This Is Purdue

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...

In this episode of This Is Purdue, we’re celebrating Black Boilermaker excellence with stories from three Purdue University alumni who have made significant giant leaps.  Amber Johnson (PhD computer science ’19), Sydney Simone (BA communication ’19), and Curtis Baylor (BSIE ’72) all have different backgrounds and different stories about why they chose Purdue. You’ll hear why this computer engineer...

In this episode of This Is Purdue, we’re featuring a Boilermaker whose innovations are changing and saving lives across the world.   Philip Low, Purdue University’s Presidential Scholar for Drug Discovery and the Ralph C. Corley Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, developed a recently FDA-approved drug called Cytalux, a fluorescent marker that allows cancer surgeons to quickly identify malignant...

On this episode of This Is Purdue, we’re talking to Amy Ross, NASA Space Suit Engineer and Purdue alumna.   Listen in as Amy discusses her first big design project at NASA, working with her father (NASA astronaut and fellow Purdue alum Jerry Ross), and where she thinks the future of space exploration is headed.  Plus, she touches on the importance of introducing students to STEM education early, w...

On this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re celebrating some of our most popular episodes of 2021 to ring in the new year!  Listen in as we share clips from episodes with Purdue University President Mitch Daniels, men’s head basketball coach Matt Painter, the iconic Big Bass Drum crew and more.  Plus, host Kate Young interviews several members of the Purdue Marketing and Communications team to hear...

We’re raising our song anew. Purdue University presents “A Boilermaker Carol.” We love the days we’ve spent with you, Boilermakers. Special thanks to the following partners for their contributions: the students of Purdue Musical Organizations; vocal soloist Addison Schreiber; Jacob Stensberg and Dr. Suki Wong of Purdue Musical Organizations; Professor Barry Funderburg; the College of Liberal Arts;...

In this episode of This Is Purdue, we’re highlighting Purdue super fans including comedian Joey Mulinaro, two young sisters who are aspiring to be part of Purdue’s All-American Twirling team one day, and even a Golden Retriever who is the canine embodiment of what it means to be a Boilermaker.   Plus, you’ll hear how our podcast team helped pull off a surprise proposal at the Bell Tower during Pur...

In this episode of This Is Purdue, we’re sharing a new update from our conversation with Xiulin Ruan, professor of mechanical engineering at Purdue University.    In an effort to curb global warming, Xiulin and his team created the whitest white acrylic paint - and now, it has earned a Guinness World Records title.   The ultra-white paint, which reflects 98.1% of sunlight and deflects infrared hea...

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Jamie Richards (USN, retired) and Director of Purdue’s Veterans Success Center, Major General Theresa Carter (USAF, Retired) DBA, and Purdue University Trustee, and Ryann Laky, Deputy Joint Operations Center Officer in Charge, Indiana National Guard.   You’ll hear more about how Purdue’s ROTC program prepared both Ryann and Theresa for their mi...

In this episode of This Is Purdue, we’re talking to Purdue men’s basketball head coach Matt Painter.   Listen in as coach Painter discusses recruiting the right fits for the Purdue culture, his special relationship with former Purdue basketball coach Gene Keady, and that 2019 NCAA Elite Eight game. Plus, coach Painter shares his thoughts on why Purdue University is the perfect place for him.  With...

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re welcoming Dr. Jerome Adams, Purdue University’s first executive director of health equity initiatives and professor of practice in the departments of Pharmacy Practice and Public Health.  Dr. Adams, the former Indiana state health commissioner and the 20th U.S. surgeon general, discusses his background, how he felt when he got the call to serve as the nat...

In this episode of This Is Purdue, we’re talking to Jim Everett, former Purdue University and NFL quarterback, as he reflects on his football career.  Listen in as Jim discusses the 1984 trifecta win against Michigan, Ohio State, and Notre Dame in the same season while leading the Boilermakers. Plus, we dig into Jim’s experience as a first-round NFL draft pick, his life after playing professionall...

In this episode of This Is Purdue, we’re highlighting the legacy of Purdue University’s Big Bass Drum, also known as The World's Largest Drum™, part of the “All-American” Marching Band, for the past 100 years.   Pamela Nave, Purdue Bands' percussion instructor and Associate Professor of Bands and Orchestras, joins us on the episode to discuss the AAMB community, Neil Armstrong’s support, and the i...

In this episode of This Is Purdue, we’re going behind the scenes at Purdue’s largest Boiler Gold Rush event yet ahead of the start of the 2021 Fall Semester.  Listen in as we chat with Craig Johnson, Director of Orientation Programs at Purdue, about how BGR – formerly known as CORN Camp - originated, and how the team continues to evolve this massive event year after year.  Plus, we’re attending se...

In this episode of This Is Purdue, we sit down with Purdue University Head Football Coach Jeff Brohm.  Listen in as we get to know Coach Brohm on a personal level as he discusses why football truly is ‘all in the family’ for him, with both of his brothers as part of his staff, along with his son as a fixture on the sidelines.   Plus, we dig into the team’s goals for this season, their upcoming his...

In this special edition of This Is Purdue, we’re featuring our journey to find and award the 10 Boilermakers who entered the Old Golden Ticket Vaccination Drawing.   Students who submitted valid proof that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by July 15 were randomly selected to win the ‘Golden Ticket’ - $9,992 - the equivalent of a year’s undergraduate tuition cost for an in-state Boilermak...