Lubrano, Paterno and Pope Reelected to Penn State Board of Trustees

An outspoken critic of Penn State’s handling of the Jerry Sandusky scandal is rejoining the university’s Board of Trustees after a two-year absence.

Anthony Lubrano, who previously served two terms on the board, was once again elected by alumni as a trustee.  He joined Jay Paterno, who was elected to a second consecutive term, and Alice Pope, who was elected to a third.

Paterno received 14,654 votes, Pope 13,205 and Lubrano 12,919, as announced during Friday’s trustees meeting. Jeffrey Ballou, a journalist and 1990 graduate, was the only other candidate on the ballot.

A 1982 Penn State graduate and owner of a financial services firm, Lubrano will replace Bob Jubelirer, who did not seek a third term.

Lubrano was first elected to the board in 2012 amid a backlash against university leaders for the firing of football coach Joe Paterno and the handling of the aftermath of former assistant coach Sandusky’s arrest on child sexual abuse charges. He was elected to a second term in 2015 but did not seek a third in 2018.

During his tenure on the board, Lubrano led a charge to review and repudiate the university-commissioned Freeh Report, as well as seeking board governance reforms.

‘I remain committed to open and transparent board governance, whether tackling issues of rising tuition, selection of a University President or the challenges of student life at a multi-faceted University such as ours,’ Lubrano said in his position statement.

Paterno, a former Penn State assistant coach and son of Joe Paterno, was first elected a trustee in 2017. A 1991 graduate and State College area resident, he said he has supported in-state tuition freezes and never voted to increase tuition during his time on the board.

‘While we’ve held the line on in-state tuition, it’s time to find ways to reduce it,’ he said in his position statement. ‘It’s time to end the Harrisburg blame game and understand we control the next generation’s destiny by finding internal efficiencies and savings. We should expand affordable tuition programs for our alumni legacy children. They are family and they belong here.’

Pope is an associate professor of psychology at St. John’s University who earned bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from Penn State. She was first elected in 2014 and again in 2017.

Pope said she has been an advocate for students and affordability as well as transparency in governance. She was among seven trustees who reviewed and reported on the investigation that led to Louis Freeh’s report. She plans to continue using her ‘experience as an educator to support the university’s academic mission in all decisions,’ according to her position statement.

‘Congratulations Jay and Alice on your reelection. It’s been great working with you. We look forward to working with you in the future,’ board chair Mark Dambly said at Friday’s meeting. ‘Our congratulations to Anthony. We look forward to Anthony’s return in a productive, constructive manner. We look forward to having him return.’