A meeting of the Academic and Student Affairs Committee of the Board of Trustees convened at 8:57 a.m. on Friday, August 2, 2024, in Stewart Center, Room 326 on the campus of Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.

Committee members present included: JoAnn Brouillette, chair; Kevin Boes; Vanessa Castagna; and Shawn Taylor. Other trustees present: Sonny Beck; Michael Berghoff; Malcolm DeKryger; Michael Klipsch, and Gary Lehman. Theresa Carter participated via conference call.

Officers and administrators in attendance: Mung Chiang, president; Patrick Wolfe, provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and diversity; Chris Ruhl, chief financial officer and treasurer; Eva Nodine, senior vice president, assistant treasurer, and assistant secretary; Steve Schultz, general counsel; Cindy Ream, corporate secretary and senior executive assistant to the Board; and Ron Elsenbaumer, chancellor, Purdue University Fort Wayne.

I. (WL) APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Committee voted unanimously to approve the minutes for the meeting convened on June 7, 2024.

II. (WL) APPROVAL TO APPOINT THE BLACUTT-UNDERWOOD HEAD OF MATERIALS ENGINEERING

Provost Wolfe submitted the request for approval to appoint Dr. David Bahr as the Blacutt-Underwood Head of Materials Engineering. Dr. Bahr has been a professor in the School of Materials Engineering since 2012. His areas of interest include mechanical properties of thin films, micromechanics of deformation, corrosion and environmentally assisted failure in bulk materials and thin films, and general materials reliability.

Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval of Dr. Bahr’s appointment as the Blacutt-Underwood Head of Materials Engineering. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.

Dr. Bahr thanked the Board for the honor and shared his gratitude for the generosity of Brian and Carol Blacutt-Underwood and their support of the school.

III. (WL) APPROVAL TO APPOINT THE DANE A. MILLER HEAD OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING

Provost Wolfe submitted the request for approval to appoint Dr. Kevin Otto as the Dane A. Miller Head of Biomedical Engineering. Dr. Otto is a leader in Biomedical Engineering through cutting-edge research improving the ability to understand complex signals in the brain and through translational research to improve health and well-being.

Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval of Dr. Otto’s appointment as the Dane A. Miller Head of Biomedical Engineering. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.

Dr. Otto shared that he is grateful for the opportunity and noted it is the best job in the country. He thanked his parents for being there and for their support.

IV. (WL) APPROVAL TO APPOINT THE REILLY PROFESSOR OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING

Provost Wolfe respectfully requested approval to appoint Dr. Zhihong Chen as the Reilly Professorship in Electrical and Computer Engineering. He noted Dr. Chen’s distinguished career and groundbreaking contributions in nanoelectronics make her the ideal choice for a named professorship. Her research has had significant impact in the field of nanoelectronics and is comprehensive covering the development, characterization and exploration of the electronic and optical properties of novel materials.

Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval of Dr. Chen’s appointment as the Reilly Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.

Dr. Chen thanked the Board for the honor and shared her appreciation for the leadership of the College of Engineering and the university. She noted the platform she has through Purdue has provided opportunities that she would not have otherwise which have helped her realize her dreams.

V. (WL) APPROVAL OF APPOINT THE DONALD A. AND PATRICIA A. COATES PROFESSOR OF INNOVATION IN MECHANICAL ENGINEERING

Provost Wolfe requested approval to appoint Dr. Shirley Dyke as the Donald A. and Patricia A. Coates Professor of Mechanical and Civil Engineering. He shared that Dr. Dyke is world-renowned in the fields of structural dynamics and control, smart infrastructure systems, and resilient systems engineering. She has received multiple career awards and has published over 149 refereed journal publications making her one of the most highly cited scholars in the field.

Upon proper motion duly made and seconded, the Academic and Student Affairs Committee voted unanimously to recommend full Board approval of Dr. Dyke’s appointment as the Donald A. and Patricia A. Coates Professor of Innovation in Mechanical Engineering. Supporting materials were filed with the minutes.

Dr. Dyke thanked the Board and stated it has been an honor and a pleasure to be at Purdue. She commented that what makes Purdue special is the people. She shared she looks forward to bringing innovation deeper into Mechanical Engineering and seeing that come to fruition, which is the dream that Don Coates has always been pushing for.

VI. UNIVERSITY SENATE REPORT

University senate chair Susan South was out of town and Dr. Mark Zimpfer, Senate Vice Chair provided the report. He provided updates on Implementing Regulations on SB 202, the Ad Hoc Committee on Graduate Programs and Mitch Daniels School of Business reorganization. A copy of the presentation was filed with the minutes.

VII.  ADJOURNMENT

By consent, the meeting adjourned at 9:20 a.m.