1Honoring Rodney A. Erickson, President of The Pennsylvania State
2University, for nearly four decades of service to the
3University and to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

4WHEREAS, Born in Wisconsin and earning degrees at the
5University of Minnesota and The University of Washington,
6President Erickson joined The Pennsylvania State University
7(Penn State) as an assistant professor in 1977; and

8WHEREAS, Through outstanding teaching, research and service,
9President Erickson earned the rank of full professor in both
10geography and business administration in 1984; and

11WHEREAS, President Erickson was distinguished by his
12selection as a Fulbright Research Scholar in the United Kingdom
13and a Simon Senior Fellow at the University of Manchester; and

14WHEREAS, President Erickson served Penn State in a number of
15different roles including head of the Department of Geography,

1director of the Center for Regional Business Analysis, dean of
2the Graduate School, vice president for research, provost and
3executive vice president; and

4WHEREAS, President Erickson was appointed Penn State's 17th
5president on November 9, 2011; and

6WHEREAS, President Erickson has had an unparalleled impact on
7resident instruction, research, service and general welfare of
8Penn State faculty and students; and

9WHEREAS, President Erickson has always worked to improve the
10academic stature of the university and enhance the success of
11our students and the Commonwealth by promoting various long-term
12interests, including internationalization and academic
13excellence; and

14WHEREAS, President Erickson has guided Penn State to a total
15enrollment of more than 98,000 students, nearly $850 million in
16annual research expenditures and an endowment that topped $2
17billion last year; and

18WHEREAS, President Erickson is respected by academic and
19business leaders as well as government officials, and he has
20worked for the benefit of higher education in the Commonwealth
21of Pennsylvania; and

22WHEREAS, President Erickson has served Penn State for nearly
23four decades and will continue to serve the community after he
24steps down as president; therefore be it

25RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor The
26Pennsylvania State University President Rodney A. Erickson for
27his many years of service to the university and the Commonwealth
28of Pennsylvania.