News & Stories

The Broader Impact Fellows Program will foster the development of broader-scale impact across mission areas for faculty and staff. The program will specifically focus on integrating broader
impact in grant submissions and enhancing multi-dimensional impact at the community level.

Indiana GEAR UP was a federally funded postsecondary education access grant. It was designed to deliver statewide programming to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education, especially in STEM fields. The program was a collaboration between Purdue University and the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (ICHE).

As 2025 Purdue United Way campaign champion, Jim Bullard, the Dr. Samuel R. Allen Dean of the Mitch Daniels School of Business, brings a global perspective and a deep commitment to local impact. Having worked with United Way organizations nationally and internationally, he shares his insights on the power of giving local, the importance of community partnership, and what inspires him both personally and professionally.

The inaugural Community Engagement, Research and Impact Grant awardees have been announced! This funding initiative supports interdisciplinary faculty teams collaborating with communities to advance research, education and engagement outcomes.

Answers to common questions about how your Purdue United Way contribution makes an impact.

See why people are choosing to give to United Way in 2025. Hear from Lea Greathouse, G. Kenitra Hendrix, Terri Griffin and Rich Ryffel

Stories, spotlights, and opportunities from Purdue’s Office of Engagement – featuring faculty, staff, students, and community partners making an impact.

The Purdue United Way Board Fellows Program connects local nonprofit organizations with talented Purdue students who are eager to make a difference. Through this yearlong fellowship, students serve as non-voting members on nonprofit boards – bringing fresh ideas, thoughtful analysis, and strategic recommendations to the table.

Stories, spotlights, and opportunities from Purdue’s Office of Engagement – featuring faculty, staff, students, and community partners making an impact.

Women United is an initiative of United Way of Greater Lafayette, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health, education, and financial stability of every person in Tippecanoe County. Women United focuses specifically on bringing women together to support families and children through programs, initiatives, fundraising, and community leadership.

Engaged Purdue faculty, staff, student, and partner news + profiles + opportunities for development and recognition from the Office of Engagement.

St. Matthew Community Preschool West campus officially opened for business on June 27, set to serve up to 76 children.

Engaged Purdue faculty, staff, student, and partner news + profiles + opportunities for development and recognition from the Office of Engagement.

The Purdue University Office of Engagement is launching its inaugural Community Engagement, Research and Impact Grant to support interdisciplinary faculty teams collaborating with communities to advance research, education, and engagement outcomes. The grant emphasizes reciprocal relationships and measurable community impact aligned with Purdue’s land-grant mission.

First formed in January 2020, the Center for Health Excellence, Quality, and Innovation (CHEQI) was created within Purdue University’s College of Pharmacy. The center is composed of an interdisciplinary team of faculty, staff, and students who are committed to promoting health access alongside community partners.

Engaged Purdue faculty, staff, student, and partner news + profiles + opportunities for development and recognition from the Office of Engagement.

More than 20 nonprofit organizations from across the region gathered at Purdue University on April 15 for the Nonprofit Executive Leadership Forum, hosted by the Office of Engagement. The event served as a launchpad for deeper partnerships between the university and the local nonprofit community – aimed at expanding and strengthening the region’s collective impact.

Engaged Purdue faculty, staff, student, and partner news + profiles + opportunities for development and recognition from the Office of Engagement.

Engaged Purdue faculty, staff, student, and partner news + profiles + opportunities for development and recognition from the Office of Engagement.

Purdue Extension hosted the first Wabash Heartland Region Child Care Summit on Feb. 22, bringing together providers, community partners, and stakeholders to strengthen early childhood care in the region. Purdue’s First Lady, Kei Hui, opened the day with welcoming remarks, emphasizing the university’s commitment to supporting child care providers through education, resources, and community partnerships.

The Office of Engagement at Purdue University hosted the inaugural Community Impact Summit on March 4—an event that brought together more than 140 changemakers including faculty, innovators, community leaders, and philanthropic partners to amplify collective efforts for community transformation.

Childrens Garden Carroll County had a ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the opening of Carroll County’s newest preschool and childcare facility.

On March 4, 2025, the Purdue Office of Engagement held its inaugural Purdue Community Impact Summit and Awards Luncheon. This event honors individuals and groups whose work has significantly elevated Purdue University’s community impact through engaged scholarship. The awards celebrate outstanding partnerships, innovative solutions to community challenges, and contributions that enhance Purdue’s national and international reputation.

Purdue University Office of Engagement is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jason Ware as the new Office of Engagement Fellow. In this role, Ware will focus on clinical and tenure track faculty development in engagement, helping to strengthen the university’s commitment to the scholarship of engagement and community impact.

Engaged Purdue faculty, staff, student, and partner news + profiles + opportunities for development and recognition from the Office of Engagement.

St. Matthew Community Preschool and the United Way of Clinton County announced have announced plans for construction of a new preschool and childcare facility.

Engaged Purdue faculty, staff, student, and partner news + profiles + opportunities for development and recognition from the Office of Engagement.

Dr. Natalia Rodriguez is an associate professor with the College of Health and Human Sciences in the Department of Public Health. Additionally, she has a courtesy appointment with the College of Engineering in the Department of Biomedical Engineering.

Our 2024 Recap + Build Your Boilermaker Pipeline impacts and highlights + a call for engagement award nominations.

In a dynamic global job market, Indiana employers are gaining a competitive edge by connecting with Purdue University’s talent pool.

Engaged Purdue faculty, staff, student, and partner news + profiles + opportunities for development and recognition from the Office of Engagement.

Ashley Sanders has been selected as the new Senior Administrative Assistant for the Office of Engagement. In this role, Sanders will be undertaking a variety of tasks, such as: providing administrative support, managing calendars, and coordinating meetings and events. On top of that, she will be working closely with the team to ensure smooth operations to achieve OoE’s goals. 

Purdue University’s Department of Food Science is a leader in food innovation, research, and community engagement, dedicated to advancing food safety, quality, and sustainability. Through partnerships with industry and initiatives like the Food Entrepreneurship and Manufacturing Institute (FEMI) and the Aseptic Processing Workshop, the department provides hands-on education and impactful research that support industry growth and prepare students for meaningful careers. With a focus on experiential learning and societal impact, Purdue Food Science continues to drive change in food science education and industry standards.

Engaged Purdue faculty, staff, student, and partner news + profiles + opportunities for development and recognition from the Office of Engagement.

Purdue United Way continues to work toward its goal of fundraising $700,000 for local agencies in need and adding 150 new donors to its roster by inviting the campus community to donate, volunteer and take part in campaign activities this fall.

Online job matching platform provides Purdue students with a direct connection to leading employers in the state.

Engaged Purdue faculty, staff, student, and partner news + profiles + opportunities for development and recognition from the Office of Engagement.

The 2024 Purdue United Way campaign is now underway, with the goal of raising $700,000 for local agencies in need and adding 150 new donors to its roster.

Purdue United Way is thrilled to announce the return of its popular Silent Auction, set to run during the heart of the 2024 campaign – October 7 to November 1, 2024. This annual event has become a fun highlight of our campus fundraising, and this year’s auction is set to be the best one yet!

Engaged Purdue faculty, staff, student, and partner news + profiles + opportunities for development and recognition from the Office of Engagement.

Purdue University has long been recognized for its commitment to community engagement—defined as the collaboration with communities for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity, a key component of its mission as a land-grant institution. The Engaged College Program (ECP), a new initiative developed by the Office of Engagement, is a significant step forward in integrating and enhancing the impact of engagement efforts across its units. The ECP is designed to help colleges identify their engagement practices while providing the support needed for improvement.

Purdue University invites Boilermaker fans to join in celebrating community educators at the Golden Hammer Educator Appreciation football game on Saturday, Aug. 31, during Purdue’s season opener against Indiana State University. Supported by Purdue Athletics and other university departments, the event honors the dedication of local educators, with special on-field recognition for nominees of Teacher of the Year and the Golden Apple Award. Educators can also enjoy discounted tickets and pre-game activities at Boilermaker Crossing. Don’t miss this chance to celebrate those shaping our future!

Natasha Harris was recently awarded the Jefferson Award for her impact on Equity and Inclusion. Harris has been with Purdue University for the past twelve years. Currently, she is the Associate Director of Diversity in the College of Science. Her work focuses on fostering personal and professional growth among students and highlighting the importance of doing so among a diverse population.

The campus wide kickoff will take place at Purdue Mall on Tuesday, September 24 from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Along with members of the Purdue United Way team, we will be joined by Purdue Pete, the Purdue Golduster Dance Team, and the Boilermaker Xtra Special as well as a few other surprises. For those looking to donate, there will be Jimmy John’s sandwiches and shaved ice – all donations will go directly to the Purdue United Way campaign.

Engaged Purdue faculty, staff, student, and partner news + profiles + opportunities for development and recognition from the Office of Engagement.

Madia Bickett was awarded the Jefferson Award for her work with the Stockwell Farmers Market, which she created five years ago after moving to Stockwell, Indiana.

Following a successful 2023 Purdue United Way campaign, Purdue University has selected Dimitrios Peroulis and Sang Eun Woo to lead the 2024 effort as chair and vice chair.

After the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) was signed into law in 2021, Indiana gained two key opportunities to address the digital divide: the Broadband Equity, Adoption, and Deployment (BEAD) and the Digital Equity (DE) programs. Addressing the digital divide is crucial for improving community quality of life and economic development. Recognizing this, Purdue University, as Indiana’s land-grant institution, took swift action to contribute in two significant ways.

Alessandro Maria Selvitella serves as an Assistant Professor of Data Science and Applied Statistics at Purdue University Fort Wayne (PFW). Selvitella became a Service-Learning Fellow in the spring of 2021, directing his efforts toward incorporating service-learning perspectives into his course, STAT 490 – Data Science Methods in Epidemiology – COVID-19. He underscores the importance of ensuring that what we learn translates into tangible benefits for the communities we inhabit.

Engaged Purdue faculty, staff, student, and partner news + profiles + opportunities for development and recognition from the Office of Engagement.

From formerly working as a community banker, to becoming a Clinical Associate Professor at Purdue with a focus on community well-being, to collaborating with organizations such as Mount Hope Church, The Faith Community Development Corporation, and Habitat for Humanity in service-learning projects, Dr. Jason Ware champions “translating research to create tools and resources that impact the human condition.”

Manabu Taketani recently received the 2024 Jefferson Award for his commitment to serving the Greater Lafayette community and making it a better place for everyone. For the last six years, Taketani has been working at Purdue University as the Program Administrator of the Asian American and Asian Resource and Cultural Center (also known as AAARCC – pronounced as ark).

Executive director, Sujatha Ramani, and the team at Imagination Station are playing a vital role in enhancing STEM literacy among children through hands-on learning experiences. Their collaboration with the Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) program at Purdue University, led by graduate students like Emmanuel Babalola, is making a significant impact on the community.

Engaged Purdue faculty, staff, student, and partner news + profiles + opportunities for development and recognition from the Office of Engagement.

On April 30, 2024, the Purdue Office of Engagement held its annual Engagement Awards Luncheon, honoring individuals and groups whose work has significantly elevated Purdue University’s societal impact through engaged scholarship. The awards celebrate outstanding partnerships, innovative solutions to community challenges, and contributions that enhance Purdue’s national and international reputation.

Laura Bittner and Barbara Young, both professors in Purdue University’s Patti and Rusty Rueff School of Design, Art, and Performance, have been instrumental in integrating service-learning and community engagement into their teaching practices.

Dieudonne Baributsa leads an international extension and engagement program delivering innovative postharvest solutions that aim to serve 500 million smallholder farmers. Baributsa uses the Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) Bag to reach these smallholder farmers. The PICS Bags initially saw their use in West Africa as storage for cowpeas. The use of this product has now expanded to several crops and regions of Africa. It has recently made its way into Central and South America as well as Asia.

Indraneel Kumar, associate director and principal regional planner of the Purdue Center for Regional Development (PCRD), will take on the role of director of PCRD starting May 1.

Michelle McBrite, facility & event manager at the Dick and Sandy Dauch Alumni Center, received the Franciscan Health Community Impact Award at the United Way of Greater Lafayette volunteer luncheon for her work with The Salvation Army. This esteemed award recognizes individuals whose volunteer efforts have made a significant difference within the surrounding community.

Karen is a professor in the School of Nursing, has been instrumental in conducting research and de-stigmatizing conversations around nontraditional families, which include adoptive, foster, and kinship parents, and the challenges they face after the child is home. Through her engagement, she has helped others gain a better understanding of the mental health issues experienced by these parents. With knowledge acquired from Foli’s research, nurses, as well as adoption professionals, can apply best practices to serve those who need it.

Engaged Purdue faculty, staff, student, and partner news + profiles + opportunities for development and recognition from the Office of Engagement.

We, at the Office of Engagement (OoE), are very grateful for working closely with the Purdue community and our external partners. The OoE has gone through a transition over the past year, and we are excited about what is ahead.

Janelle Tipton is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing at Purdue University. Because she went from being a practicing nurse in Ohio to a professor in Indiana, she was able to bring hands-on experience into her teaching methods with a focus on topics of public health. Tipton’s previous history of partnering with nonprofits and community organizations followed her to Purdue’s West Lafayette campus, where she made connections with ease.

Ashley Conner has been selected as the new community coordinator for the Office of Engagement. In this role, Conner will be working to support and grow Purdue’s child care programs.

Engaged Purdue faculty, staff, student, and partner news + profiles + opportunities for development and recognition from the Office of Engagement.

On February 29, 2024, hundreds of faculty, staff, students, and community partners from across the state gathered at the Discovery Learning Research Center to celebrate giant leaps in community engagement and local impact.

Students from across Purdue’s campuses showcased community engagement projects as part of service-learning courses or engagement with organizations at the 2024 Purdue Engagement and Service-Learning Summit.

You may recall, the Purdue Broadband Team or PBT launched in October of last year with the intent of increasing awareness on tools to improve broadband data. Most of you have likely conducted speed tests, checked your address and broadband service listed in the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) broadband map, or may have signed up for the Indiana Connectivity Program or ICP.

Rena Sterrett and Jake Newton work to provide resources to military and veteran families through the Military Family Research Institute and its Reaching Rural Veterans program. 

Engaged Purdue faculty, staff, student, and partner news + profiles + opportunities for development and recognition from the Office of Engagement.

Harris Collins, an undergraduate Teaching Assistant (TA) in the Purdue Honors College, hopes to help his audience understand the value of expanding their research umbrellas to their own backyards by considering how they utilize resources in his Engagement and Service-Learning Summit lighting talk, “Centering the Urban Periphery: Service Learning and Community Engagement in Your Own Backyard.”

Engaged faculty like Erin Hoying strive to build connections and inspire caring actions through teaching, collaboration, and service-learning.

The United Way of Greater Lafayette celebrated partnerships, community impact, and positive change at its 2024 annual meeting and awards ceremony, held on January 24 at the River City Community Center in Lafayette.

Meet Pink Phoenix, the leader of the Vetahumanz League of superheroes, a group of veterinarians and veterinary students dedicated to diversifying the veterinary profession. Founded by Sandra San Miguel, D.V.M., Ph.D., the league, supported by the NIGMS Science Education Partnership Award, engages with elementary students nationwide.

Engaged community partner leaders like Jason McManus strive to provide experiential opportunities for students to take academic inquiry beyond the classroom and impact the community.

Students like Emmanuel Babalola embark on tireless exploration into the persistent gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application and strive to witness the real-world implications of what they have learned.

Engaged Purdue faculty, staff, student, and partner news + profiles + opportunities for development and recognition from the Office of Engagement.

Dr. Nicole Adams’ background in Nursing and Health Policy originally drew her to joining an initiative formerly known as the Tippecanoe County Opioid Task Force. Adams said that while the opioid crisis is the public health crisis of the century, it is also a policy crisis, “because a lot of the policies that have played a part in creating the problem also create barriers to addressing the problem.”

Purdue University has received a five-year, $25 million grant from Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment Inc. through its statewide initiative, College and Community Collaboration. The grant will support highly collaborative efforts with community partners to improve early childhood education, child care and transportation access in a seven-county region.

Cara Kinnally is an associate professor in the School of Languages and Cultures at Purdue University. As a professor of Spanish and Latin American Studies, she prioritizes teaching through a lens of social justice. To Kinnally, this looks like: (1) Giving students the space and time to reflect, (2) having them consider their positionality within the topic, & (3) encouraging students to sit on any discomfort they might feel while urging them to think.

In 2022, Indiana managers posted more than 119,000 jobs seeking applicants with a college degree, but were only able to fill 39,000 of those positions. Responding to employer challenges in connecting graduates and open positions, the Purdue University Office of Engagement convened campus partners and Indiana companies at Build Your Boilermaker Pipeline, a daylong talent engagement strategy session. The event supports Indiana employers seeking to access the Purdue talent pipeline and recruit amidst global competition.

Engaged Purdue faculty, staff, student, and partner news + profiles + opportunities for development and recognition from the Office of Engagement.

The Office of Service-Learning has selected 11 Purdue instructors for the spring 2024 Service-Learning fellows cohorts.

Andrea DeMaria is an associate professor who takes the ‘public’ in Public Health seriously. As an educator in the Department of Public Health her goal is to get scientific findings into the hands of the people who need it and those who can use it to positively affect policy concerning women’s health. DeMaria was set to become a Service-Learning (SL) Fellow, but unfortunately the shutdown prompted by the pandemic prevented her from completing her service-learning course as desired.

The Purdue community demonstrated tremendous support for the 2023 Purdue United Way campaign, raising $704,188 for local nonprofits to surpass this year’s goal of $700,000.

Suining Ding, Ph.D. is a professor of Interior Design at Purdue University Fort Wayne and a lifetime scholar dedicated to curating service-learning experiences for herself, her students, and the greater community.

The Office of Engagement is excited to announce the creation of a nonprofit engagement director position. Lisa Duncan who has been with the Office of Engagement since 2014 moved into this new role on October 23. This position was created to better serve nonprofit agencies and community partners within the greater Lafayette area surrounding region and to advance the university’s land-grant mission.

The United Way of Greater Lafayette recently celebrated a significant milestone: 100 years of service to our local community. This century of dedication has seen remarkable growth and immense community impact. Through collaborations with Purdue University and various community partnerships, the United Way of Greater Lafayette has raised over $180 million to support the people of our region, working with 27 local Tippecanoe County agencies to create a more vibrant and equitable community for all.

Engaged Purdue faculty, staff, student, and partner news + profiles + opportunities for development and recognition from the Office of Engagement.

The COVID-19 pandemic shed a very bright light on homes and individuals that could not work from home, complete e-Learning, engage in telehealth, or do things online due to a lack of adequate internet—also known as the digital divide. On the other hand, did you know that there were 2.8 million more online microbusinesses between 2019 and 2020? As the economy and society continue to digitize, being on the wrong side of the divide impacts competitiveness and affects quality of life.

Purdue University is taking a leading role to help ensure all Indiana families and businesses have access to affordable broadband internet service.

United Way of Greater Lafayette celebrates its 100th anniversary. Learn about the extensive history of Purdue’s campaign on campus in partnership with the organization.

The Purdue United Way campaign has begun. Read why members of the Purdue community are inspired to contribute to the campaign.

Engaged Purdue faculty, staff, student, and partner news + profiles + opportunities for development and recognition from the Office of Engagement.

The 2023 Purdue United Way campaign will kick off Wednesday (Sept. 20), with the goal of raising $700,000 for local agencies in need.

Join us at Hovde Fountain Wednesday, September 20^th from 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m for the Purdue United Way kickoff as we celebrate the campaign and another year of community impact.

Purdue University’s Societal Impact Fellows Program received a top-10 nod at the 2023 Social Innovator of the Year Awards.

Nicholas G. Burgmeier and Purdue colleagues have worked with Cummins to help the hellbenders keep their home in Indiana’s Blue River.