By: Jeff Ballou

Fellow Nittany Lion alumni, my name is Jeff Ballou ’90. We love to be in “all-in” for the Penn State family. We love it when we win. But what happens when our winnings aren’t spread evenly across the whole pride of lions?

The headlines about our winning ways are now becoming overshadowed by the prospect of several commonwealth campuses potentially closing thanks to a $140 million dollar deficit that the current president inherited. This means no longer serving communities with a land grant chartered, first-class education, nor ensuring a lifeline to local economies, a space wherein Penn State has excelled for over a century.

I should know. My late mother, Geneva Ballou, like cousins (and lettermen), Irvin “Chappie” Hill ’56, and David Hill ’82 before me, bet the house on our family’s future. She borrowed heavily and sent me off from our Pittsburgh home to Penn State’s McKeesport campus (later Greater Allegheny) with a set of strong values and prayers for success.

Thanks to home training and a Penn State degree, I have forever friends, fraternity brothers, and am blessed with a great career. I’m humbled to have served as president of the National Press Club, where I put thoughtful, solution-oriented questions to global leaders in a constructive manner. I’m also a lifelong community and Penn State servant–especially when it comes to the commonwealth campuses. I have served on Greater Allegheny’s alumni advisory board and have spoken at the campuses’ commencement. I’ve also served on our global alumni council, Metro Washington Chapter and Bellisario College alumni boards.

Imagine that not being an option for mine and so many other families.

This service and lifeline to educate the daughters and sons of the commonwealth represent the soul of Penn State which no one seems to be fighting for. Penn State’s financial and enrollment crisis was overlooked for decades, crying out for a course correction by generations of state legislators, university presidents and their bosses, the trustees.

It’s clear that as these hard decisions are anguished over, that the voice of campuses, not currently at the trustee table, must change now so we can come up with solutions such as telling the fantastic stories that exist throughout the system to try and boost enrollment.

To ensure having our whole family at the table, please check your email including spam sent from “The Pennsylvania State University Nominations Admin help@yeselections.com”

Then please place my name, Jeffrey P Ballou, class of 1990 in nomination. We need 50 nominations by 5 p.m. ET on February 4th to make the ballot. If you don’t see the email, please click on PennStateVotes.com or contact the Yes Elections 24/7 Help Desk by emailing PennStateVotes@yeselections.com or call the help desk at (855) 820-7021.

Thank you.

For the glory,
Jeff Ballou ‘90

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Jeff Ballou, Penn State class of 1990 and ABC News producer, has served on the boards of Penn State’s Metro Washington Alumni Association Chapter, Greater Allegheny Alumni Advisory Board, Bellisario College Alumni Board and Alumni Council. The views expressed are solely his and not those of his employer.

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This post, written by Board of Trustees candidate Jeff Ballou, was submitted independently as part of our community content program. You could have your content published on Onward State by submitting it here or by contacting editors@onwardstate.com.