VPUL assistant King reigns over acronyms

Max King will work with a number of student and faculty groups on planning and development. Decoding Penn's "acronym soup" was one of the first administrative tasks Max King set out for himself when he began work at the University last week. The new assistant to the vice provost for University Life -- a man who restores antique cars, plays jazz saxophone and travels regularly to London -- noted that Penn was "quite advanced in the acronym department." Quick mastery of acronyms will serve King well -- he will work closely with student groups such as Student Activities Council, Performing Arts Council, the Undergraduate Assembly and the InterFraternity Council. From his centrally located office on Locust Walk, King will reach out to campus organizations and work to secure alternative space for those groups affected by the upcoming closing of Houston Hall for renovations. Eager to meet the students who pass in front of his office regularly, King said he plans to "hang out" in Houston Hall and on the Walk and get tours of campus from students' perspectives. King will assume several of the responsibilities of former Associate VPUL Larry Moneta, who now heads campus services, VPUL Valarie Swain-Cade McCoullum said. His duties will include efforts to expand student research opportunities and strengthen the VPUL's relationships to the schools. King will also work with the VPUL student and staff teams, focusing on a number of committees for program planning and development, McCoullum said. And he will soon begin to sift through various student surveys that "have been building up in this office," King said. This process will include data analysis and policy recommendations about trends in student needs, wants and profiles. Adding King to the VPUL staff will help McCoullum focus on her own workload -- and get some sleep. "I am really delighted to have [King] here," she said. "Sometimes when I have just finished attending 20 or so meetings a day, I have wished I were a twin. Now I have one." For the past 17 years, King headed the University Scholars Program at Penn State University. "In many ways, this whole University is a scholars program," he said. "Penn students overall are similar to the students that I worked with in the PSU Scholars program." King, who hails from nearby Lancaster County, has long-standing ties to Penn State. His undergraduate degree in biological health, graduate degree in health education and doctorate in educational theory and policy are all from the school. His health education background led him to work in the Public Health Service following completion of his master's degree. And King has personal ties to the health care field as well -- his longtime girlfriend Anita Brickman is the health producer for Philadelphia's Channel 6 News. In his spare time, King has a passion for restoring antique cars -- his latest project is a Korean War-era Jeep -- and playing jazz instruments, primarily the saxophone. He also "tries [his] best" to travel to London two or three times each year. But despite his life of travel and varied interests, King -- who began work here Monday -- said he "still feels like a freshman." "I'm still discovering where everything is and what exactly I'm here to do," he said.