Mary Kay and Lee Sommers understand the importance of education, both as students and teachers, and feel that “education is critical if we want to ensure that our country maintains a strong, productive society.”
May 12, 2023
Mary Kay and Lee Sommers understand the importance of education, both as students and teachers, and feel that “education is critical if we want to ensure that our country maintains a strong, productive society.”
David Merrick (AAS’82, T’83) and April Cheung (AAS’95, T’96, MS T’04), a Purdue assistant professor, have a long history of giving back to their community, including volunteer work with the American Red Cross.
Inspired by the kindness and generosity of Boilermakers before him, proud alumnus Tom Moore (LA’65, HDR LA’95) supports Purdue students who are passionate about the arts through his estate plan.
With experience in software programming and coding, Francisco Rius (M’04, MBA’07) looked to grow his understanding of business and technology in college. After moving to the U.S. from Mexico City, Mexico, he enrolled at Purdue, where he adjusted to Indiana’s colder winters while earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees.
Joy Matson grew up in a 900-square-foot house in a small Illinois town of 90 people. Wearing hand-me-down clothes, Matson attended school in a three-room schoolhouse—her class was the largest with 12 students.
The Hoffman family is passionate about Purdue. Mike is a 1981 College of Science graduate, and his wife Cindy is a proud Purdue parent and Boilermaker fan. Their two children, Kara and Christopher, both met their spouses while studying in West Lafayette and all four are now Purdue graduates.
Purdue’s next big move will honor a celebrated president who led transformative change during his tenure, as plans for the state-of-the-art Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr.
Ron Wormser isn’t a Purdue graduate, but his first-generation father, aunt, and uncle were. Discover how Ron’s family arrived and flourished in America—and how he has decided to honor them by paying it forward to future Boilermakers.
The Purdue Board of Trustees announced today (June 10) its unanimous election of Dr. Mung Chiang, currently the John A. Edwardson Dean of Engineering and Executive Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, as the university’s next president. Dr. Chiang will replace current president Mitch Daniels effective Jan. 1, 2023. Daniels has served since January 2013.
When their beloved dog Izzie fell deathly ill, Jim and Deborah Peters found Izzie lifesaving care at the David and Bonnie Brunner Purdue Veterinary Medical Hospital Complex.
Patsy earned a bachelor’s degree in food and nutrition in business from Purdue in 1969, in addition to an MBA in food marketing from Michigan State University in 1970. She retired from Kraft Foods in 2006 after 36 years in corporate food marketing and marketing communications management.
A community volunteer, Patsy serves on the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana Advisory Board and the Purdue College of Health and Human Sciences Dean’s Leadership Council, in addition to the President’s Council Advisory Board. She is a former member of the Health and Human Sciences Alumni Board. Patsy held several offices from 2006 through 2013, including president and treasurer. She serves her community’s Discover Indianapolis Club in Fishers, holding several leadership roles for over 10 years.
Patsy has received several honors, including the Purdue University Nutrition Science Department Hall of Fame recipient in 2009 and the Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award in 2016. She also received the college’s Gold and Black Award in 2016, an honor reserved for donors who have moved the college forward by committing exceptional financial resources.
In addition to endowing two scholarships, the Patsy J. Mellott Scholarship and Patsy J. Mellott HHS Scholarship, she established the Patsy J. Mellott Teaching Innovation Award in the College of Health and Human Sciences in 2013. In 2015, she endowed the Patsy J. Mellott Women’s Tennis Coach Performance Award. She is a lead donor in the Christine M. Ladisch Faculty Leadership Award and the Purdue Women’s Network Virginia C. Meredith Scholarship for the College of Health and Human Sciences.