Battles brewing for board seats at Penn State

More than 80 Penn State alumni, from near and far and in a variety of prestigious professions, will compete for three open seats on the university's board of trustees in one of the most highly contested races ever at the school.

Many candidates were on campus Wednesday when ballot positions were announced. To be eligible, candidates had to secure 50 alumni signatures. Voting online begins April 10 and closes on May 3, with winners to take their seats on the 32-member board by July 1.

Lawyers, academics, executives, bankers, a U.S. judge and a Baltimore, Md. investigative TV reporter are among those seeking a seat in the wake of a child sex abuse scandal involving former assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky.

Matthew J. Lisk, '95, who is an executive director at The College Board, drew the number one ballot position. Also in the top five is Thomas J. Sharbaugh, '73, a partner at Morgan Lewis & Bockius law firm in Philadelphia.

Eighteen current local residents were on the list, including Anthony Lubrano, '82, of Glenmoore and owner of a financial services firm, and former football player Adam Taliaferro, a lawyer at Duane Morris LLP. Taliaferro, of Swedesboro, N.J., was paralyzed during a game against Ohio State in 2000 and made a storybook recovery.

Other locals are: David E. Robbins, '78, lawyer, Broomall; Stephen M. Hladik, '89, lawyer, Harleysville; Amy L. Williams, '80, founder, managing director, SageWorks Rx, Wayne; Marta Pepe Forney, '00, physical therapist, Doylestown; J. Michael Murphy, '80, sales & marketing manager, Alcoa, Downingtown.

Also, Joseph C. Atkinson, '92, partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Chalfont; Stella M. Tsai, '85, partner, Archer and Greiner P.C., Philadelphia; Ronald C. Wagner, Jr., '89, vice president of marketing, ModSpace, Glenside; Jeffrey A. Krisciunas, '94, principal, Lion's Share Ltd., Philadelphia.

Also, Thomas R. Davis, '82, vice president of research & development, Sweet Ovations, LLC, Yardley; James P. Brandau, '03, private wealth advisor, Morgan Stanley & Co., Conshohocken; Shawn D. Manderson, '03, internal auditor, FMC Corporation, Philadelphia; Terry F. Rakowsky, '82, dentist, Erwinna; Mark S. Connolly, '84, global intellectual property director, DuPont, West Chester; Darlene R. Baker, '80, vice president of operations, PSKW LLC, Warminster.