News | College of Health and Human Sciences

Thirty-eight faculty members from the College of Health and Human Sciences were honored Nov. 29 for their years of service to Purdue University during the Faculty Service Recognition Luncheon, hosted by the Office of the Provost in the Purdue Memorial Union’s North Ballroom.

Congratulations to Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) student-athletes who earned Academic All-Big Ten honors this fall.

An examination of nationally representative data indicates nonpregnant women of reproductive age with iron deficiency have higher prevalence of depressive symptom scores than those with iron sufficiency, particularly among women of low income.

Congratulations to the College of Health and Human Sciences winners of the poster and presentation competitions from the Purdue University Office of Undergraduate Research Fall Expo.

Named the Purdue University Department of Public Health’s Graduate Student of the Year in 2022, Karrah Teruya’s journey from receiving a life-changing cancer diagnosis to becoming a Master of Health Administration (MHA) candidate inspired her professors and graduate cohort alike. Now that she’s finished the program and walked across the graduation stage, Teruya is celebrating her accomplishment.

Rainey Michael always knew she wanted to pursue her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree to make a difference in preventative care for vulnerable populations. With her plans to advance her leadership in patient care and shape health policy, Michael’s decision to attend Purdue University’s DNP program, which ranks among the top 10% in the country, was an easy one.

Cody Mullen, clinical associate professor in the Purdue University Department of Public Health, sees AI’s implementation into hospitals and clinics as a collaborative and useful tool that shouldn’t come at the cost of human jobs.

A woman stands in a dimly lit living room and begins addressing a roomful of industry professionals and Purdue faculty with expertise spanning hospitality and tourism management, industrial engineering, computer graphics technology, theater and more.

Members of the Purdue University Department of Nutrition Science are here to add a little healthfulness into the meal without sacrificing taste. These healthy substitutes have been tested and (mostly) approved by family and friends at their respective Thanksgiving tables.

The communication techniques course assists future nutritionists with effectively communicating the benefits of good nutrition to the public via in-person presentations, food demonstrations, media relations and online videos.

It’s another year removed from the COVID-19 pandemic and major global supply chain issues, and United States consumers are ready to spend for the holiday season despite inflation throughout 2023, according to Rodney Runyan, professor of retailing in the Purdue University White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.

An interdisciplinary team comprised of Alice Wilcoxson, clinical associate professor in the Department of Health and Kinesiology; Jillian Hubertz, clinical assistant professor in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences; and Janelle Tipton, clinical assistant professor in the School of Nursing is the 2023 recipient of the Patsy J. Mellott Teaching Innovation Award. Established by College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) alumna Patsy Mellott, the award supports HHS faculty who demonstrate their excellence and leadership as teachers by proposing significant innovations to enhance the quality of HHS education programs.

From the moment online Purdue Master of Health Administration graduate Suesan Coleman was born, military life was baked into her DNA. Her dad served in the U.S. Army for 24 years. When Coleman was a child, her family moved around constantly in support of her dad’s career. During her military childhood, Coleman developed a deep appreciation for the sacrifices service members make for their country, and the sacrifices their families make for them.

From helping women student veterans find support and success in college to connecting military and veteran families with mental health resources, Purdue University’s Military Family Research Institute (MFRI) has enhanced the well-being of countless military and veteran families since its start in 2000 through its research and outreach activities.

Purdue researchers Jonathon Day, associate professor in the Purdue University White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, and senior Libby Loprete noted that successful indigenous tourist destinations acknowledge the past.

A new online source for losing the weight mental stress brings was implemented this fall into the PSY 12000 (Elementary Psychology) classes within the Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences.The online Psychological Fitness Lab was developed by a team led by George Hollich, associate professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences.

Alumna Nick Cochran (’21) penned a grant proposal and business plan for the Lafayette National Alliance of Mental Illness facility. A year later, the agency earned a $1.28 million Community Catalyst Grant.

When she noticed her son was having language difficulties, struggling to put words in the right order, Stephanie Bowers began seeking opportunities and programs to help him. It was through speech-language pathologist and Purdue University alumna Belle Underwood at Greater Lafayette Area Special Services, that she heard about the Summer Fun program in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences.

Savannah O’Malley’s work has impact in nutrition, public health and agriculture because it looks at the sources of food in African regions, both rural and urban.

After witnessing firsthand his stepfather’s experiences with substance use disorder and the recovery process, Luis Angel Gomez, a doctoral student in Purdue University’s Department of Psychological Sciences, was motivated to find new ways to prevent substance use disorder and improve treatment.

On Oct. 19 and 20, hundreds of industry professionals and alumni will arrive on Purdue University’s West Lafayette campus to attend the second annual Spirit of Hospitality Summit curated by the White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM). This distinct two-day event offers opportunities for industry leaders, alumni, faculty and students to network and learn from sessions that explore key topics in experience innovation, including digital transformation, experience design, luxury, sustainability, entertainment, technology and more.

Natalia Rodriguez, assistant professor in the Purdue University Department of Public Health, has been selected as a 2023 NIH (National Institutes of Health) Director’s New Innovator Award recipient.

Already a licensed nursing assistant, Itzel Santos recently completed a 10-week immersive internship at the famed Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She was among nursing student interns from all over the world at the facility, which is considered one of the top hospitals in the nation.

Beeping medical equipment, ringing phones, rushing feet — the sounds of a hospital surround a Purdue University School of Nursing (NUR) student as they tend to their patient and are paged to care for another. The health care decisions are theirs alone to make as they look at the clock to manage their time. Forty minutes have passed. They remove the Oculus headset from their eyes and prepare to debrief their experiences with their faculty instructor.

In the lab of Distinguished Professor Don Lynam, it’s the toxic threshold of personality traits that separate that likable and outgoing extrovert from a self-absorbed narcissist.

From the Hispanic community in Lake County, Indiana, to individuals experiencing homelessness in Greater Lafayette, Natalia Rodriguez, assistant professor in the Purdue University Department of Public Health, is working to advance health equity in communities throughout Indiana. By taking a community-based approach to increase access to preventive care and develop health technologies that detect disease early, Rodriguez’s research focuses on reducing cervical cancer rates among these vulnerable populations.

Students in the School of Nursing navigate low frequency high-risk scenarios such as this in the Center for Nursing Education and Simulation (CNES) on a routine basis. Although the patient is a high-fidelity simulator mannequin and not a live human, for the nursing students, the stakes feel just as high.  

For nearly 30 years, Catherine (Cammie) McBride, professor of human development and family science at Purdue University, has fostered career paths and influenced groups of scientists through exceptional mentoring. Now, the steadfast mentor is being recognized by the Association for Psychological Science (APS) with the 2024 APS Mentor Award. The award honors the dedication and impact of psychology researchers and educators with a distinguished record of teaching, advising, and encouraging students and colleagues.

HHS Success Mentors transformed hundreds of timid first-year students into high-achieving leaders inside and outside the classroom. As is often with HHS students, the urge to help and give back has kept the number of mentors plentiful.

Faculty members from the Purdue University College of Education and the School of Nursing in the College of Health and Human Sciences have received a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) grant to help educate graduate nurses about opioid use disorder (OUD). The program will use a massive open online course (MOOC) platform to deliver the training.

The American Society for Nutrition (ASN) inducted Purdue University Department of Nutrition Science faculty members Dennis Savaiano, Virginia Claypool Meredith Professor of Nutrition Policy and dean emeritus, and Richard Mattes, distinguished professor of nutrition science, into the ASN Class of 2023 Fellows at the ASN Nutrition Conference in July. Fellowship is the highest honor ASN bestows, recognizing individuals for significant discoveries and distinguished careers in the field of nutrition.

Internationally recognized clinical psychologist and Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences alumna Louise Evans carried a legacy of charity work and a career dedicated to improving mental health prior to her death in September 2021.

Valerie Knopik and Kristine Marceau, professors in the Purdue Department of Human Development and Family Science, analyzed the effects of maternal smoking on pairs of siblings within 173 Missouri families. The team wanted to see how siblings in the same family performed in executive function tasks when one was born when the mother smoked during pregnancy and the other child was born when the mother was not smoking or smoked less.

While humorous and click-friendly, Annabel Biruete, an assistant professor in the Purdue University Department of Nutrition Science, approved of the original “girl dinner,” but believes the nutritional integrity must rise above the ultra-processed foods that appear in many posts.

Purdue University’s colleges of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) and Pharmacy are taking giant leaps in advancing collaborative, innovative learning for health care professionals in Indiana through a new facility at the corner of Mitch Daniels Boulevard and Russell Street.

According to recent work by Purdue University psychological sciences Professor Sang Eun Woo, people’s varying reactions to the role of artificial intelligence in the current age may be rooted in their personality traits.

Professor Heather Eicher-Miller has been a member of American Society of Nutrition since 2004, serving in various volunteer and leadership positions within the society. Her two-year term as director-at-large began on Aug. 1.

A sports medicine concentration was established in 2020 to keep the undergraduate program’s momentum in producing professional athletic trainers — and other health care professionals — on fields, courts and rinks around the nation.

In the rapidly evolving healthcare field, nurse practitioners (NPs) are indispensable in providing quality patient care across various settings. As advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), NPs possess the expertise to diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medications, and promote health and wellness. However, with the growing complexity of healthcare systems and the increasing demand for evidence-based practice, the importance of doctoral degrees for nurse practitioners cannot be overstated. This article will explore how obtaining a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) can accelerate NP careers, enhance patient safety, drive research in the advanced practice role and ensure the translation of research findings into practice.

European researchers arrived in early May and finished scanning their 30th kidney in mid-July. Through the MRI images, the team was able to check the kidneys’ oxygen, sodium and potassium content while watching out for fibrosis, or thickening of the tissue. The data is now being analyzed back in Groningen.

Three times a year, a new wave of Purdue University graduates celebrate their accomplishments as they receive their hard-earned degrees. College of Health and Human Sciences students Sameeta Chunara and Madelynn Parrott are no exception.

Kyndal Poore was one of 80 college students admitted nationwide into the competitive Summer Health Professions Education Program at Howard University, which counts among its alumni U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, author Toni Morrison and the late actor Chadwick Boseman.

Ryan Watson, senior online program enrollment counselor at Purdue University, spends the majority of his day interacting with individuals who are facing a major life decision. As they consider whether pursuing an online program at Purdue is right for them, these individuals may be experiencing stress or anxiety, so being a reassuring voice and listening ear are important to Watson’s role.

Valerie Knopik, the Ben and Maxine Miller Professor of Human Development and Family Science and head of the Department of Human Development and Family Science at Purdue University is the new president of the Behavior Genetics Association (BGA).

From the Dolomite Mountains to the famous Trevi Fountain, Purdue University Department of Public Health student Sophie Shank has immersed herself in Italian culture as part of the College of Health and Human Sciences’ seven-week study abroad program “Investigating Women’s Reproductive and Sexual Health Issues in Florence, Italy.” Led by Andrea DeMaria, associate professor of public health, the program explores topics in maternal and sexual health in Florence, Italy, through an intensive research project.

Congratulations to Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) student-athletes who earned Big Ten Distinguished Scholars and Academic All-Big Ten Honors this spring.

The recent focus of psychological sciences Assistant Professor Thekla Morgenroth’s work has been on negativity toward trans people. The researcher, who identifies as nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, won the inaugural Purdue College of Health and Human Sciences Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Science Consortium Faculty Paper Award for a recent article in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, a publication from the Society of Personality and Social Psychology.

Hearing aids have improved in quality in the digital age. However, Emily Sandgren, a clinical Doctor of Audiology candidate in the Purdue University Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, and Associate Professor Joshua Alexander found most current hearing aids do not give music its justice.

Purdue University School of Nursing PhD student Evans Appiah Osei has seen firsthand the challenges women with cervical cancer face in his home country of Ghana, where palliative care and regular screening is uncommon.

Graduate student Lauren Murfree has a love of community building, advocacy and research. So, when she was presented with the opportunity to pair her anthropology master’s degree with a Master of Public Health degree from Purdue University’s Department of Public Health, she took it. Murfree further tied her passions together with a PhD in science communication from the College of Agriculture in efforts to help communities through horizontal engagement, or engaging on an equal level with community members.

Health sciences PhD candidate Hyunjin Kim’s Purdue career has yielded multiple research papers, off-campus success and a desire to propel stem cell research field.

As the first nationwide program designed specifically for women student veterans, the Focus Forward Fellowship, established in 2016, has helped 130 women veterans who are working toward a college degree find connection, build career skills and set their sights on success. The nationally competitive program, which is housed in the Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences’ Military Family Research Institute (MFRI), is welcoming its largest-ever cohort this summer, bringing 24 women to campus from July 18-22.

Starship robots are seen throughout Purdue University’s campus daily, delivering food to hungry faculty, staff and students. They serve as an example of one of the many ways robotics and technology have been introduced to the service industry.

Qinglan “Priscilla” Ding, assistant professor in the School of Nursing, is the 2023 recipient of the Barbara H. and Ben R. Edmondson HHS Faculty Development Award.

Heather Eicher-Miller, professor in the Purdue University Department of Nutrition Science, is the winner of the 2023 Danone International Prize for Alimentation. The 100,000-euro award recognizes outstanding, innovative and multidisciplinary scientific research that represents a major advance in sustainable eating and drinking practices that contribute to the health of individuals, including food choice, purchase, preparation, cooking and meal organization, and their determinants.

Brad Niemeier, Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences alumnus, former Purdue football player and founder of Azzip Pizza, recently was recognized as the Top Menu Innovator in Pizza Marketplace’s list of 100 Top Movers and Shakers. Since launching the business less than two years after his 2012 graduation from the White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM), Niemeier has grown Azzip Pizza to 10 locations, with the 11th opening in Indianapolis this summer.

This analysis of drug theft in long-term health facilities is believed to be a first in the field.

The College of Health and Human Sciences is proud to announce this year’s HHS Outstanding Seniors.

Talking about death and dying can seem scary and full of unknowns, no matter the person’s stage in life. However, for patients with Parkinson’s disease, who have an unpredictable illness trajectory, the timing of these discussions can be critical to ensure the best possible end-of-life care.

Emily Cowette, a sophomore in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (SLHS), made her debut leading the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band in fall 2022. This spring, she passed the renewal process and was confirmed as Golden Girl for the next academic year.

Scott Lawrance, clinical professor in the Department of Health and Kinesiology, is the recipient of the 2023 Jane S. Link Outstanding Teaching Award.

Individuals with autism see the world in a different way than their neurotypical peers. While some may view this as a negative, Purdue Associate Professor Brandon Keehn and other researchers promote positives within the minds of those with ASD. One example is people with autism can notice minute differences in work situations, especially in STEM fields.

Georgia A. Malandraki, professor of speech, language, and hearing sciences, is the recipient of the 2023 Christine M. Ladisch Faculty Leadership Award.

Join the Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) for Spring Fest 2023, where we’ll have a variety of fun activities centered around human health and well-being.

From Marriott Hall to Lyles-Porter Hall and beyond, students in Purdue University’s College of Health and Human Sciences’ (HHS) learn, collaborate and work in research labs in 17 buildings scattered across the West Lafayette campus. To offer students a centralized space that facilitates inclusion and belongingness in HHS, the college recently opened the doors to the HHS Connex Hub in Stone Hall, Room 122, where students can comfortably study, socialize and collaborate between classes.

PALS started as a sports camp in 2002, but it has grown into a more well-rounded experience over the years. Students learn swimming with science, exercise with engineering.

Purdue health and kinesiology clinical associate professors Alice Wilcoxson and Jennifer Popp were named Most Distinguished Athletic Trainers, one of the highest awards the National Athletic Trainers’ Association can give an individual.

Whether in emergency care, pediatrics, outpatient surgery or the neonatal intensive care unit, Mollie Henderson, an alumna of Purdue University’s College of Health and Human Sciences, is bringing comfort and compassion to children and families’ hospital experience.

Congratulations to Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences student-athletes who earned Academic All-Big Ten Honors this winter.

To commemorate National Nutrition Month, three seniors utilized their nutrition know-how to offer their on- and near-campus balanced nutrition dining tips for breakfast and lunch.

Jay Kandampully, professor of service management and hospitality at the Ohio State University, has built his career teaching and researching service on that very idea, working to build relationships and networks that help others around him to grow knowledge in the ever-changing service industries.

From hospitals to health departments to schools and beyond, registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) are making a difference in the health of individuals throughout Indiana as they counsel their clients on making healthy eating decisions based on their nutritional needs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for registered dietitian nutritionists is expected to grow 7% between 2021 and 2031.

As president of what is now the HTM Society, Elizabeth Whittaker (BS ’99) wanted to put the hospitality skills she was learning into practice. From presentation to getting the food out hot and delicious, it was a way to show what HTM students could do front- and back-of-house in an upscale setting.

Matthew Smith, who will return to West Lafayette to receive an Early Career Achievement Award from the Purdue College of Health and Human Sciences on March 31, maintains a practice in Downers Grove, Illinois, while teaching physical therapy students as an assistant professor at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois.

David Purpura, professor of human development and family science in Purdue University’s College of Health and Human Sciences, has devoted much of his career to creating lasting change in children’s understanding of math. By understanding the mechanisms that have demonstratable impacts on children’s early math learning, Purpura and his research team have tailored their findings into the development of math-focused children’s books, including the “Little Elephants’ Big Adventures” series, the “Pattern Pals” series, and the upcoming “Our Mathematical World” series. The books not only offer an opportunity for young children to learn math but also offer a tool that teachers and family members can use to support young children’s learning.

The Center for Families fulfilled Purdue’s land-grant mission through research, teaching and outreach, and it continues to be a concrete reminder that families, in all their diverse forms, are the foundation of society.

A team of Purdue University researchers in the White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management investigated if Americans are willing to put on their walking shoes to take in the sights and sounds at an urban tourist destination.

Jim Dora Jr., a 1986 Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences alumnus and president and CEO of General Hotels Corporation, has a photo on his desk from the launch of a water park at one of his hotels in the 2000s. A success until the 2008 recession, the water park marked just one instance of the innovation that Dora has maintained throughout his more than 30 years in the hospitality industry.

Standing at 6 feet 1 inch with years of high school and club prowess from her hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Eva Hudson raked in such accolades this fall as Big Ten Freshman of the Year and First Team All-Big Ten, and she was the first first-year Purdue volleyball player to be named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Midwest Region Team in almost 40 years.

Elizabeth Erickson-DiRenzo, a three-time graduate of the Purdue University Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (SLHS), came to Purdue with the goal of doing one thing: improving human health. As an associate professor and clinician scientist in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery in the Stanford University School of Medicine, her career has allowed her to do exactly that as both a researcher and clinician.

Barbara Millen, a 1972 Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences graduate, notes that her path to success was paved with acting on once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, from answering an office  call late one Friday night to meeting a group of friends who introduced her to Purdue. Now director of the Boston Nutrition Foundation and president of Millennium Prevention Inc., Millen’s career has allowed her to pursue a wide range of innovative research projects and leadership positions in academia, government and international settings.

Johanna Rohler has always been fascinated by both the art and science of nutrition, but when she sustained a jaw injury her senior year of high school and couldn’t chew anything, she discovered a career path awaiting her. A 2016 graduate of Purdue University’s College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS), Rohler found a supportive, welcoming family culture that shared her love for healthy food in HHS’ Department of Nutrition Science.

When it comes to keeping athletes healthy on the tennis court, Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences alumna Kathleen Stroia and her team serve up expert athletic training for the Women’s Tennis Association.

To commemorate World Hearing Day, audiology students and faculty will hold free hearing screenings Friday, March 3, in the M.D. Steer Audiology Clinic in Lyles-Porter Hall. Screenings are free, available to adults 18 and older, and open to the community. To schedule an appointment, call 765-494-4229. 

When Mary Lou Hazleton arrived at Purdue University in 1961, she found her fit in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, taking classes from pioneering faculty members, including program founder M.D. Steer.

Purdue University’s College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) has offered me a plethora of resources to help me reach my goals, and my peers, advisors and professors have helped shape me into the person I am today.

While admissions directors prepare and work overtime to meet their programs’ needs, Neal Schmitt, a Purdue Psychological Sciences alumnus (MS ‘69, PhD ‘72) and industrial-organizational psychology distinguished professor emeritus, remembers a time when he explored admissions processes that might serve to complement SAT or ACT scores.

Shannon McPeek and her many Operation Happy Nurse volunteers scattered across the country have led programs, such as Fitness for the Caregivers, in all 50 states and six Canadian provinces. She received interest from Australia and some European countries as well. This growth and dedication earned McPeek multiple awards: a 2022 L’Oreal Paris Women of Worth honor and an Early Career Achievement Award from Purdue’s College of Health and Human Sciences.

Ronnie Hill Jr. went from studying x’s and o’s in the Purdue University football playbook to studying personality disorders in the Samuel Assessment Methods for Personality and Psychopathology Lab.

I chose the College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) at Purdue for many reasons: It’s close to home, it has an excellent reputation and excellent academic programs and it is highly affordable. But the reasons I chose Purdue are not the reason I see it as my home today. 

Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences researchers Heather Eicher-Miller, associate professor in the Department of Nutrition Science, and Libby Richards, associate professor in the School of Nursing, published findings from cluster analyses on temporal nutrition intake as well as when and how hard to exercise in a 24-hour span.

True stories take six times longer to reach people on Twitter than false stories, according to a 2018 study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This is a trend 1971 Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) alumna Mary Lee Chin has dedicated her career to shifting in the foods and nutrition industry.

Growing up, I deeply cared about others, but I didn’t know how I was going to apply that as a future career. Being from out of state, I was intimidated to attend such a large university where I didn’t know many people. After touring the White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management in Purdue’s College of Health and Human Sciences, I knew this was the right place for me. I felt welcomed by the students and faculty. I was inspired by the students’ eagerness to share their experiences and was amazed by their diverse ideas and visions for how they can change the future of hospitality.

Using the simplest ingredients, Morgan Gibson, a senior studying family and consumer sciences in the Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences, knows how to teach a class of high school students how to make a nutritious meal. Serving in his student teaching role at Jefferson High School in Lafayette, Gibson is providing his students with valuable skills that will serve them their entire lives while also developing his skills as a family and consumer sciences (FCS) educator.

Healthcare is ever-evolving, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting 2 million new jobs across healthcare occupations from 2021-31. As more and more people choose to enter the healthcare field, Justice Montgomery, a travel physical therapist and 2016 graduate from Purdue University’s College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS), is helping those interested in a career in healthcare delve deeper into the collaborative nature of healthcare through the podcast Pretty in Practice.

Anne Edwards, an alumna of the Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences’ (HHS) undergraduate and graduate programs in hospitality and tourism management, has translated her hospitality knowledge to a variety of positions, ultimately pursuing a path in higher education. Coming from Northern Illinois University’s Center for Black Studies, Edwards recently returned to Purdue as the new director of the Black Cultural Center.

College of Health and Human Sciences graduate student James Young II was less than a week from death when he walked into a Detroit, Michigan, emergency room in September 2011 and received a series of substantial diagnoses: heart failure; cardiomyopathy, which reduces the heart’s ability to pump blood; enlargement of the heart; kidney disease; and diabetes.

I chose Purdue’s College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) for its immense opportunities within a committed and encouraging environment. Although Purdue is a large university, the opportunities to engage and connect with peers make it feel smaller and more manageable.

Khalya Dent, a sophomore in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, is researching the science behind balance in Professor Alexander Francis’ lab.