University spokesman Bill Mahon, long praised by his colleagues for his management of the Office of Public Information, is getting a promotion.

Mahon will fill the post vacated by Stephen MacCarthy, current vice president for university relations, who is leaving Penn State for a position at the University of Arizona.

"I find it difficult to explain how much I get excited coming into work every day -- even after 23 years," Mahon wrote in an e-mail message. "The students I have gotten to know, the fascinating faculty and the successful alums I run into all over the world are a constant reminder to me how important Penn State is."

MacCarthy said he had hoped Mahon would be the one to fill his shoes, saying "there's no one more deserving."

"He can step right into the role," he said. "Bill's been at Penn State for a long time and has been passionate about the university ... he will bring great experience to the office."

Mahon is currently responsible for the day-to-day operation of the Office of Public Information. Upon his promotion to vice president, he will be coordinating most of the university's public communications, university spokeswoman Annemarie Mountz said.

"Steve is responsible for both internal and external communications, manager of presidential staff and the board of trustees; he oversees the departments of public information, publications, marketing and advertising, advancement communications and special projects and campus and community affairs," she said.

Mahon will not manage the presidential staff and the board of trustees. A separate position will be created to handle those responsibilities.

Mahon has long been involved with The Campus and Community Partnership United Against Dangerous Drinking, a campaign initiated in 2002 to inform Penn State students and the State College community about the health and legal consequences of underage drinking.

"He has been the co-chair for the partnership for three years, and he has tried to educate students, parents and the community in general about high-risk drinking," Linda LaSalle, a community health educator for UHS, said. "He has made strong efforts to bring awareness about the issue."

LaSalle said she did not know how Mahon's involvement with the program would change upon his promotion.

"With his current role as the assistant vice president and overseeing Penn State public relations, he's been able to use the media outlets effectively and that won't change. He will still have those resources available to him after May 1," she said.

Bill Welch, mayor of the State College borough and partnership co-chairman, said Mahon has been indispensable to the organization.

"He has provided energetic and ongoing leadership about the mission on the partnership of dangerous drinking," Welch said.

"He has been a pleasure to work with, and I hope that he can continue with the effort."

Mahon wrote that he is proud to continue his work at Penn State.

"I really mean it when I say there are many great colleges and universities but there is only one institution as unique as Penn State," he wrote.