The list of Penn State graduates seeking a seat on the university’s board of trustees continues to grow.

Two more candidates — John W. Diercks and Andrew Jackson Sr. — are aiming for spots on the upcoming ballot.

Diercks, of State College, earned a bachelor’s from Penn State in 1963, before going on to earn a master’s and doctorate. He was an Evan Pugh scholar in his junior and senior year and in the Air Force ROTC program.

According to a statement on the candidate, Diercks served in the Air Force for 26 years before retiring as a colonel in 1989. After that, he worked as a senior research associate in Penn State’s College of Earth and Mineral Sciences until he retired in 2004.

Diercks’ platform includes recognizing the late Joe Paterno, making the board’s actions more transparent and reorganizing the board. His campaign statement said he would like to reduce the 32-member board and have alumni responsible for electing more of the trustees. Alumni currently elect nine members.

Jackson, a State College area resident, was an academic adviser in Penn State’s College of Education for 20 years before retiring in 2007. He is now a guest teacher for the State College Area School District.

Jackson earned a bachelor’s in education in 1974 and a doctorate in multicultural education in 2004 from Penn State. He has been involved with a number of Penn State boards including serving a second term on the alumni board and being a founding member of the Blue Band alumni board. He has also received several awards, including the 2009 diversity award from the alumni association.

“I feel my involvement at Penn State over the past 26 years gives me insight, hindsight, foresight and a challenging drive to be inclusive by involving and enlightening alums from an internal and external community perspective in the ongoing growth and healing at Penn State,” he said.

Three alumni seats are up for election. Candidates need to receive 50 nominations to earn a spot on the ballot.

Anne Danahy can be reached at 231-4648.