Trustees briefs

New alumni center taking shape

The existing University House will be expanded into the Hintz Alumni Center under a plan approved by the Penn State Board of Trustees on Friday.

The 30,900 square-foot addition includes a two-story great room for large gatherings and expanded offices for the Alumni Association and Lion Ambassadors.

In addition, the $9.5 million project will reconfigure the existing parking lot and pedestrian walkways near the site.

Anderson approved as new dean

The board formally approved the appointment of Douglas Anderson as the new dean of the College of Communications, effective July 1.

Anderson has served as the director of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunication at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz., since 1989.

Chair of Board of Trustees reelected

Edward Junker III was unanimously reelected as the chair of the board at its meeting Friday.

Junker, retired vice chair of PNC Bank Corp., is a 1959 Penn State graduate and has served on the board since 1986.

Edward Hintz was reelected as vice chair. Hintz, founder of New York investment firm Hintz, Holman and Hecksher Inc. and also a 1959 Penn State graduate, has been a member of the board since 1994.

Engineering department named for benefactors

The board approved the renaming of the Harold and Inge Marcus Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering, in honor of the Seattle couple who donated $5 million to the department.

"Hal and Inge have been generous Penn State benefactors for many years, and their gift is a wonderful leadership example for others," Penn State President Graham Spanier said.

Trustees to see Master Plan in March

Consultants are nearing completion of the University Park Master Plan, which the board will review at its March meeting.

The plan, which structures the expansion of the campus during the next 25 years, calls for a series of major changes to buildings, roads and walkways.

--by Daryl Lang