By Steven Wagman

The two most challenging markets in the U.S. now are higher education and healthcare, and Penn State University is in both. That’s why my campaign moniker is “Experience Matters”, now more than ever. Penn State, both the academic enterprise and the health system, are at a critical juncture.

Penn State drives job creation, economic development, and student career success while contributing more than $11.6 billion annually to the state’s economy, however, higher education and academic health systems today face a complex set of challenges that affect their ability to deliver quality education, research, and patient care.

These challenges include rising tuition costs, student debt, and the increasing demand for accessible, flexible learning environments. At the same time, academic health systems struggle with workforce shortages, the need for integrating new technologies, reimbursement that does not keep pace with wage and supply costs, and ensuring the sustainability of research funding.

The intersection of healthcare delivery and education requires balancing clinical excellence with the need for innovative teaching methods, making it critical to adapt to rapidly changing medical advancements and evolving healthcare needs. These challenges demand a multifaceted approach to ensure that both students and patients receive the best possible outcomes in an ever-evolving landscape.

Deep domain knowledge and leadership experience in both higher education and healthcare, the two key markets for Penn State, are critical to the future success of our University, and your active participation and vote matters in this BOT election.

Penn State is a public land-grant research university with a mission of teaching, research, and service, a dynamic healthcare enterprise, and a passionate community. I have set forth three key priorities in my position statement, which does not imply that there aren’t other important topics that need to be addressed.

• An affordable, world-class education. I worked with university leadership to cut millions in costs to minimize tuition increases, especially for lower-income families and Commonwealth Campus (CWC) students. I am a strong advocate of the CWC system (my PSU career began at the Abington campus), focused on revitalization, community connection, and enrollment growth. World Campus, and the CWC 2+2 programs, are an affordability and opportunity lever for Pennsylvania residents. Addressing demographic and campus gaps in degree completion requires innovative solutions beyond what is available currently.
• The health, safety, physical, and mental wellbeing of our students. Food and housing insecurity and mental health remain a concern and an impediment to degree completion. Support for internships, which enhances employability upon graduation, is lacking. We have more work to do, with incredible alumni, students, staff, and faculty to draw upon to ensure that all feel a sense of belonging and can thrive at Penn State.
• Fiscally responsible modernization of campus facilities for student and faculty success and to grow the research enterprise. University-wide assets include 900+ buildings, one-third being 50+ years old, and a large maintenance backlog. Modernizing facilities for labs, modern equipment, and classrooms is key to attracting top students and faculty, conducting groundbreaking research, and giving students a competitive employment edge. A PS Health NCI Cancer Center designation would boost medical research funding.

Post-pandemic, both the University and PS Health experienced structural budget deficits. This is being addressed at the University, and we have navigated a $250M two-year turnaround at PS Health, which is now firmly in the black. While I have no doubt that each alumni candidate has their own personal love for Penn State, I urge you to consider the experience and background of each candidate and make your voting decision accordingly. For your consideration, I have outlined my experience both at Penn State University and in healthcare below.

My general business qualifications for the BOT include:

• 40+ years of business experience, and within healthcare, for a Global Fortune 200 company, and part of the U.S. senior management team for several years.
• Leadership responsibility for a business unit with more than $2B of revenue.
• Within the healthcare sector, led business units in healthcare IT, revenue cycle, clinical ancillary departments, design & construction, global services, medical imaging, energy performance services and sustainability, and I’m currently responsible for healthcare vertical market strategy and market development.
• Led the Siemens Medical Division’s DE&I program for more than 17,000 employees for 3 years and was ranked in the top 10 for the results attained across all U.S. businesses.

My Penn State qualifications include:

• 40+ years as a volunteer across multiple disciplines and areas across the University.
• Student mentor for more than 20 years in the College of HHD and the HPA/MHA programs and a mentor in the Fast Start Program.
• Served on the University-wide Student Disabilities Access Initiative.
• President of the Penn State Alumni Association; served on Alumni Council for 9 years and on the College of HHD Alumni Society Board.
• Member of the NSF Center for Health Organization Transformation for the Colleges of Engineering, IST, HHD, Nursing and Medicine.
• Member of the Board of Trustees for 5 years. Member of the Board Executive Committee and the Corporation for Penn State Board. Member of the Presidential Selection Committee and Chaired the Academic Affairs, Research & Student Life Committee.
• Currently serving on the Board of Penn State Health (PSH), which comprises more than 40% of the overall University budget. Member of the Governance, Finance, Quality, and Audit & Compliance Committees.
• Leading the current PSH Board process to hire the new CEO for the health system and served on the search committee for the new CIO for the health system. Led the Board effort in 2024/2025 to select the new PSH system-wide Electronic Health Record platform, including the community physician practices, with implementation just getting underway.
• Chaired the Corporate Engagement Committee for the two previous capital campaigns.
• Advisory Board Member, Penn State Abington – Division of Social Sciences & Business.
• Alumni Admissions Advisor in Southeastern PA.

Historically, in BOT alumni elections, only about 3% of our living alumni participate and vote. We need more alumni to engage and vote, especially our young alumni.

My dedication and engagement with Penn State spans more than four decades, and I am driven to serve the University that gave me every opportunity to succeed professionally and in life generally.

My extensive leadership and business experience, university and health system knowledge, combine to create a unique perspective on the key requirements for Penn State’s future growth. I will work collaboratively to advance Penn State University in support of our students, faculty, staff, patients and the communities that we serve across the Commonwealth.

Beginning on April 21st and running through May 8th (at 9:00 am), all Penn State alumni, and former students who have completed at least one semester or two terms in a degree program, can make your voice heard by voting in the Board of Trustees alumni election.

I humbly ask for your support and vote on April 21st because Experience Matters!

For the Glory!

Steven B. Wagman
Ballot Position #12

---

This post, written by Board of Trustees candidate Steven Wagman, 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.

Onward State does not, and will not, endorse any candidate(s) in the upcoming Board of Trustees election. Check out our site to read more about the remaining candidates vying for spots on the board throughout this year’s election cycle.