New Penn State President Makes First Visit to Penn College

Penn State President Eric J. Barron traveled to Pennsylvania College of Technology on Tuesday, his first visit since assuming the presidency in May. In a timely trip to a main campus observing its 25th anniversary as a special mission affiliate of Penn State – as well as its yearlong Centennial celebration – Barron met with students, viewed three recent art installations, toured Madigan Library and student housing, explored the college's role in the natural gas industry, and visited a variety of instructional labs. Joining Barron and his wife, Molly, on the tour were Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour; retired Penn College Board of Directors Chairman Robert E. Dunham and his wife, Maureen; Paul L. Starkey, vice president for academic affairs and provost; and police Chief Chris E. Miller. A reception in the Victorian House and dinner at Le Jeune Chef Restaurant, where the group was joined by state Sen. Gene Yaw, board chairman, followed.

– Photos by Tom Wilson, writer/editor-PCToday, and Cindy Davis Meixel, writer/photo editor

Madigan Library director Tracey Amey leads President Barron through the sun-bathed openness of the building's first floor.

Entering The Gallery at Penn College ...

... and admiring one of the pieces in the soon-to-open "100 Works!" Centennial exhibit.

Framed by "These Trees," uniquely crafted from nature, the group enjoys the collaborative outdoor artwork.

Gilmour directs Barron's attention to one of the newest student favorites on campus: the patio fireplace outside CC Commons.

The college's electric dragster was among the attractions in the Honda PACT lab, where faculty member Joseph A. Tavani affirms the low student-to-car instructional ratio.

With the Penn College Police chief behind the wheel, the group passes by the Centennial Mosaic on the Physician Assistant Building.

With good humor befitting the wonderfully quirky entourage of "Student Bodies" along the campus mall, welding lecturer Michael K. Patterson points out the talented contributions of artists ...

... including Stephanie M. Puckly, of Spartansburg, a welding and fabrication engineering technology student whose work impressed the Penn State president.

David R. Cotner, dean of industrial, computing and engineering technologies, chats with the presidents in the Avco-Lycoming Metal Trades Center.

Gilmour talks with the Barrons during a stop on the tour.

John F. Strittmatter, director of ShaleNET’s Eastern Region Hub, shows off the natural gas wellhead "site" inside the Center for Business & Workforce Development. He and Tracy L. Brundage, vice president for workforce development,also discussed job-placement rates and introduced a video spotlighting the college's Energy Technology Education Center near Allenwood.

The Barrons are treated to another demonstration of Penn College's hands-on specialty, courtesy of Robert W. Myers, of Montoursville. The manufacturing engineering technology student was among those taking part in a tour of the automated manufacturing lab in the School of Industrial, Computing & Engineering Technologies.

Sean M. Hunter, an automotive restoration technology major from Livingston, New Jersey, proudly displays students' work on a 1970 Chevelle Super Sport. The latest restoration project in conjunction with the Antique Automobile Club of America Museum, the car will be entered in competition at Hershey this week.

Barron meets with student leaders, representing the many aspects of academic and campus life, in Dauphin Hall. Clockwise from left background are Daniel H. Flynn, an electronics and computer engineering technology major from Blairstown, New Jersey; Morgan N. Keyser, of Cogan Station, a graphic design student; Student Government Association President Ryan A. Gibson, an aviation maintenance technology major from Lansdale; Eileen N. Harrington, of Springfield, Virginia, a hospitality management student; and Emma J. Sutterlin, an applied health studies: occupational therapy assistant concentration major from State College. (Maureen Dunham is at left foreground.)

Penn State President Eric J. Barron (left) is joined on the verdant grounds of the Victorian House by (from right) Robert E. Dunham, chairman emeritus of the Penn College Board of Directors; state Sen. Gene Yaw, current board chairman; and Penn College President Davie Jane Gilmour.

The group tours the School of Health Sciences, assessing the "vitals" of the SimMom birth simulator with nursing director Sandra L. Richmond (left).