Appointments, honors and activities

• Appointments and promotions:

David Umulis has been named the Dane A. Miller Head of Purdue University’s Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, effective July 1. Umulis is a professor of biomedical engineering and of agricultural and biological engineering.

Mesut Akdere, professor of human resource development and director of the Purdue Human Resources Development Virtual Lab, has been appointed as the new interim associate dean for research at Purdue Polytechnic Institute.

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• Faculty and staff honors:

Joseph S. Francisco, the William E. Moore Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences and Chemistry at Purdue, has been elected to the American Philosophical Society. The APS is the oldest learned society in the U.S., founded to promote interdisciplinary fellowship and intellectual thought.

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• Student honors:

Shawn Wooden, a doctoral student in the College of Education, has been named a American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) 2021 Holmes Scholar at Purdue. The program recognizes doctoral students with a demonstrated commitment to improving representation of and supporting development of historically underrepresented communities in professorial and leadership positions within higher education. Wooden’s research explores the personal and professional experiences of Black and brown educators.

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• Rankings:

Security Degree Hub has ranked Purdue University Global No. 7 on its list of the top 25 Most Affordable Security Degree Programs for 2021. Purdue Global’s Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity degree “provides rigorous training, helping students master fundamental knowledge of cybersecurity, recognize best practices and identify IT security threats and products.” Additionally, Purdue Global offers six concentrations to customize its criminal justice degree: crime scene investigation, forensic psychology, homeland security, juvenile justice, law enforcement and socially responsible leadership.