I’m headed to Central Pennsylvania today for a brief ~24 hour Penn State/Nittany Valley visit. First time back in town since the late November Michigan State visit, and I’ve got a few things on the agenda.

First, getting together with Chris Buchignani to talk shop on Nittany Valley Press and other cultural conservation projects.

Second, looking forward to lunch with John Hook of the Mount Nittany Conservancy. He’s been a great president for the nonprofit and spearheaded the annual Mount Nittany Marathon on Labor Day weekend. I plan to run that for the third time this year. I helped the Mount Nittany Conservancy launch their current WordPress-powered website two years ago, and it’s becoming a bit long in the tooth. Exploring a transition to NationBuilder.

Third, planning to meet up with Tyler Ball who is the student president of The LION 90.7fm, Penn State’s student radio station. Back in December 2013 I met with University administration and student leaders at the time to talk shop on the planned move of the station’s physical plant as part of the HUB-Robeson Center’s expansion. It’s a great project that’s about to conclude in the next few weeks when the new consolidated studio, production space, and office will open and I’m eager to see the new space firsthand. I posted the blueprint for the new space above, which came out of that Dec. 2013 meeting.

Fourth, I’ll be heading to Pattee/Paterno Libraries at some point to record and produce some audio for the audiobook version of Conserving Mount Nittany which I expect to be released in early summer.

A few other things: before returning to New York on Saturday night: trying Uber in State College for the first time, visiting the Bryce Jordan Center to see THON in progress, connecting with Maralyn Mazza of South Hills Business School, touching base with Molly Kunkel at Centre Foundation, and potentially an early morning Mount Nittany hike.

If you’re in State College this weekend and want to meet up or join me at any point for anything mentioned here, drop me a line.