Meet Purdue Global professor Nelly Mulleneaux, proud military spouse

A woman with long hair, wearing a gray blazer and black shirt, smiles with her hands folded in front of her.

Nelly Mulleneaux is due to complete her doctorate in December 2024 (Purdue University photo/Kelsey Lefever)

May 13, 2024 Maura Klopfenstein

With a drive to introduce others to the opportunities education presents, this tech professor knows how to support students

Nelly Mulleneaux is Purdue Global professor in technology and the spouse of a retired U.S. Army veteran. She’s a recipient of the Yellow Rose of Texas award for her powerful advocacy for, and empowerment of, students and military families. Here, she speaks on her experience as a military spouse and how it guides her philosophy on education.

Deployment, for the partner and family left behind, is a singular type of loss. They carry the grief, but they can’t move on. The place they call home becomes an empty shell where they put their lives on hold until their service member returns. Moving around, leaving family and friends behind was a difficult part of my experience, but the most challenging thing was to see him prepare for deployment and then go.

Nelly takes a selfie with a student at the Black and Gold Celebration in February 2024 — Nelly Mulleneaux enjoys attending commencement celebrations, where she gets to meet some of her students in person for the first time. (Purdue University photo/Kelsey Lefever)

Nelly and her husband pose in a courthouse photo with their son and the judge. All four are smiling and Nelly is holding the judge’s gavel with the young boy. — At the finalization of their son’s adoption. (Photo provided)

Nelly poses in the middle of a line of seven other professors, all dressed in academic regalia. — With Purdue Global professors at commencement ceremonies. (Photo provided)

A selfie taken by Nelly, dressed in a cap and gown with a Purdue Global globe on her tassel, with her husband who is also dressed in a graduation gown. — Nelly Mulleneaux has two of her own Purdue Global degrees. (Photo provided)

One of the byproducts of my experience with my husband’s deployment, however, was the empathy it built in me. As a professor, I see all kinds of situations that deserve a tailored approach. I love encouraging students to use a difficult situation, like the deployment of a spouse, as a time to grow something for themselves. Military life doesn’t last forever, and it’s essential to have the capacity to plan for the future.

I’m proud to work for a university that is honored to support students when they have time constraints due to their military requirements. Our military students model incredible commitment. We have students doing work using their phones. They’re planning ahead. They’re devoted to the mission, which always comes first. Purdue Global faculty will always work with our service members and their families. We want them to be successful in putting their future in motion, even as they take on one of the most challenging roles in our nation — serving as a member of the U.S. military.

I love encouraging students to use a difficult situation, like the deployment of a spouse, as a time to grow something for themselves.
Nelly Mulleneaux Professor, Purdue Global

Maura Klopfenstein

As a writer who consistently works to be a more effective ally to marginalized groups, Maura is passionate about creating inclusive messaging that resonates with a diverse audience.
By age 5, Maura knew she wanted to be a storyteller. She’s never known anything else.