Erickson prepares for final act as PSU president

    The man who took over at the helm of Penn State the week after Jerry Sandusky was charged with child molestation is about to preside over the university’s commencement and then retire.

    President Rodney Erickson wrote to the university community on Friday to say he’s humbled to be one of 17 people to have held the post.

    Erickson has been at Penn State for 37 years, and will be succeeded as president by Eric Barron.

    Barron was most recently Florida State’s president. He takes the reins Monday.

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    Erickson was provost when the trustees forced out Graham Spanier following the arrests of Sandusky and two top administrators.

    The two await trial with Spanier for an alleged criminal cover-up of complaints about the former assistant football coach. Sandusky is in state prison.

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