A big announcement of Friday from Penn State… University President Eric Barron confirmed he plans to retire next year. Barron’s current contract as Penn State’s president expires in 16 months, in the summer of 2022. At Friday’s university board of trustees meeting, Barron outlined accomplishments during his 8 years there, and urged the trustees to focus on previously set fundraising and other goals. As for a successor to Barron, well that remains up in the air. The trustees will first gather input a listening phase, and they said a search committee’s work will begin early this summer. There was reportedly no word on whether or not a university presidential successor may possibly take office before the end of Barron’s contract.