BARRY FENCHAK FOR PENN STATE TRUSTEE

Responsible governance. For a change.

Responsible governance. For a change.

I have, for years, put forward thorough, intelligent, and workable solutions to address Penn State’s issues. Those who know me are aware of my positions regarding Penn State, and of my resolute and unwavering commitment to serve for the benefit of all stakeholders of the University. Those who would like to find out more about me, please keep reading. Or contact me directly, I will reply. Always. — Barry

Key Issues:

  • Penn State NEEDS responsible stewardship provided by those who are committed to serving the University as fiduciaries, not those committed to serving themselves.
  • Penn State NEEDS smart stewards who have invested the time and the effort necessary to understand the issues facing the University.
  • Penn State NEEDS talented stewards who have the skills and abilities to develop proposals that address key University challenges.
  • Penn State NEEDS outspoken stewards who have the commitment and the tenacity to challenge an ingrained and dysfunctional status-quo.

Penn State deserves better, and Penn State Alumni DESERVE the opportunity to support someone who will provide those skills and abilities and commitments.

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Barry on SubStack

Philanthropy and Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics. Penn State alumni and supporters have been very generous in the distant past and might be convinced to be so again. February 24, 2023

My comments from the Penn State Board of Trustees meeting February 17 2023. Spoiler alert: Yea: 32 Nay: 1 (Fenchak). January 9, 2022

Barry’s 2022 Report Card. Penn State trustee accountability starts with me. January 9, 2022

My public comments from the Penn State Board of Trustees Meeting, September 16th 2022. Tldr: Tldr; Yea: 32, Nay: 1 (Fenchak) September 29, 2022

Anatomy of a University Tuition Increase. Why did Penn State pit students against employees? July 29, 2022

How I will fix Penn State. I’ve been a harsh critic of the Penn State Board of Trustees. Here is why you should vote for me to join them. April 8, 2022

Making the case for a Penn State Education. The Class of 2022 is looking at a tuition bill of $84,571 for a four year degree*. How can the Penn State Board of Trustees convince them it’s worth it? March 21, 2022

Dorms, Deflection, and Disinformation. Report from the 17-18 February Penn State Board of Trustees meeting. February 21, 2022

Penn State Wrestling: A Value-Added Powerhouse. Cael Sanderson contributes so much to Penn State that an NFL coach had to find out how he does it. January 21, 2022

Top 5 Priorities for Penn State’s New President. There’s a lot that needs to be fixed on Dr Bendapudi’s first day on the job. January 10, 2022

Does Barry Fenchak ever have anything positive to say? That’s a great question. Allow me to answer. December 17, 2021

Governance Failure in Action: The James Franklin Contract Process. Was this contract actually approved? December 12, 2021

Meet Penn State’s Next President. Neeli Bendapudi has been selected as the University’s 19th leader. December 9, 2021

What are the Ratings Services Saying about Penn State? Under Eric Barron, and the Board of Trustees, Penn State has experienced a dramatic drop in rankings. December 3, 2021

Penn State Board of Trustees meetings: November 2021 – November 21, 2021

Penn State Athletics: Seven Years of Sandy Barbour, Part II – Academics. PSU Athletics: In-classroom success under Sandy Barbour. August 17, 2021

What can Penn State Athletics do in response to the recent SCOTUS rulings? An opportunity to re-awaken the Grand Experiment. July 16, 2021

The SCOTUS vs the NCAA: What the ruling really means. June 21, 2021

Penn State Admi$$ion$: The Changing Admissions Landscape in a Post-COVID Era. June 16, 2021

Where Does Tuition Money Go? June 9, 2021

Penn State Athletics: Seven Years of Sandy Barbour, Part I – On-Field Results: Penn State Athletics: On-Field Success under AD Sandy Barbour. May 18, 2021

Follow Barry fenchak on substack

In Barry’s Opinion…

Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics and Philanthropy

Supporters and alumni have been very generous in the distant past and might be convinced to be so again. Since the Penn State Board of Trustees meeting last Friday I’ve received questions from alumni who are confused about Action Item 3, Proposed Authorization to Expend Funds, ICA Facility Investments, University Park. (read my comments on the meeting here, watch video of the public meeting here). The questions boil down to: “Why…

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by barryfenchak4trustee

My comments – Penn State Board of Trustees Meeting, February 17 2023

Spoiler alert: Yea: 32 Nay: 1 (Fenchak) The Penn State Board of Trustees met Friday, February 17th 2023 at the Penn Stater to vote on eight agenda action items. Several of these action items have further details; you can read the published agenda and supporting materials that include details of the history of increases to Room and Board. As a service to alumni and the public who were unable to access the live…

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by barryfenchak4trustee

My 2022 Penn State trustee report card

Trustee accountability starts with me. 2022 is over, grades have been posted, and we can enjoy the winter break. After six months as an alumni-elected Penn State trustee, I can honestly say I’ve earned it.  Since the election last May, I’ve been overwhelmed by alumni appreciation for my visibility and openness. The comment I’ve heard most often: “They all promise to do this and we never hear from them again…

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by barryfenchak4trustee

Penn State’s East Halls renovation project has me asking some questions.

As the leaves turn here in Happy Valley, my thoughts have been lingering on the dormitory renovations scheduled for the East Halls housing community. East Halls is an on-campus building complex that sits in the northeast section of University Park near Beaver Stadium. The 16 dormitory towers are home to approximately 5,000 Penn State undergrads and include two recently constructed buildings and 14 1960’s-era buildings which have all received…

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by barryfenchak4trustee

Video of Penn State BOT meeting September 16, 2022

Click here to view the video of the Penn State Board of Trustees public meeting Friday, September 16, 2022. Discussion of agenda voting items starts at 22:00. Note: the Office of the Board of Trustees has incorrectly labeled this video as September 22, 2022. A note on the video: At 35:00, Board Chair Matt Schuyler makes a point that there were “five public and private meetings to discuss the…

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by barryfenchak4trustee

My public comments from the Penn State Board of Trustees Meeting, September 16th 2022

Tldr; Yea: 32, Nay: 1 (Fenchak) The Penn State Board of Trustees met Friday, September 16th 2022 at the Penn Stater to vote on six agenda items. As a service to alumni and the public who were unable to access the live broadcast of the meeting*, the following is an excerpt of the public comments I prepared and the vote results for each agenda item. When the video of…

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by barryfenchak4trustee

Penn State Board of Trustees Meeting July 21-22, 2022

Note: As a member of the Penn State Board of Trustees, I will from time to time be made aware of certain confidential information.  I will also engage with Trustees and administrators in private, off-the-record conversations, with the expectation of privacy on both parties. I take these expectations seriously, as they are required in order to catalyze important discussions.As a fiduciary, it is also important that I engage in…

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by barryfenchak4trustee

About Barry

Barry J Fenchak – Engineering ’84, MBA ’91

I left the small mining community of Ebensburg, Pennsylvania to attend Penn State in 1980. After completing my BS in Chemical Engineering in 1984, I worked in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry as a Process Engineer and Production Manager. In 1991 I completed the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at Smeal College of Business and opened an investment management and financial advisory practice in State College.

I am a licensed Registered Investment Advisor and Securities Principal, and work with individuals, families, and businesses to develop, implement, and manage investment and financial strategies. From 1996-2016, I served as an Adjunct Instructor at Penn State teaching undergraduate courses in personal and corporate finance (FIN 108 and 100), as well as accounting principles (ACCT 211).

I am the son, husband, brother, brother-in-law, and father of Penn State alumni. My wife and I have raised our family in Happy Valley and are active in the community. My family is a case study in how Penn State can change lives for the better.

To us, the ability – and the responsibility – of Penn State to be “transformative” is more than a trendy buzzword.

Since 2005, I have attended over 300 Penn State Board of Trustee public events and meetings as a close observer. I have dedicated thousands of hours to following, analyzing, and commenting on those proceedings.  Frequently, I was the only ‘public’ party at the public meetings.  I understand the history behind the issues and challenges facing Penn State. 

In May, 2022 I was elected by my fellow alumni to be a trustee. If you read some of my updates posted here on my website, you’ll see that I’ve hit the ground running.

Position Statement

Penn State University is a complex and dynamic institution that operates in a challenging environment. I am dedicated to furthering the University’s core missions of providing a quality, affordable education and sponsoring meaningful and beneficial research.

As a trustee of the university, I will be an engaged and active advocate for all stakeholders. Trustees are the only people who are solely responsible for the oversight of Penn State’s assets and resources. We had better know what we are doing.

Among Penn State’s greatest current challenges are:

  • The highest in-state tuition, by far, of any of the Big Ten’s 13 public universities.   
  • The plummeting of Penn State’s academic standing in the Big Ten – from 4th place to 10th place, and still dropping. 
  • The suffocating costs of administrative waste and largess which, along with Penn State’s exponential growth in long-term debt, is loaded onto the backs of our students and their families. 

These issues, and others, are all related, and are symptomatic of a lack of responsible governance and a lack of focus on Penn State’s core missions. They must be addressed, sooner rather than later.

I care deeply for our alma mater and there is no one who understands these issues and is more qualified to address them than me. I am committed to taking on that responsibility on behalf of alumni everywhere. You can contact me at barry@barryfenchak4trustee.com, and follow me on Twitter @fenchak4trustee and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BarryFenchakPSUTrustee