Tim and Sally Luzader first crossed paths at a Midwest College Placement Association conference and, united by their mutual passion for helping students succeed in higher education, have spent decades dedicated to student success. Now, through their generous bequests to Purdue, they’re ensuring their impact continues well into the future.
Tim and Sally have held various leadership roles across the nation. Yet it was Purdue that became their long-standing home when Tim was appointed Director of the Center for Career Opportunities (CCO) in 2000, then promoted to Executive Director of the Career Success area in 2015. Sally soon followed, joining what was formerly the Krannert School of Management Placement Office, now known as the Mitchell E. Daniels School of Business Recruitment and Career Services, the same year. Today, she is a key figure in Purdue’s Department of Computer Science.
Tim’s tenure at Purdue was marked by innovative initiatives that helped countless students prepare for their futures. Among his proudest accomplishments is the creation of a campus-wide spring career fair, ensuring that even late-arriving employment opportunities could be captured for students seeking internships and post-graduate positions. He also spearheaded the CCO’s “career closet” program, providing professional attire for students in need, and established an employer partnership program that helped fine-tune Purdue’s career services.
The Luzaders’ lifelong dedication to higher education also inspired their philanthropic pursuits. They have established bequests to three areas that have shaped their Purdue experience: Purdue Convocations, Purdue Theater, and the Center for Career Opportunities.
Sally noted that their gifts reflect their shared love of the arts and commitment to student success. “We are big fans of theater and have attended many performances through Convos and Purdue Theater over the years. We know that Convos is now self-sustaining, and we wanted to support it so the community can continue to enjoy high-quality performances at an affordable price,” she said. “Through a friend in the Department of Theatre, we knew that students often lack funds to be able to attend theater conferences and competitions, so we wanted to help support these efforts, as well as supply students with scholarships.”
Tim’s dedication to career services mirrored this same commitment to giving back. “Tim, having worked in the CCO for many years, felt that there were never enough funds to support professional development for all of the staff who deserved it, so we decided to provide additional funding for this specific area.”
As the Luzaders prepare for the next chapter of their lives, now that Sally will be joining Tim in retirement at the end of the year, their dedication to Purdue remains steadfast. “We’ve always enjoyed the cultural diversity and convenience to a wide variety of arts and sports offerings,” Sally said. “It’s a nice feeling to see people you know around town and campus and feel that you have something in common—like a winning basketball team or the mutual frustration with road construction just before school starts!”
With their estate gift, the Luzaders are ensuring that future generations of Purdue students will have the same opportunities to create special moments with the university, just as they have. “Study hard, but play hard, too,” Sally advised. “Make as many special moments as you can, for those are the ones that really count.”
