Category: Alumni

Ronak Dave

podcast | Education

Podcast Ep. 62: Purdue Alum Ronak Dave’s Next Giant Leap: NASA Flight Director

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...
Angela Ashmore and IndyCar driver Marcus Ericsson, with Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 8 Huski Chocolate Honda

podcast | Education

Podcast Ep. 61: Purdue’s Angela Ashmore Makes History as First Woman IndyCar Crew Member to Win Indy 500

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...
Purdue University Global alumna Krystal Dabon

article | Education

Purdue University Global alumna finds unexpected passion for nursing

The Krystal Dabon of 2022 is a far different person from the one who entered the nursing profession two decades ago.
Akin Ayodele

podcast | Athletics

Podcast Ep. 60: Former NFL Player Akin Ayodele on How a Purdue Scholarship Changed His Life

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...
Eric Richardson

article | Education

Building highways to success

The inspiration and support Eric Richardson has received through a new engineering scholarship started with Lewis’ legacy.

podcast | Education

Podcast Ep. 59: Rusty Rueff on How Purdue Community Impacted His Successful Career

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...
Logan Noster and Umesh Patel

article | Experience

Chance encounter reveals Purdue engineers’ remarkable connection

Umesh Patel unexpectedly met a beneficiary of Cook Biotech’s SIS technology on the night Purdue named him a distinguished alumnus.

podcast | Education

Podcast Ep. 58: IndyCar Engineer Angela Ashmore Hopes Next Giant Leap is an Indy 500 Win

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...
Purdue alumnus Nathan O’Rourke, race engineer for IndyCar driver Colton Herta

article | Education

From the grandstands to pit row

A young Nathan O’Rourke could list every Indianapolis 500 winner since 1911. Since then, he’s worked with some of the best known names in IndyCar and is currently living out his racing dreams.

video | Experience

Back Home Again: Purdue and the Indy 500 

Boilermakers have been integral to the Indianapolis 500 for more than 100 years — whether it’s engineers ensuring optimal vehicle performance, the “All-American” Marching Band playing “Back Home Again in Indiana” or students representing the University in the 500 Festival...
Destiny Walter, the first Black woman to complete a bachelor’s degree in nuclear engineering at Purdue

article | Education

Blazing a trail in nuclear engineering

Destiny White didn’t set out to become Purdue’s first Black female nuclear engineering graduate, but she did just that.
Purdue football players Mike Phipps and Don Kiepert

podcast | Athletics

Podcast Ep. 57: Boilermaker Bond: Celebrating 50+ Years of Purdue Friendship

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...