Purdue Global couple celebrates their love for their work and each other

This Valentine’s Day will find David and Miranda Brand at home together, teaching adult learners

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — For four decades, David and Miranda Brand have followed each other across multiple countries and states, adding chapters to their continuing love story.

But what makes their story even more special is the opportunity to work together each day, teaching and leading adult learners at Purdue Global, Purdue’s online university for working adults.

Working remotely from their home in Houston, David and Miranda consider their time together — nearly 20 years at Purdue Global — as a privilege and something they shouldn’t take for granted.

“The key to our successful marriage has been mutual respect and being true partners in the relationship — from ordinary day-to-day decisions to child-rearing and long-term goal setting,” David says.

The Brands met each other in the 1980s, while David was stationed in Germany with the U.S. Army and Miranda was an elementary school teacher with the Department of Defense Dependents Schools. The couple, who were married in October 1992, recently celebrated their 31st anniversary, returning to Germany, as they often do, to reminisce about where they first fell in love.

“We became friends first, allowing us to get to know each other on a deeper level, and our love just grew from there,” Miranda says.

David and Miranda are both academics, having spent the majority of their careers in higher education after David’s time in the Army. David joined the university in 2005 and has been teaching in the graduate school since 2006. He also serves as a course leader in the education program.

“I really enjoy working with the doctoral students and learning about their professional backgrounds as they embark on their journey to become leaders in varying educational settings,” David says.

Miranda joined Purdue Global in 2006 as an adjunct instructor in the School of Graduate Education and subsequently led the Department of Educational Studies as academic chair from 2008-11 before becoming associate dean in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

“I’ve enjoyed working very closely with the college and department leadership for psychology, applied behavior analysis and human services,” she says.

Working for an online university presents very few challenges and far more benefits. The couple has relished the additional time they have together, often having lively discussions and debates about education.

“Achieving the right work-life balance takes time, especially in the beginning. It is important to ‘close the virtual door’ at the end of the workday,” David says.

Professionally speaking, the Brands have appreciated all that they have been able to accomplish virtually.

“When the pandemic hit, for example, we did not miss a beat here at Purdue Global,” Miranda says. “Many universities were scrambling to meet their students’ needs virtually, but we were all set.”

The one challenge the Brands noted is having met many of their colleagues only via video calls. But both say they are thankful for their years being with Purdue Global.

“This is a great place to work, and the commitment of our colleagues in supporting our students is unmatched. We can’t think of a better place,” Miranda says.

As with many married couples, they are always thinking about the future, which includes spending time with their grown son and his wife, and traveling to Europe, where their love story first began.

About Purdue Global

Purdue Global is Purdue’s online university for working adults who have life experience and often some college credits. It offers flexible paths for students to earn an associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, based on their work experience, military service and previous college credits, no matter where they are in their life journey. Purdue Global is a nonprofit, public university accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and backed by Purdue University. For more information, visit https://stories.purdue.edu/purdue-global/.

Writer/Media contact: Adam Bartels, adam.bartels@purdueglobal.edu 

Sources: David Brand, Miranda Brand