Penn State’s Board of Trustees voted to elect Matthew W. Schuyler as its next chair and David Kleppinger as its next vice chair during its bi-monthly meeting Friday.

Schuyler, who ran unopposed, will succeed Mark Dambly, who served as the board’s chair for three straight terms. Schuyler previously served as Dambly’s long-time vice chair.

Kleppinger, meanwhile, was elected through a 26-9 vote over business and industry specialist Mary Lee Schneider.

During the meeting, Schuyler said he hopes to prioritize communications and transparency, diversity and inclusion, and “sound financial and budgetary planning” during his term to build on the board’s recent success. He also placed a focus on strengthening Penn State’s coronavirus response.

“It is an honor to be selected chair, and I look forward to serving Penn State in this important role,” Schuyler said. “My commitment is to continue to work with each of you to ensure our focus, as a board, remains on strategic matters such as affordability, financial management, innovation, the future of higher education and ensuring Penn State is an inclusive environment for all.”

Schuyler joined the Board of Trustees as an at-large trustee in July 2015 and has served as its vice chair since 2017. He currently works as Hilton Worldwide’s chief administrative officer and has been with the company since 2009.

Schyler graduated from Smeal College of Business in 1987 and later earned a master’s degree from Michigan.

Kleppinger, on the other hand, joined the board in 2017 as one of Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf’s six gubernatorial appointees. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Penn State and a doctoral degree from Temple Law.