UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The full Penn State Board of Trustees took action on a number of items today (Nov. 10) as it concluded its final regularly scheduled meeting of 2023.
During its meeting at the Eric J. Barron Innovation Hub at University Park campus, the board:
- Approved a proposed plan to renovate and expand the Nursing Sciences Building at the University Park campus;
- Elected its officers, with current chair Matt Schuyler and current vice chair David Kleppinger winning re-election;
- Set the date of election of trustees by delegates from agricultural societies, alumni, business and industry, and at-large. The delegate election of agricultural trustees and counting of ballots for the alumni trustee election will take place on May 2, 2024. The election of business and industry and at-large trustees is set for May 3, 2024; and
- Heard a presentation by Karen Thole, distinguished professor of mechanical engineering, and Chad Schaeffer, a doctoral candidate in mechanical engineering, as part of Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi’s report to the board. The engineers discussed work at Thole’s Steady Thermal Aero Research Turbine (START) Laboratory, and its cutting-edge research in advanced turbines for hybrid electric power systems in aircraft. Thole detailed her lab’s federally supported work on developing more efficient turbines for aircraft, as well as research into building hybrid electric turbines to help make aviation more sustainable.
The next meeting of the full board will take place Feb. 15-16, 2024, at the Hintz Family Alumni Center at University Park campus.