Newest Purdue graduates receive degrees during ceremonies

William “Bill” Dudley, a Purdue alumnus and vice chairman of Bechtel Group Inc., applauds the university’s new graduates during commencement ceremonies Sunday (Dec. 17) at the West Lafayette campus. (Purdue University photo/Mark Simons) Download image

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Graduating students at Purdue University’s West Lafayette campus received their degrees in two commencement ceremonies at Elliott Hall of Music on Sunday (Dec. 17).
           During a morning ceremony, the colleges of Agriculture, Education, Engineering and Liberal Arts received degrees. In the afternoon, the colleges of Health and Human Sciences, Management, Pharmacy, Science and Veterinary Medicine, and the Polytechnic Institute walked the stage.

Purdue graduate William “Bill” Dudley, vice chairman of Bechtel Group Inc., spoke at both ceremonies. Purdue President Mitch Daniels also took part.

Dudley is a director and former chief executive officer of Bechtel Group. Since joining the company in 1981, he has served in a variety of engineering, project management and executive management positions around the world.

In 2008, he became president and chief operating officer of Bechtel Group, overseeing all of the company’s business units. He was elected chief executive officer in 2014, operating in this role until September 2016.

Prior to these assignments, Dudley served as president of the oil, gas and chemicals business unit, president of the Europe, Africa, and Middle East region, country manager for Thailand and manager of the pipeline business for Southeast Asia.

A graduate celebrates with loved ones after receiving her Purdue University degree Sunday Dec. 17) at the West Lafayette campus. (Purdue University photo/Alex Kumar) Download image

Dudley received a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Purdue in 1974 and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Houston. He is currently serving as a director of Brand Industrial Services Inc., the Inova Healthcare System, and the Engineering Advisory Council at Purdue. He previously served on the Business Roundtable and as a director of the US-China Business Council. 

The winter 2017 graduating class included approximately 1,238 undergraduate degree candidates, 735 master's degrees and 296 doctoral degree-seekers, as well as two Doctor of Nursing Practice degree candidates.

 Brandon J. Brunt, a student in the College of Agriculture from Summitville, Indiana, gave the student response in the morning session. Evan J. Clumb, a student in the College of Health and Human Sciences from Indianapolis, was the student responder in the afternoon ceremony.

Commencement videos are available for $30 per DVD. Order forms can be obtained at the Loeb Playhouse box office, online at http://www.purdue.edu/commencement/documents/DVD_Form.pdf or by calling 765-494-3933. Forms may be submitted within two weeks of the event.   

Writer: Tim Doty, 765-496-2571, doty2@purdue.edu 

Source: Christine Pass, 765-494-6163, dehahn@purdue.edu