The State College Area School Board on Tuesday night selected a new interim member to serve a two-year term.
Robb Lauzon, a district parent and an assistant professor of communication at Juniata College, received five votes to serve the remainder of former school board member Gretchen Brandt’s elected term ending in December 2027. Brandt stepped down in December after winning election to College Township Council.
Lauzon was among six residents who gave presentations and answered questions to support their candidacies during Tuesday’s special meeting, and one of three to receive nominations. Benjy Romig received two votes and Carolyn Larrabee received one.
“I am here tonight to represent the children of State College and seek a position on the school board to help shape the learning environments of future State College Area School District,” Lauzon said during his presentation. “As digital spaces pervade so much of children’s lives at home and at school, I hope to bring a voice that asks us to consider the built environment. This enterprise is animated by a child-centric philosophy that recognizes children as the largest group of disenfranchised members in our political system.”
Lauzon said he wants to “treat children and young adults as stakeholders in their future” and give them “the tools they need to create their own future.”
In addition to teaching and co-directing Juniata’s Writing and Speech Center, Lauzon has been a volunteer for Soliya, a nonprofit organization that connects youth of the West and the Muslim-majority societies through facilitated virtual dialogue.
He said he hopes to bring his expertise on deliberation and transparency to the board.
“I have been actively engaged for over the past decade at every level of government, looking at how deliberation works academically, and I would love to be able to put some of that into place,” Lauzon said.
Board member Anne Demo credited Lauzon, who previously sought the appointment to a vacancy created when Dan Kolbe left the board in 2025, for his “consistent engagement” with the district over the last year. She also noted his “wide range of experiences as a parent, educator, researcher and community advocate.”
“I think the emphasis on deliberation, your experience with multiple communities is useful, because it brings an expertise with different stakeholders,” Demo said. “I did also appreciate.
your attention to not just your own child but your child advocacy work which i think is important and speaks to children who might not be represented.”
Lauzon will be sworn in on Jan. 26 at the board’s next regular meeting.
