Dave Schuckers To Retire This Summer

4-5-96
University Park, Pa. -- David R. Schuckers, Penn State's special assistant to the president for governmental affairs, has announced plans to retire from the University this summer.

Schuckers has been with the University for almost 33 years, serving in a number of governmental relations and University relations positions. He was named to his current position in January 1992, following the retirement of Frank Forni, who had served as special assistant since 1986.

Schuckers said it has been a privilege "to have completed my entire career with such an outstanding institution and to have been associated with such dedicated and talented faculty and administrators. I have utmost confidence that all of my associates will continue to excel as they represent Penn State in Harrisburg and Washington, D.C. Difficult challenges abound in both these capitals, but we have in place the best people to address them.

"Personally, I have many projects in mind, thousands of miles to go, grandchildren and family to enjoy, stories to tell, and health to maintain," Schuckers said.

"Dave has served Penn State with great skill and distinction for 33 years," said University President Graham B. Spanier. "He knows the Penn State system as well as anyone else at this University, and he understands the importance of our three missions of teaching, research and service. He is extremely well informed, on top of all the issues, and second to none in conveying the Penn State message in Harrisburg, in Washington, D.C., and in area communities. And he's well known and well regarded at the state, national and local levels. We have been extremely fortunate to have him with us at Penn State for so many years."

Schuckers, before being named special assistant to the president, was director of governmental relations from 1977 to 1992. Before that, he was director of University relations from 1969-1977 and assistant director of University relations from 1968-69.

He joined the University in 1963 as a coordinator in the Continuing Education Conference Center.

Schuckers has been responsible for governmental liaison in Harrisburg and in Washington, D.C.

As director of governmental relations, he represented Penn State in Harrisburg for six years and in Washington for the previous nine years. A U.S. Army veteran, Schuckers served as co-chair of the President's Community Advisory Committee and as a member of the board for the Centre County Industrial Development Corporation.

A resident of Patton Township, he recently served as a member of the Patton Township Zoning Hearing Board. He has also been active in the Centre County United Way Campaign, having served as president and board member.

He was secretary and board member of the Central Pennsylvania Festival of the Arts and president and vice president of the State College Area Chamber of Commerce. He also has served as a Patton Township supervisor and treasurer of the township water authority.

Schuckers has a bachelor's degree in geology/geography from Muskingum College, New Concord, Ohio, and a master's degree in higher education from Penn State.

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Contacts:
Alan Janesch
(814) 865-7517 (office)
(814) 867-3621 (home)
axj12@psu.edu

Christy Rambeau
(814) 865-7517 (office)
(814) 237-9046 (home)
cmr7@psu.edu