This Is Purdue

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to successful entrepreneur Kendra Bracken-Ferguson (BA communication ‘02), founder and CEO of BrainTrust. Listen as Kendra describes the early days of social media, blogging and influencing, and how she used platforms like Myspace to transform top-tier global brands. You’ll hear about Kendra’s journey as Ralph Lauren’s first director of digital me...

In this special episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to the 13th president of Purdue University, Mung Chiang.  Listen in as President Chiang discusses the day he learned he would become president of what he calls “the most consequential public university in the U.S.” He also shares stories of Boilermaker persistence and humility and why the college experience should be both transformative an...

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re celebrating even more popular episodes from 2022.  Part 2 of our “Greatest Hits of 2022” episode focuses on the academic side of Purdue University. Listen as these Boilermakers — from an IndyCar, Indy 500-winning engineer to a NASA flight director to a new Purdue Board of Trustees member — share their small steps and giant leaps.   You’ll hear from Purdue...

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re ringing in the new year with some of our most popular episodes from 2022.   Part 1 of our two-part “Greatest Hits of 2022” episode focuses on the incredible Boilermaker athletics guests we’ve had on the podcast during the past year.  Listen in as we share highlights from episodes with women’s basketball coach Katie Gearlds; the iconic Gene Keady; Purdue a...

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to five members of the Purdue Global community as they celebrate the impact Purdue Global has had on their careers and lives.  The podcast team went behind the scenes at the Purdue Global Black and Gold Reception to hear from both alumni and faculty on why they chose Purdue Global and their advice to anyone considering furthering their education o...

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to former Purdue University and NFL quarterback Kyle Orton. Listen as Kyle (BA history '14) discusses how former coach Joe Tiller and quarterback Drew Brees inspired him to choose Purdue, the anticipation and doubt he felt during the 2005 NFL draft, and how Purdue prepared him for life after football.  Plus, you don’t want to miss the story behind...

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to chemistry teacher and TikTok superstar Phil Cook.  Listen as Phil (BS chemistry education '00, MS education '13) discusses his passion for education, his rise in Internet fame after just one TikTok video and why he believes Purdue is the best place for science and engineering.  Join the podcast team on a field trip to Culver Academies, where Ph...

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to the new Purdue University Police Department (PUPD) Chief Lesley Wiete. Listen as Chief Wiete discusses her transition from attending Purdue as an undergraduate student to working for the PUPD for the past 23 years and her experience as a female leader in a male-dominated field like law enforcement. Hear more about Chief Wiete’s goals and what i...

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Frank Dooley, chancellor of Purdue Global.   Purdue Global is Purdue’s accredited and affordable online solution designed for the working adult with life experience, and often some college credit – but no degree. Chancellor Dooley’s experiences have prepared him to lead Purdue Global and oversee academics for more than 36,000 students.   Listen...

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Shawn Taylor (Management’82), a successful entrepreneur and the newest member of the Purdue University Board of Trustees.  Listen as Shawn describes his childhood growing up on the south side of Chicago, his experience as a first-generation college graduate and the impact Purdue’s very own Dr. Cornell A. Bell, the former director/chairman of th...

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Dave Shondell, Purdue University’s Art and Connie Euler Women’s Volleyball Head Coach.  From growing up immersed in volleyball with his dad and brothers, to leading teams at the high school and collegiate levels, Coach Shondell shares more about his passion for the sport and how it feels to coach athletes like Olympic gold medalist Annie Drews....

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Boilermakers who are part of the Purdue Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) student organization.  Each year, Purdue students design and build custom race cars, then compete against hundreds of other universities from around the world, including teams from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil and Germany, as part of SAE’s Colle...

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Linda Mason, the dean of Purdue’s Graduate School.  Since Dean Mason took over in 2018, the Graduate School has experienced immense growth, including record-high numbers both in overall and international student enrollment.  Listen as Dean Mason discusses how she and her team increased support and opportunities for Boilermaker graduate students...

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Ronak Dave, a Purdue aeronautics and astronautics alum recently selected as a NASA flight director. Ronak will lead missions to the International Space Station and prepare for lunar missions for NASA’s Artemis program.  Why is this a particularly special giant leap? There have only been 108 NASA flight directors since Christopher C. Kraft Jr.,...

What’s it like to be a part of a winning Indianapolis 500 team? And even more, what’s it like to be the first woman IndyCar crew member to win this iconic race?  In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re getting an update from Purdue mechanical engineering alumna and IndyCar engineer Angela Ashmore. On May 29, 2022, Marcus Ericsson won the most famous race in motorsports in Chip Ganassi Racing’s...

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we're talking to Akin Ayodele, former Purdue football defensive end, co-captain of the 2001 Rose Bowl team and NFL linebacker.   Akin, a Texas native, shares how former Purdue football head coach Joe Tiller’s tough love helped him develop the mental strength that shaped his success, both athletically and academically.  You’ll also hear Akin discuss his professi...

In this episode of This Is Purdue, we’re talking to College of Liberal Arts alumnus Rusty Rueff, a philanthropist, investor and advisor.  Listen in as Rusty discusses art’s crucial relationship to humanity, leading the company Electronic Arts through the video game industry boom, his role in President Barack Obama’s second presidential campaign and how his mother’s mantra, “tomorrow will go a lot...

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to IndyCar engineer Angela Ashmore.   Angela, an engineer for Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 8 Huski Chocolate Honda, is a lifelong motorsports fan. Her giant leap into professional racing came after relentless persistence and perseverance.  Listen in as Angela discusses her experience with Purdue’s Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) student...

In this episode of This Is Purdue, we’re talking to former Purdue football players Mike Phipps and Don Kiepert, who played on the iconic late 1960s team under Coach Jack Mollenkopf.    This quarterback duo friendship started at Purdue, and the two have been best friends for more than 50 years. After graduating, Mike went on to play quarterback in the NFL for 12 years for the Cleveland Browns and C...

In this episode of This Is Purdue, we’re highlighting the story of the Anthrop family, a Purdue Athletics legacy from West Lafayette, Indiana.   If you’re a Purdue sports fan, you’ve probably heard the name Anthrop. Brothers Dru, Danny and Jackson Anthrop were all Boilermaker athletes, and their father, John, played both basketball and baseball for Purdue, and was on Purdue’s 1980 Final Four team....

In this episode of "This Is Purdue,” we’re diving into Purdue Day of Giving, an annual event to support Purdue's giant leap as one of the world's leading academic institutions. Every year on Purdue Day of Giving, thousands of alumni, donors and friends pay it forward – and show just how much the university has meant to them.  Amber Turner, assistant vice president for broad-based campaigns and str...

In this episode of "This Is Purdue," two couples share their love stories that began during their time at Purdue University.  Randy and Linda Shields, co-chairs of President’s Council (part of the Purdue for Life Foundation), and Norm and Karen Blake, President’s Council members, are celebrating 45 and 56 years of marriage, respectively, after meeting at Purdue.  You’ll hear why both couples conti...

In this episode of This Is Purdue, we’re talking to Purdue basketball icon Coach Gene Keady.   It’s prime time for college basketball season and March Madness is officially here. What better way to celebrate than to listen to our episode with Coach Keady?  You’ll hear the 25-year head coach of the Boilermakers men’s basketball team discuss Purdue’s balance of academics and athletics and why he lov...

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Scott Niswonger, founder and chair of the Niswonger Foundation, which was established to make a positive and sustainable difference in education in Northeast Tennessee.  After graduating from Purdue, Scott founded both Landair Transport, Inc. and Forward Air Corporation, and is the lead benefactor for the Niswonger Children’s Hospital, which is...

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Katie Gearlds, the first-year Purdue women’s basketball head coach.  As an Indiana native and former Purdue player, Coach Gearlds describes what it feels like to have her dream job and how she recruits the right fits for the Purdue culture while striving to empower and influence the young women on her team.  Coach Gearlds also discusses the inc...