hilton Worldwide (Chairman of the Board of Trustees)
Student Trustee Ruby Bjalme (2027) Student, The Pennsylvania State University
Academic Trustee Nicholas J. Rowland (2024) Professor of Sociology, Penn State Altoona
Immediate Past President, Alumni Association Randolph B. Houston, Jr. (2023) Assistant General Counsel, Buzzfeed, Inc.
Emeriti trustees H. Jesse Arnelle, Attorney Cynthia A. Baldwin, Retired Justice, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania James S. Broadhurst, Chairman, Eat'n Park Hospitality Group, Inc. Charles C. Brosius, Retired President, Marlboro Mushrooms Walter J. Conti, Retired Owner, Cross Keys Inn/Pipersville Inn Donald M. Cook, Jr., Retired President, SEMCOR, Incorporated Marian U. Barash Coppersmith, Retired Chairman of the Board, The Barash Group Robert M. Frey, Attorney-at-Law, Frey & Tiley, P.C. Steve A. Garban, Senior Vice President for Finance and Operations/Treasurer Emeritus Samuel E. Hayes, Jr. David R. Jones, Retired Assistant Managing Editor, The New York Times Edward P. Junker, III, Retired Vice Chairman, PNC Bank Corporation Robert D. Metzgar, Former President, North Penn Pipe & Supply, Incorporated Joel N. Myers, President, AccuWeather, Inc. Anne Riley, English Teacher Barry K. Robinson, Attorney-at-Law L. J. Rowell, Jr., Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Provident Mutual Life Insurance Kevin R. Steele, Past President, Penn State Alumni Association Cecile M. Springer, President, Springer Associates Paul V. Suhey, Orthopedic Surgeon, Martin & Suhey Orthopedics Helen D. Wise, Former Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs and Secretary of the Cabinet, Governor's Office Boyd E. Wolff, Retired, Owner and Operator Wolfden Farms Quentin E. Wood, Retired Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Quaker State Corporation Edward P. Zemprelli, Attorney
References