Podcast Ep. 124: Renee Thomas on Helping College Students Find Their Community at Purdue University

Renee Thomas: This is Renee Thomas and you’re listening to This is Purdue. 

Kate Young: Hi, I’m Kate Young and you are listening to This is Purdue, the official podcast for Purdue University. As a Purdue alum and Indiana native, I know firsthand about the family of students and professors who are in it together, persistently pursuing and relentlessly rethinking. Who are the next game changers, difference makers, ceiling breakers, innovators? Who are these boilermakers? Join me as we feature students, faculty and alumni, taking small steps toward their giant leaps and inspiring others to do the same. 

Renee Thomas: Sometimes I think that as new students we may be a little bit shy and bashful and not stretch ourselves in terms of relationship building. I think it’s important to stretch yourself. And I think that they will develop community and that sense of belonging by reaching beyond their inner circle. Whenever we come to a university, we tend to congregate with folks that look like us and think like us, and I would encourage them to be that rubber band and stretch outside of their boundaries and take advantage of everything that the university has to offer. 

Kate Young: In this episode of This is Purdue, we are talking to Renee Thomas. As Purdue’s Associate Vice Provost for Student Access and Community Engagement and the former director of the Black Cultural Center, Renee has made a lasting impact in countless boilermaker lives. In 2024, Renee was awarded with two incredible honors. First, the Special Boilermaker Award, which honors a member of the Purdue faculty or staff who has contributed significantly to the improvement of the quality of life or the betterment of the educational experience for Purdue students. She also won the Indiana Civil Rights Commission’s Achievement and Education Award, which recognizes an educator who has used innovative strategies to promote growth and achievement for their students. We dig into both of these honors and what they mean to Renee, plus she shares more about her 35-year Boilermaker journey and how it feels to increase opportunities for students throughout Indiana, especially for Purdue students in both West Lafayette and Indianapolis. 

Our team was so honored to talk to Renee, so let’s get to it. Here’s our conversation. Renee, thank you so much for joining us on. This is Purdue, our official university podcast. We’re just excited because you’ve made such an impact on so many Boilermaker lives over the years, so we’re excited to dig into your journey at Purdue and the legacy that you have. So let’s get right to it. We’ll start at the beginning because you are very well versed in higher ed. Tell us how you got to Purdue and what drew you into the Purdue community back in 1990. 

Renee Thomas: Certainly. Well, first of all, I want to say thank you for this opportunity to share more about my experiences and my commitment to the university as well, so it’s a joy to be here. I came to Purdue back in 1990. Higher education was a field that I wasn’t even aware of at one point that was a professional field that you could go into, so as an undergrad, I worked as an RA in the residence halls and that’s when I first got my exposure to student affairs. I left the university and went to… Ohio University is where I had my first full-time career and it was in the affirmative action office and we were doing some multicultural student programming, and as we were developing that program, Purdue Black Cultural Center was one of the ones that we benchmarked and after I visited, I thought, “Man, that would be a wonderful place to work on a full-time basis.” Lo and behold, an opportunity became available and I accepted it, and 30 years later, I’m still here at Purdue University. 

Kate Young: Creating community and a sense of belonging for students is incredibly important here at Purdue. So how does Renee and her team work to achieve this? 

Renee Thomas: Belonging is so important. We know that students who have a sense of belonging tend to have higher retention at the university and they also tend to perform better academically. It’s important that we provide spaces at the university in which connections can be made because we know that part of the college experience is making lifelong friendships, so connections are important. And then it’s also important to have culturally relevant events and programs and activities and to have a very supportive environment. 

Kate Young: Absolutely. I still have friends from my time at Purdue, so usually in college you do make those lifelong connections I feel like. I know you talked about Purdue’s Black Cultural Center and you admiring it from afar in your first role and it’s nationally recognized as one of the best collegiate cultural centers in the country. So tell me a little bit more about your role when it came to expanding the Black Cultural Center and nurturing it to what it is today. 

Renee Thomas: From a facility standpoint, I’m very excited that we were one of the first freestanding cultural centers in the country and I was very much involved in the securing philanthropic support for the creation of the freestanding facility, and I tell people all the time, it’s not just about the bricks and mortar, but it’s about what happens inside the doors of the BCC and that we have a very robust performing arts ensemble program where they travel all over the country and world doing performance engagements. It’s a way in which the students have that sense of balance. Being a STEM focused campus, the arts is something that is critical in terms of the student having a holistic experience while they’re at the university. 

We also have introduced study abroad programs and research tours at the Black Cultural Center, and it provides students to become global citizens. We are rich institutionally as it relates to our international student population, and not only do students have an opportunity to interact with the international students here, but they also have opportunities to go abroad and get exposure on a global context as well. So we’re really proud about the performing arts ensemble program, which we have five different ensembles to share about the African-American experience through the arts, and it’s not just for African-American students. All students are engaged and actively participating in the Black Cultural Center. 

Kate Young: I know we had a Stephen McKinley Henderson on and he talked about being a citizen of the world and how much the Black Cultural Center and to him during his time at Purdue, so it was cool to see you using some of his language that he also mentioned. 

Renee Thomas: Yes, and it’s interesting because I always tell people that homecoming is usually my favorite time of the year in which alumni come back to the university and have time to reflect about what was important to them as an undergraduate or even a graduate student, and it’s just so affirming to hear the role that the Black Cultural Center has played in student development. It’s a joy to see the impact that many of our alumni are making and they always talk about how they got their start at Purdue University and through the Black Cultural Center programs and activities. 

Kate Young: I asked Renee about other examples of roles that Purdue’s Cultural Centers play in creating a sense of belonging for students. 

Renee Thomas: The cultural centers, not just the Black Cultural Center, but all five cultural centers play a huge role in creating a sense of belonging on campus. Representation is important and the cultural centers provide individuals on their team and staff that represent the populations that they’re serving. They provide culturally relevant programming to affirm our students in terms of their various ethnic identities on campus and it also is a congregating place, a place… We call it sometimes a home away from home for our students, where they can come in and, quote, unquote, “be themselves,” let their hair down and really just hang out with one another and have that sense of community. It builds a strong community and then leadership development as well. Our goal is to nurture the students in such a way that they develop some skills, abilities, and then whenever they leave Purdue, and even during their tenure at Purdue, is that they grow as it relates to their leadership. 

Kate Young: Renee discusses how her role has expanded since the announcements and official opening of Purdue University in Indianapolis on July 1st, 2024. 

Renee Thomas: I think that the primary area in which I’ve seen some expansion are that I’m really involved in some robust engagement initiatives with the city of Indianapolis and organizations throughout the community, and we’re looking to create some very strong partnerships through our outreach efforts, and in turn, we hope that those partnerships and we anticipate that those partnerships will turn into recruitment efforts so that we continue to bring in a very diverse set of students coming to the university and that we recognize too that we are coming into an existing community. Even though Purdue is new to the community, we are the new kids on the block, so we are also recognizing that we have a strong need to continue to familiarize ourselves with the local community and develop the necessary knowledge to engage them in meaningful ways. 

Kate Young: As we discussed earlier, Renee is the associate vice provost for student access and community engagement at Purdue. She discusses how it felt stepping into this role and how she used the three pillars of her work to ensure belonging for all boilermaker students. 

Renee Thomas: This role really was a unique opportunity and I am just so delighted that I have been able to transition into a full-time position. About a year ago, whenever Purdue and IU announced the separation of the two institutions, one of the things that was very paramount is the location of Purdue in Indianapolis. It sits on Indiana Avenue, which is a very historical and vibrant… African-American community existed there prior to the emergence of IUPUI 50 years ago. And as we moved into the community, we wanted to ensure that we were developing positive relationships with the community and because it was a predominantly African-American community, it made natural sense in terms of my passion for African-American culture and history to be able to network and familiarize myself with the local community and develop increased level of knowledge of the community. And that has been great. As I look at the position as associate vice provost for student access and community engagement, I tell people, “I like to look at it from a stool with three legs.” 

One of the legs is community engagement, one of the legs is K through 12 initiatives, and the other leg is student experience. Being able to have impact in each of those areas has been a joy. We’ve done several programming with their students who are currently enrolled as new boilermakers first-year students at Purdue University in Indianapolis and are continuing students. Again, creating that sense of community and sense of belonging. As it relates to the K through 12 area, that’s our pipeline. We know that we want to have more residents from the state of Indiana attending Purdue University and developing those pipeline programs with local school systems, whether it be with the principals, counseling staff and teachers at the various school systems. 

Kate Young: Community engagement is an important part of any student’s journey. With the Purdue and Indianapolis campuses proximity to Indiana Avenue, the Madam C.J. Walker Theater and other institutions of great importance to Indiana’s black community. Renee believes it’s essential to connect boilermakers students and alumni with this historical community. Renee discusses how she and her team are working to do this. 

Renee Thomas: We plan to do that through a variety of ways. We actually started out with BGR, the Boiler Gold Rush, which is the freshman orientation program. We were very intentional in that as we were hosting BGR activities, the main gathering space was the Madam C.J. Walker Center. And as you mentioned, Madam C.J. Walker was a very prominent African-American woman who started a hair care product business in Indianapolis and became the first African-American self-made millionaire and first female millionaire as well. So we actually had BGR at the Madam walker Center. We didn’t just host it at the Madam Walker Center, but we were able to share a video and share information about who Madam C.J. Walker was in the vibrancy of Indiana Avenue. 

As we look at Purdue in Indianapolis, we recognized that we are Purdue’s first urban campus and we want to take advantage of what the entire city has to offer our students at Purdue. Madam C.J. Walker is one example. Another example is the Eiteljorg Museum is right at the back door of Purdue in Indianapolis. We also have the Indiana State Museum and the zoo and so many other areas in which we are doing programming so that our students can be fully integrated into the entire… Not only campus community, but the city as well. 

Kate Young: Absolutely. I love everything around the canal, what you’re talking about, those different museums. It’s such a special place with that urban downtown feel, right? 

Renee Thomas: Exactly. 

Kate Young: Renee shares another example of how she works to help students find that sense of belonging in Indianapolis. 

Renee Thomas: We actually… Back in November, we did what we call a Friendsgiving activity. 

Kate Young: Oh, fun. 

Renee Thomas: And that was one of the largest gatherings that we had sponsored by our office in which we invited students to come into a space on campus and provided them Thanksgiving spread dinner, but not only did we do the dinner, we did a workshop on gratefulness and the importance of asset framing and affirming who we are as students at the university. So that’s just one example of many programming activities that we’ve done to create that sense of community and we’re continuing to leverage the ideas that students are coming to us with and asking them to get their input in terms of programmatic support, what is it that they need, and developing programs and response to them. 

Kate Young: Renee mentioned earlier how important that sense of belonging is during your college experience. It not only leads to higher retention and better academic performance, but it also can form lifelong bonds and connections. So what advice would Renee give to students at both the West Lafayette and Indy campuses when it comes to finding their fit and that sense of belonging during their college experience? 

Renee Thomas: Sometimes I think that as new students, we may be a little bit shy and bashful and not stretch yourselves in terms of relationship building. I think it’s important to stretch yourself on relationship building and stretch yourself as it relates to your academic goals, and I think that they will develop community in that sense of belonging by reaching beyond their inner circle. Whenever we come to a university, we tend to congregate with folks that look like us and think like us, and I would encourage them to be that rubber band and stretch outside of their boundaries and take advantage of everything that the university has to offer. 

Try something new, try something different that you haven’t done before and introduce yourselves. It’s amazing to me sometimes how students say, “Oh, well, I don’t feel comfortable just going up to someone and introducing myself or saying hi.” I think a lot of students have that feeling and if you break the ice, I think that relationships will be developed and that you will have that sense of community. And it may even be that you are walking through one of the buildings at Purdue in Indianapolis and say, “You know what? There’s a flyer advertising a trip to the zoo, or there’s a flyer advertising that the LGBTQ community is doing something at the Phoenix Theater.” Don’t just read those flyers, but stretch yourself like that rubber band and actually go to that program or that activity that you see promoted, and again, introduce yourself while you’re there. 

Kate Young: I love that analogy of the rubber band and I think that’s so true because even as adults in networking situations or at a wedding or at a party, the worst part is the anticipation of going up and introducing yourself, but as soon as you break the ice, like you said, it’s very natural and you feel so proud of yourself for doing that, right? 

Renee Thomas: Exactly. Yes. 

Kate Young: Renee has been at Purdue for 35 years now. I asked her about a few key moments that she’s most proud of when it comes to creating a welcoming environment and fostering this Boilermaker community. 

Renee Thomas: Well, that’s hard to narrow it down to just one or two things. I think one of my proudest moments was whenever we opened the doors of the new black Cultural Center Facility. And again, it wasn’t necessarily about the bricks and mortar, but it was about the activities that happen in there. Another proud moment has been some of our research tours that we’ve taken in which we’ve gone to various cities and really dived into the African-American experience with the arts. Another proud moment has just been the people that I’ve met here at Purdue University. We are a world-class institution and we attract some of the best and brightest minds, not only in the nation, but the best and brightest in the world, and to be able to have relationships with those individuals has been a proud moment. And as I mentioned earlier, homecoming is always a proud moment for me to know that some of the work that I’ve done over the years has played a very positive impact on the success of students in terms of developing their self-confidence and their self-advocacy and their willingness to be their authentic selves. 

Kate Young: Speaking of the boilermaker community and its people being special, in the fall of 2024, Renee was awarded the Special Boilermaker Award, which honors a member of the Purdue faculty or staff who has contributed significantly to the improvement of the quality of life or the betterment of the educational experience for Purdue students. You may remember our recent This is Purdue podcast guest, Antony Cawdron, was also a recipient of this award. Renee shares what this honor meant to her. 

Renee Thomas: That was one of the most humbling and emotional experiences I’ve had at Purdue. The actual award was announced by the Alumni Association at a family dinner, which is a gathering that the Office of Diversity Inclusion and Belonging does on an annual basis, and I was emceeing that dinner and at the very end of the dinner they announced this Special Boilermaker Award, and I was thinking that it was… I wasn’t sure what was going on in terms of the program, and to hear my name announced, it was just overwhelming. And then to have the honor bestowed at the football game, which was sold out, and it was just an incredible fan experience that intercollegiate athletics has created. I had not been in the stadium probably a couple of years prior to COVID, and I was like, “Oh my gosh, I have to get season tickets now. This is just such incredible, vibrant, over-the-top experience.” So it’s been very humbling and also a time of reflection for me. 

Kate Young: That’s an interesting twist that you were emceeing the event and then they said that you won it. That’s awesome. 

Renee Thomas: It was quite an emotional time and totally unexpected. It was more than I could have ever imagined. 

Kate Young: Renee also received the Indiana Civil Rights Commission’s Achievement and Education Award in 2024. This award recognizes an educator who has used innovative strategies to promote growth and achievement for their students. Renee explains more about this incredible honor and what it means to her, plus she reflects on her career and those initial goals she had coming into the Boilermaker community. 

Renee Thomas: That award was presented by the Indiana Civil Rights Commission, and I must say I saw this award as being a community-wide award. Yes, I was named as the recipient, but I recognize that I stand on the shoulders of so many that come before me and have paved the way, and I just felt that it was a pinnacle moment in my career and one that I know that it was a result of a community-wide efforts in terms of the importance of educating individuals within the state of Indiana. It was just very pivotal and one in which, again, I think that sometimes we don’t always recognize tireless efforts of others and how that has played a critical role in catapulting us to our successes, and there’s many esteemed leaders on campus that I admire and feel that they are part of the receipt of this award as well. 

Kate Young: Absolutely. How does it feel to be a leader who’s increasing opportunity for all different types of students throughout the state of Indiana? 

Renee Thomas: I feel that education has the potential to transform people, to create opportunities that they may or may not have had otherwise, and the fact that I can play a small part of that transformation has been very rewarding. The testimonials that I hear from students and the brilliance that they bring to the campus as well, I think that sometimes we don’t always asset frame our students and recognizing that they have so much to give and that we are educating individuals that will discover a cure for cancer. We’re educating individuals that will be role models and mentors to youth. We are educating individuals that hopefully will cure climate issues in our world, and it is just amazing to have some small part in the many, many attributes that Purdue alumni carry forward. 

Kate Young: I love that. You talked about reflecting back on your career when you won these two different massive awards this year. When you look back on your career when you first started, was it always a goal for you to be creating this sense of community, increasing opportunities for students? What would you say when you look back? 

Renee Thomas: I would say that Purdue has created an environment in which I have been able to flourish and thrive, and I am so appreciative of that. When I first came to the institution, I came here thinking, “Oh, three to five years, I’ll move on to the next opportunity, whatever it happens to be.” Little did I know I will be putting a number behind that three. It wouldn’t be just 3, but 30 plus years, and that really speaks to the environment that exists here that we work at an institution that is dedicated to excellence. We work at an institution that embraces creativity. We work at an institution that wants everyone to be better than their former selves, and in talking with some of my colleagues at other institutions and other professions, not everybody has that opportunity to work in such a supportive environment. I am grateful for that and I am appreciative of it as well. 

Kate Young: Renee also reflects on her personal mentors and how they’ve impacted her career and how she approaches her role here at Purdue. 

Renee Thomas: When I think about my mentors, one in particular was a faculty member at my undergraduate institution. She believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself, and I think that that is something that I try to instill upon students today because some of the students that come here, Purdue is a challenging environment, and I think that some students have doubts and fears whenever they come, and it’s important to see them successful even before they see themselves as being successful. That’s something that I have carried with me. And then even here at Purdue, there are several mentors and role models that I look to that I think some of them are not even aware that I see them as role models and mentors, but the way in which they carry themselves, the way in which they engage in very complex and challenging conversations and still maintain their integrity and authenticity is something that I always look towards and find that is an inspiration. 

Kate Young: Finally, I asked Renee why she’s continued to stay at Purdue for the past three and a half decades. What does this special boilermaker community mean to her? 

Renee Thomas: At the end of the day, the boilermaker community means to me, possibilities. Purdue’s community is a place in which you can come and explore all kinds of possibilities and not only explore those possibilities, but to make them become reality. And that’s the beauty of the institution, is that it creates an environment in which you can explore a variety of possibilities and not only do the exploration, but also implement those possibilities and come to the realization that those possibilities become achievable goals. 

Kate Young: Well, Renee, we can’t thank you enough for joining us today. Is there anything else that you think is important to share with our listeners? 

Renee Thomas: I just want to share with the listeners to take full advantage of the opportunities that exist here on campus and recognizing that collaboration is absolutely critical. We don’t do it alone, and it’s important that we continue to dedicate ourselves to the work that exists here. 

Kate Young: Absolutely. Well, again, we so appreciate your time and we’re excited to share this episode out with the world. 

Renee Thomas: Thank you so much, Kate. I appreciate the opportunity. 

Kate Young: We’re so thankful Renee joined us on This is Purdue to discuss her impactful career. Our boilermaker students are lucky to have a leader like Renee. You can watch Renee and learn how students can find involvement and connection at Purdue on our podcast YouTube page, YouTube.com/@thisispurdue. And remember to follow This is Purdue on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts, as we continue to roll out new episodes for our Spring 2025 season. This is Purdue is hosted and written by me, Kate Young. Our podcast videography for this episode was led by Ted Schellenberger and Thad Boone. Our social media marketing is led by Maria Welch. 

Our podcast distribution strategy is led by Teresa Walker and Carly Eastman. Our podcast design is led by Caitlyn Freville. Our podcast photography is led by John Underwood. Our podcast team project manager is Rain Gu. Our podcast team YouTube Promotions is managed by Kierstin Bauman. Additional writing and research assistance is led by Sophie Ritz and Ashvini Malshe. And our This is Purdue intern is Caroline Kime. Thanks for listening to This is Purdue. For more information on this episode, visit our website at purdue.edu/podcasts. There you can head over to your favorite podcast app to subscribe and leave us a review. And as always, boiler up.