UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — In addition to holding annual elections for various representatives, the Penn State Board of Trustees took a handful of actions and heard reports from University leaders during its meeting on May 3.
The board approved:
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A proposal to sell a commercial office building property at 1010 N. 7th St. in Harrisburg for $3.1 million to the Harrisburg School District. Penn State originally purchased the building to serve as classroom and faculty office space.
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The sale of two parcels of land totaling approximately 13.7 acres near Penn State Behrend for $320,000 to the Slavic Pentecostal Church. The property was originally acquired through multiple transactions between 1967 and 2017.
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The appointment/reappointment of directors for the Penn State Health board of directors, and directors to the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center board of directors.
The trustees also heard informational reports from Penn State President Neeli Bendapudi and Faculty Senate Chair Michelle Stine.
In her remarks to the board, Bendapudi announced the appointment of Penn State’s five newest Evan Pugh Professors:
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Réka Albert, distinguished professor of physics and biology;
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Suresh Canagarajah, the Edwin Erie Sparks Professor of Applied Linguistics, English and Asian Studies;
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Vijaykrishnan Narayanan, associate dean of innovation in engineering and the A. Robert Noll Chair Professor of Computer Science and Engineering and Electrical Engineering;
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Clive Randall, distinguished professor of materials science and engineering and director of the Materials Research Institute; and
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S. Shyam Sundar, the James P. Jimirro Professor of Media Studies, director of the Center for Socially Responsible Artificial Intelligence and founding director of the Media Effects Research Laboratory.
The title of Evan Pugh University Professor, named for Penn State’s founding president, is the highest honor the University bestows on faculty members.
As part of her report to the board, Bendapudi introduced Suvrath Mahadevan, the Verne M. Willaman Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics. Mahadevan and graduate student Megan Delamer and undergraduate student Abigail Minnich discussed their research involving exoplanets and their recent discovery of a planet that is too big for its sun.
Stine, who is concluding her tenure as Faculty Senate president, highlighted student-led initiatives, faculty work and efforts to improve the effectiveness of Faculty Senate in her discussion with the board.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Chair Matt Schuyler announced the board will hold a special meeting on May 21. To review the schedule for upcoming board meetings, visit https://trustees.psu.edu/meetings-calendar-view/.