Event

Community Impact Summit

“When you harness the power of a world-class research university like Purdue and community partners practicing in the field, the ingredients are there for very potent innovations.”
Jason McManus
President & CEO, Wabash Center

Join us for this special event: the inaugural Purdue Community Impact Summit and Awards Luncheon, presented by the Purdue Office of Engagement.

When

Tuesday – March 4, 2025
10:00 AM – 2:15 PM

Registration

Register Here
 

Summit Snapshot

Join us for the inaugural Purdue Community Impact Summit and Awards Luncheon, presented by the Purdue Office of Engagement. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. for check-in with coffee and pastries. Seating is limited to incorporate a plated luncheon.

Return to your day energized by what’s possible when universities + community partners pool passion and expertise for the greater good. We can’t wait to see you there.

Agenda Highlights

  • Keynote from Adam Gamoran, President of the William T. Grant Foundation
  • Lunch & launch of the new Purdue + community partner impact awards
  • The Engagement Exchange: interact with 7 featured Purdue-community collaborations + engaging roundtable chats around your impact interest areas
  • Lightning talks, panels, and what’s next for Purdue + community impact in Indiana and beyond
 

What to Expect

  • Connecting community changemakers + catalyzing new collaborations
  • Recognizing exemplary community impact partnerships in Indiana and beyond
  • Showcasing inspiring Purdue & community partnerships that leverage university innovation, talent development, and other resources to make the world a better place – together
 

Awards Lunch Celebration

The Purdue Community Impact Summit Awards Lunch celebrates and rewards promising and best-in-class Purdue-community impact partnerships. Learn more about the different engagement awards below.

 

Presenter Information

The Community Impact Summit presenters are highlighted below. Be sure to check the event agenda for presentation times and topics.

  • Keynote

    Adam Gamoran

    President, William T. Grant Foundation

    Adam leads the William T. Grant Foundation, advancing research on reducing youth inequality and improving policy decisions. A former University of Wisconsin-Madison professor, he chaired its Sociology Department and directed the Wisconsin Center for Education Research. A national leader in education policy, he has advised the National Academies and received top honors for his contributions to research.

  • Lightning

    Natalia Rodriguez

    Associate Professor of Public Health & Biomedical Engineering

    Dr. Natalia Rodriguez is an Associate Professor of Public Health and Biomedical Engineering at Purdue University. She leads an interdisciplinary research group focused on the design and implementation of novel technologies to address health disparities. In partnership with local organizations, her research engages unhoused communities in translational science to improve health outcomes for this uniquely vulnerable population. Dr. Rodriguez is the recipient of a 2023 NIH Director’s New Innovator Award.

  • Lightning

    Ellen Schellhase

    Clinical Professor & Director of International Engagement, College of Pharmacy

    Ellen Schellhase, PharmD, is a Clinical Professor and Director of International Engagement at the College of Pharmacy. She serves as the Program Coordinator for the Purdue Kenya Partnership (PKP) and the Purdue Associate Executive Director for AMPATH, the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare. Her research and engagement are focused on the AMPATH practice site in Eldoret, Kenya, global engagement and global health education. In addition to her work within AMPATH, she has developed an internal medicine APPE at University of Antioquia in Medellin, Colombia and coordinates a clinical research APPE at Barts Health in London, England. She has collaborated with students and community partners to build a robust service learning program that coordinates with the PKP activities within Kenya.

Event Agenda

9:30 AM
Doors Open
10:00 AM
Welcome & Engagement Updates
10:30 AM
Keynote The Future of Higher Ed is Community Impact – Adam Gamoran, President of the William T. Grant Foundation
11:00 AM
3 Pillars Panel
11:30 AM
Lightning Talks
11:45 PM
Awards Luncheon
12:30 PM
Engagement Exchange
2:00 PM
What’s Next in Purdue Engagement
2:15 PM
Summit Concludes