Three Penn State trustees have declared their interest to run for the Board of Trustees Vice Chair position at next week’s meeting. Trustees Ryan McCombie, Paul Silvus, and Linda Strumpf will run to replace current VP Stephanie Deviney, who lost her reelection bid in May.

McCombie is part of the new wave of trustees who came into his term on the promise of change after November 2011 and will be the first of the “reform” trustees to seek a leadership position. He will likely have the support of the five other new alumni trustees and the organized vocal alumni base thirsty for reform.

“As I hope you have learned from observing me as a member of the Board this past year, I would not seek this position as a matter of ego, a need for public recognition, or as a platform for a negative agenda,” McCombie said in his campaign statement. “I only wish to support the work of the Board, to promote the best interests of Penn State, and most importantly, at this moment in history, to promote greater unity among Board members and generate trust in our work.”

Silvis has been on the board since 2010 and told the Philadelphia Inquirer that he was encouraged by other trustees to run.

“I’ve been in State College. I’ve been involved for a good while,” he told the Inquirer. “I’m entrepreneurial. I’m good at solving problems and bringing people together.”

Strumpf, one of the veterans of the board, was appointed in 2003. She did not respond to comment for us or the Inquirer.

While you’re enjoying Arts Fest next weekend, we’ll be in Fayette to bring you updates from the Board of Trustees meeting. Get excited.