For Robert (PharmD ’87) and Holly Hulse (AAE ’87), Purdue University was more than just a place of learning—it was where they built the foundation for their future careers and began their lives together. Now, they are giving back to the university that played such a pivotal role in their journey by establishing an endowment to support scholarships for women in engineering.
Both Robert and Holly have fond memories of their time at Purdue. “Purdue was the place I became independent, began to visualize my future, and met my husband,” Holly shares, reflecting on her years in the School of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Holly’s education at Purdue opened the door to a diverse and dynamic career. After starting as a civilian engineer with the U.S. Navy, she soon moved to process engineering at Corning, taking on various roles in engineering, sales, marketing, and management across multiple industries. Today, she serves as CEO of OFS Fitel LLC. “The skills and tools learned at Purdue applied,” she notes, “even as I moved into different businesses and roles.”
Robert’s career path was equally influenced by his Purdue education. After several years in pharmacy, he became a full-time youth pastor and then took on roles as a primary caregiver, educator, and volunteer leader. His diverse roles have always focused on making positive changes and helping others.
Their decision to establish an endowment to support scholarships for women in engineering was inspired by Holly’s own experiences in a male-dominated field. “My parents afforded me the opportunity to pursue my engineering dreams at Purdue,” she says, “but for many, a college education is out of reach. I encounter many bright and capable young women with aspirations to make a difference and hope that the scholarships help to put that dream in reach for a few of them.”
Robert echoes Holly’s sentiments, adding, “If we were going to see things change in the manufacturing space, we needed to put our money where our hopes were and offer tangible assistance to other highly qualified young women coming into the profession.”
The Hulses hope their endowment will not only ease the financial burden for future engineers but also encourage more women to enter the field. “Our hope is that our contribution opens the door for a broader cross section of talent to attend Purdue,” Holly explains.
As dedicated Purdue supporters, Robert and Holly also look forward to maintaining a strong relationship with the university. “We will continue to support this scholarship,” Holly says, “but we also will continue to highlight the strengths of Purdue to prospective parents, to partner with other Purdue grads, and to cheer on the Boilers from all corners of the earth!”
For Robert and Holly, giving back to Purdue is about creating opportunities for the next generation of leaders. Through their generous support, the Hulses are helping to ensure that women in engineering at Purdue have the resources they need to succeed.
