Barry Fenchak, a former Penn State trustee, has moved his defamation, retaliation, and First Amendment lawsuit against the university and its leadership to the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Fenchak, an investment adviser who served as an alumni-elected trustee from 2022 to June 2025, alleges he was defamed and retaliated against after he raised concerns about the university’s endowment and a ticketing partnership. In the suit, Fenchak claims that after his inquiries, university leadership sent a defamatory letter to a board subcommittee in August 2024, questioning his trustworthiness and competence. He also alleges the university used a sexual harassment investigation as an excuse to remove him from the board. Fenchak is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
Thursday 5th February 2026
