In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Eric Hall (BS multidisciplinary engineering ’95), senior technical director at Disney Live Entertainment. Eric recently celebrated 30 years at Disney, and he’s instrumental in the safety, execution and enchantment behind iconic fireworks shows like “Epcot Forever” and “Luminous: The Symphony of Us.” In this magical episode of “This Is Purdue,” you will: Hear how Eric’s hands-on experiences in the theatre engineering program, part of Purdue’s ...
Mar 06, 2025•35 min•Ep. 126
In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Brandon Boor, the Dr. Margery E. Hoffman Associate Professor in Civil Engineering, and Nusrat Jung, assistant professor of civil engineering. What’s in the air we breathe indoors? That’s what Brandon and Nusrat are researching in our buildings — at home, school, work and beyond. These two are partners in work and in life, and their cutting-edge research and collaboration with faculty, students and industry partners have led to major scientifi...
Feb 20, 2025•51 min•Ep. 125
In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Renee Thomas, Purdue University’s associate vice provost for student access and community engagement. For more than 35 years, Renee has increased educational opportunities for thousands of Boilermakers. In this episode, you will: Learn how Renee has impacted students’ lives by helping them find their community at Purdue. Explore her profound impact on Purdue’s Black Cultural Center as the former director and learn more about the importance of...
Feb 06, 2025•27 min•Ep. 124
In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Mike Berghoff, chair of the Purdue University Board of Trustees. Since joining the board in 2009 and being appointed chair in 2015, Mike (BS industrial management ’85) has helped lead the university to incredible success and growth while managing significant challenges in the higher education landscape. In this celebratory episode, you will: Learn about the initiatives Mike has overseen during his time at Purdue, including the unprecedented 1...
Dec 12, 2024•37 min•Ep. 123
In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Anthony Cawdron, Westwood event coordinator and estate manager, and adjunct hospitality and tourism management faculty member. Westwood has been home to four Purdue University presidents and their families since it was donated to the university in 1971, and for the last 24 years, Anthony has been instrumental in the operations of what he calls the “front door to Purdue University.” In this third episode of our Boilermaker Bites series, you wi...
Nov 25, 2024•56 min•Ep. 122
In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Karen Plaut, Purdue University’s executive vice president for research. Karen oversees Purdue’s expanding $600 million research enterprise, and under her leadership, researchers from across the university are working together to solve the world’s toughest challenges. In this third episode of our 2024 Purdue Research Series, you will: Get to know Karen’s incredible career journey from an animal sciences researcher to lead scientist for NASA’s ...
Nov 14, 2024•30 min•Ep. 121
In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Jennifer Pyrz, president and CEO of IndyGo. A Purdue engineering alumna, Jennifer (BS civil engineering ’95, MS civil engineering ’97) was appointed president and CEO of Indiana’s largest public transit agency in May 2024. In this episode you will: Discover the advantages Purdue students in Indianapolis can gain from IndyGo buses and transit lines. Learn more about Jennifer’s vision for the future of public transportation in Indianapolis, inc...
Oct 31, 2024•38 min•Ep. 120
In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to former NASA astronaut and Purdue University Presidential Ambassador Drew Feustel (BS solid earth sciences ’89, MS geophysics ’91), Purdue professors and NASA contributors Briony Horgan and Marshall Porterfield, and SpaceKids Global founders Marc (BS electrical engineering ’71, MS business and industrial administration ’72) and Sharon Hagle. These five Purdue space experts came together for a live panel after Purdue premiered a first-of-its-ki...
Oct 17, 2024•34 min•Ep. 119
In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to George Karlaftis (BS selling and sales management ’21), Purdue football alum, current defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs and two-time Super Bowl champion. In this episode you will: Follow George’s journey from playing water polo in Athens, Greece, to football at West Lafayette High School in Indiana. Learn what drew George to Purdue football and how he balanced being an All-Big Ten first team athlete with earning a degree in selling and...
Oct 03, 2024•30 min•Ep. 118
In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Jay Gephart, the Al G. Wright Chair of Purdue Bands & Orchestras, conductor of Purdue Wind Ensemble and director of the “All-American” Marching Band. The prestigious marching band is known as the heartbeat of the university, with Jay serving as its fifth director. In this episode you will: Hear about the legacy Jay hopes to leave as he steps down at the end of the 2024 season. Journey around the world celebrating the incredible events where t...
Sep 19, 2024•47 min•Ep. 117
In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Bob Mindrum, former director of the Purdue Memorial Union and author of “Purdue Memorial Union, The First 100 Years, 1924 to 2024.” The Purdue Memorial Union — a longtime centerpiece of Purdue’s campus — is celebrating its 100th anniversary on Sept. 9, 2024. In this episode you will: Learn about the history of the iconic Purdue Memorial Union from its fundraising efforts in the early 1900s to the newest renovations, like the Purdue Union Club...
Sep 05, 2024•31 min•Ep. 116
In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Preeti Sivasankar, Purdue University’s vice president for research innovation and professor in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. Societal transformation begins with research, and no one knows this better than Preeti. Since joining Purdue’s faculty 19 years ago, she has contributed to making the department a leader in the field. Purdue is now home to the No. 2 speech-language pathology graduate program and No. 8 audiolo...
Aug 22, 2024•27 min•Ep. 115
In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Adriana Harmeyer, clinical assistant professor and archivist for university history, and “Jeopardy!” super-champion. In May and June 2024, Adriana earned super-champion status after winning 15 consecutive games of “Jeopardy!” As a longtime fan of this Emmy Award-winning game show, she was able to make her “Jeopardy!” dreams come true thanks to plenty of preparation and persistence. In this episode you will: Go behind the scenes of “Jeopardy!”...
Aug 08, 2024•33 min•Ep. 114
In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Jan-Anders Mansson, executive director of the Ray Ewry Sports Engineering Center and Distinguished Professor of Materials and Chemical Engineering at Purdue. Sports engineering affects everyone, from those dedicated to getting their daily steps in to the most decorated Olympic athletes. The Purdue Research Series returns to “This Is Purdue” for a second season to explore how Purdue provides practical solutions to the world’s toughest challeng...
Jul 25, 2024•44 min•Ep. 113
In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Beth Bostwick, serial entrepreneur and author. As a prominent entrepreneur and mentor within Purdue Innovates, Beth (MS human resources ’89) provides passionate insights into the world of startups and details how young entrepreneurs can set themselves up for success. In this episode you will: Get to know Beth’s personal story of persistence as she fought through her multiple sclerosis diagnosis while earning her master’s at Purdue. Learn the ...
Jul 11, 2024•1 hr•Ep. 112
In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Dan Hasler, chief operating officer, and David Umulis, senior vice provost and chief academic officer, of Purdue University in Indianapolis. As Purdue’s first comprehensive urban campus, Purdue in Indianapolis will bring exciting opportunities for students, faculty and the whole Boilermaker community. In this second episode of our Boilermaker Bites series, Dan and David discuss the importance of Purdue coming to downtown Indy, all while enjoy...
Jun 27, 2024•48 min•Ep. 111
In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Willie Reed, dean of Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Join us as we celebrate Reed’s legacy as he prepares to step down after 17 years as dean. When you listen to this episode, you can expect to: Learn more about Dean Reed’s incredible journey of persistence — from being taught first grade by his grandmother in southern Alabama to becoming dean of one of the top veterinary schools in the country. Discover what led Dean Reed...
Jun 13, 2024•36 min•Ep. 110
In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re discussing the return of commercial flights to the Purdue University Airport and highlighting the university’s renowned history in aviation. Listen as Adam Baxmeyer (BS aviation administration ’02; MPA ’22, Purdue Global), director of the Purdue University Airport, and Rob Wynkoop, vice president of Auxiliary Services, share the importance of the Purdue Airport building upon the university’s nearly 100-year legacy in aviation excellence. After 20 years ...
May 30, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 109
In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to three Boilermakers who work behind the scenes at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to execute “The Greatest Spectacle in Racing” — the Indianapolis 500. Listen as David Letherman (BS management ’15), senior manager of event personnel; Meredith Walker (BS management, marketing ’11), senior manager of VIP and talent experience; and Louis Kissinger (BS chemical engineering ’17), senior manager of events and administration, share how the problem-so...
May 23, 2024•45 min•Ep. 108
In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to five members of Purdue’s Cradle of Astronauts: Sirisha Bandla (BS aeronautical and astronautical engineering ’11), Drew Feustel (BS solid earth sciences ’89, MS geophysics ’91), Beth Moses (BS aeronautical and astronautical engineering ’92, MS aeronautics and astronautics ’94), Mark Polansky (BS aeronautical and astronautical engineering ’78, MS aeronautics and astronautics ’78) and Audrey Powers (BS aeronautical and astronautical engineering...
May 02, 2024•33 min•Ep. 107
In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Erik Miller, owner and winemaker of Kokomo Winery and Breaking Bread Winery. Listen as Erik (BS organizational leadership ’99) shares the journey of working his way up from a wine harvest intern to conceptualizing and later founding his own winery in Healdsburg, California, in the heart of Sonoma County. Erik’s entrepreneurial spirit has helped make Kokomo Winery an award-winning winery in California, where becoming a household name is increa...
Apr 18, 2024•46 min•Ep. 106
In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to PGA Tour golfer Adam Schenk. Adam is a Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business alum and former first-team All-Big Ten Purdue men’s golfer, who has spent nearly a decade dedicated to his full-time career on the golf course. During this time, he secured his PGA Tour card and rapidly ascended the leaderboard, often competing alongside some of the world's top-ranked golfers. The 2023 season took him to new heights pursuing his first PGA Tour ...
Apr 04, 2024•34 min•Ep. 105
In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Jennifer Rumsey, Chair and CEO of Cummins Inc. Jennifer discusses her experience as a Purdue mechanical engineering student and how that led her to four internships with Cummins during her Boilermaker journey. Her story is unique because not many people can say they interned for a company and later served in the most senior role — CEO — of that same company. Hear her share the importance of leading a 105-year-old company into the future and t...
Mar 21, 2024•23 min•Ep. 104
In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to former head coach Carolyn Peck and co-captains Stephanie White and Ukari Figgs as they reflect on the Purdue women’s basketball team’s 1999 NCAA National Championship. Celebrate the 25th anniversary of this legendary win and listen as Coach Peck, Stephanie and Ukari share more about this historic season and the real story behind what happened when they arrived in San Jose for the Final Four of March Madness. From starting the season beating N...
Mar 07, 2024•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 103
In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Matt Folk, president and CEO of the Purdue for Life Foundation. In this new “Boilermaker Bites” series, Matt joins podcast host Kate Young at 8Eleven Modern Bistro in the Purdue Memorial Union. Over a delicious meal of pasta with grilled scallops, Matt digs into Purdue for Life’s goal of helping everyone who is part of the Purdue community stay connected, get involved and give back. Matt explains that by bringing together the Purdue Alumni As...
Feb 22, 2024•32 min•Ep. 102
In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Rochelle Dorn-Hayes, human resources director at Ford Motor Co. Tune in as Rochelle shares more about her time at Purdue, where she earned her MBA from the Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business. She carries with her the lessons learned from her beloved mentor, Dr. Cornell A. Bell, and the importance of providing guidance to the next generation of Boilermakers through her involvement in the Business Opportunity Program (BOP). Rochelle al...
Feb 08, 2024•55 min•Ep. 101
In this special 100th episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re celebrating and reflecting on our past episodes, which highlight Boilermakers who, through research, innovation and determination, have persistently pursued their next giant leap. Over the last three years, our podcast team has featured more than 160 Boilermaker guests, produced over 50 hours of audio and created over 200 video clips. We’re celebrating these incredible milestones by answering questions from our loyal “This Is Purdue” fans....
Jan 25, 2024•51 min•Ep. 100
In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Jim Bullard, the Dr. Samuel R. Allen Dean of the Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business. Listen as Dean Bullard discusses his career journey from his time navigating obstacles like the Great Recession and COVID-19 pandemic as president of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis to accepting his new role with the Daniels School of Business — an opportunity he calls “irresistible.” Dean Bullard shares his excitement for the future and how he...
Jan 11, 2024•35 min•Ep. 99
In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re celebrating Boilermakers who provide practical solutions to the world’s toughest challenges. Part 2 of our “Greatest Hits of 2023” shines a light on the incredible research advancements from Purdue Boilermakers as we reflect on all four of our 2023 Research Series episodes. Listen as we highlight special moments from episodes with Purdue’s chief semiconductor officer Mark Lundstrom, food science professors Amanda Deering and Haley Oliver, associate prof...
Dec 21, 2023•40 min•Ep. 98
In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re starting to ring in the new year with some of our most popular episodes from 2023. Part 1 of our two-part “Greatest Hits of 2023” episode shines a light on the incredible stories and achievements of Boilermakers from across different disciplines. Tune in as we share highlights from episodes featuring Purdue President Mung Chiang, fighter pilot Heather Penney, Pizza Hut U.S. President David Graves, Purdue deputy athletics director Tiffini Grimes, Team Pe...
Dec 07, 2023•46 min•Ep. 97
