October 23
Perspective Project
New programs happen often across Purdue’s campus. Many times, they come and go without much notice or fanfare. This month, for Steps to Leaps in Action, we wanted to highlight the Perspective Project. If you haven’t read about the Perspective Project, you can do so here.
Purdue astronaut Donald Williams remarked, “For those who have seen the Earth from space and for the hundreds and perhaps thousands more who will, the experience most certainly changes your perspective. The things that we share in our world are far more valuable than those which divide us."
Like the experience of seeing the Earth from the moon, when we allow ourselves to experience new perspectives, we open ourselves up to what unites us. In step with Purdue’s rich history of expanding how we view the world, the Perspective Project seeks to unite the unique viewpoints of instructors, staff and students in a pioneering initiative to incorporate well-being concepts into the academic curriculum.
Nine faculty members have taken it upon themselves to provide an academic experience that helps students see the classroom from a new perspective. Their assignments and class experiences will weave together the context of the content with the student’s context as a student.
For some classes, like ME 290 taught by Beth Hess, associate professor of engineering practice, students have the opportunity to hear from wellness ambassadors about strategies for managing stress. Students in CSR415 (Sales Management) and CSR209 (Introduction to Retail Management), taught by Catherine Zhang, senior lecturer for the White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, will be assigned the Steps to Leaps well-being module and have time to discuss it with peers during class. Other classes will use lab time while they wait for reactions to happen, to discuss resources available to them on Purdue’s campus.
Each faculty member is paired with a resource partner from campus. Together they’ve devised strategies, from course material integration to dedicated class time presentations, to provide students additional course content focused on helping them grow within the five Steps to Leaps Pillars: well-being, leadership, impact, networks and grit/persistence.
Faculty members have seen in their students the need to grow their well-being skills and have recognized that the Steps to Leaps framework is a way to provide students with intentional resources. Steps to Leaps is so appreciative of the leadership of Heather Servaty-Seib, associate vice provost for Teaching and Learning and professor of counseling psychology; Will Evans, senior assistant director – wellness programs for Purdue Recreation & Wellness; and Stephanie Knight, director of the Roger C. Stewart Leadership and Professional Development Department, in developing and implementing this amazing program. We are also so excited to have the following nine faculty members as the inaugural cohort for the Perspective Project:
Rucha Karve, lecturer, Department of Biological Sciences – BIOL 23200 & BIOL 24200
Brooke Max, professor of math practice, Department of Mathematics – MATH 13700 & MATH 13900
Christie Sennott, associate professor of sociology, College of Liberal Arts – SOC 339 & SOC 382
Lindsey Payne, associate professor of engineering practice, Environmental and Ecological Engineering – EEE 290, EEE 390, EEE 490 & EEE481
Michael Johnson, lecturer, College of Liberal Arts – ENGL 106
Xiaorui Li, continuing lecturer, College of Liberal Arts – ENGL 620
Tongxiao (Catherine) Zhang, senior lecturer, White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management – CRS 209 & CRS 415
Cassandra Ledman, clinical associate professor, Department of Health and Kinesiology – HK 590-01 & HK590-02
Beth Hess, associate professor of engineering practice, School of Mechanical Engineering – ME 290