2023 Impact Award Winners

The Office of the Vice Provost for Student Life has recognized outstanding alumni and friends as recipients of the 2023 Student Life Impact Awards. Honorees were presented with their awards at the Student Life Honors Awards Banquet.

Student Life Young Alumni Award - Diamond Jones

Diamond Jones serves as a senior quality associate for Elanco Animal Health in Greenfield, Indiana. She is a two-time graduate of Purdue, having earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2016 and a Master of Public Health in 2021.

As a student, Jones was a student coordinator for Dining & Culinary and served on student advisory boards for Student Life, Dining & Culinary and Community Standards. She was also an active member of the women’s rugby team and LYNX of Omega Phi Chi Multicultural Sorority. She has continued to play an active part on advisory boards as an alumna and currently serves as chair of the Student Life Young Alumni Advisory Board.

Since graduating, Jones has lent her time and expertise as a volunteer to numerous organizations. She has served as an assistant lab leader for STEM Scouts, a coed program of Boy Scouts for America, where she fostered hands-on learning experiences for young people to grow their skills and character. As a Starfish Initiative mentor, she spends one-on-one time mentoring high school students. She connects further with young people as a volunteer for the Indianapolis Children’s Museum in STEM-based programs in their Science Works area.

Jones leverages her public health expertise as a volunteer at the Damien Center, which is the state’s largest provider of programs and services for people affected by HIV/AIDS. She also participates in Indianapolis’ only LGBTQIA+ community band, playing clarinet in local concerts and parades, and participating in fundraisers such as AIDS walk.

Student Life Service Award - Brent Bible

Brent Bible has provided more than 25 years of service to FarmHouse Fraternity, serving as an alumni advisor since 1996. During that time, he has provided exceptional leadership, mentorship and wisdom for generations of FarmHouse members.

A past national president of FarmHouse Fraternity, Bible has also served on the board of trustees and executive board for the Purdue chapter of the fraternity. His exceptional service to FarmHouse has been recognized through several awards, including the Purdue Interfraternity Council Father Phil Bowers Outstanding Advisor Award, FarmHouse Claude B. Hutchison Award for Meritorious Service and the Purdue FarmHouse Darl Snyder Alumni Award.

Bible continues to serve the university in other capacities as a member of the Purdue President’s Council Advisory Board, Purdue Farm Policy Study Group, FSCL Advisory Council and as an alumni advisor for the Purdue Grand Prix Foundation. He was previously honored by the Grand Prix Foundation for his outstanding service to the organization.

As a student, Bible was a member of FarmHouse Fraternity and served as the race director for the Grand Prix Foundation in 1994-95. He graduated with a degree in agriculture economics in 1998.

Bible is a retired Indiana State Police trooper and is currently the owner and managing partner of Stillwater Farms, and chairman of the Tipmont REMC board.

Student Life Award for Outstanding Leadership - Patrick Mosher

At the heart of Patrick Mosher’s service to the university is his passion for identifying and helping students with unique stories, a reflection of his distinctive journey through Purdue. He earned three degrees from Purdue – a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, a Master of Arts in Organizational Communication and a Master of Science in Human Resources.

During his time as a student, Mosher served as a residence hall counselor (resident assistant) in Cary Quad and was a dancer and choreographer for the Purdue Repertory Dance Company. This combination of experiences fueled a career trajectory that saw him serve in a consulting role for 30 years while continuing while pursuing his passion for the arts. He serves on the board for the Cowles Center for Dance & the Performing Arts in Minneapolis. His current venture, Wisdom 4 Humanity, helps build a better world for future generations by bringing people together for exchanges of wisdom and discussion in iconic locations around the globe.

Mosher has been an enthusiastic supporter of University Residences’ Executive in Residence program, participating a program record five times. As part of the program, he has impacted hundreds of students and staff through one-on-one interactions and presented to groups of students on topics such as friendship, story crafting and more. He routinely spends time with students helping identify the key components that make their Purdue journeys unique. Mosher currently is serving as a live-in Executive in Residence for the entirety of the spring semester. He continues to mentor students through individual workshops and meetings, and assists students in the Executive in Residence Learning Community in several capacities. Mosher also lived among the students of Earhart Hall as a faculty in residence. He has provided professional development and individual coaching for Purdue staff as part of his support for the university.

Bob L. and Joyce Beery Miles Student Life Mentor Award - Zenephia Evans

Zenephia Evans serves as the associate dean of students for education and advocacy, helping students achieve their academic goals through mentorship and the administration of programs to support diversity. She is a champion for developing the potential of students in all that she does.

Evans is the Senior Faculty Fellow in Earhart Hall, where she creates personal connections with students where they live. Evans works tirelessly to create spaces for minority and underrepresented students seeking the community of those sharing similar experiences. She serves as the advisor for the Black Graduate Student Association and is a member of the Purdue Black Faculty and Caucus. Numerous students have noted the impact Evans has had on their lives, from regular meetings over dinner to creating meaningful connections with peers. She also serves on the Council on Status of Women at Purdue, is a member of the Steps to Leaps Steering Committee and is a United Way Team Captain.

Evans’ impact has been honored in numerous ways. She was presented with the 2023 Martin Luther King Jr. Dreamer Award, presented by the Office of the Vice President for Ethics and Compliance, for her embodiment of King’s vision of service to others. She has also been named the Frederick L. Hovde Outstanding Faculty Fellow of the Year, and received the Special Boilermaker Award and the Purdue University One Brick Higher Award. She owns a doctorate in biological sciences from Purdue.

In the community, Evans started reading programs for elementary school children, cooks and serves food at the Lafayette Urban Ministry soup kitchen, is a founding board member of 100+ Women Who Care and is an active leader in the St. Thomas Aquinas parish.

Bob L. and Joyce Beery Miles Student Life Mentor Award - Libby and Grant Richards

Libby and Grant Richards have served as advisors to Glenwood Cooperative for more than 12 years, providing invaluable mentorship to members of the house. During their time as advisors, Glenwood has received recognition for its excellence, including a five-year run where it was recognized as the Cooperative House of the Year.

Among their duties as advisors, Libby and Grant provide thoughtful ideas to help the house run smoothly, support leadership, assist the alumni board in long-term planning, provide academic tutoring and support sisterhood. They have helped the house navigate major physical improvements, including a renovation. They attend all house events, such as Glenwood Thanksgiving, regular house meetings and education banquets. Libby and Grant also provided key assistance in helping house members navigate protocols and receive academic and social support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Libby is an associate professor and director of the Ph.D. in Nursing program at the School of Nursing. Her mentorship has facilitated three Glenwood members to seek leadership in national organizations and another member was recently a recipient of a national student award. She also serves as the co-faculty advisor for the School of Nursing Student Council and frequently travels with the group to state and national student nurse conferences. Under her mentorship, eight students have or are serving in leadership positions for the Indiana Student Nurse Association.

Grant serves as an assistant professor of practice in the School of Engineering Technology. When possible, he helps educate house members on how to complete house projects themselves and regularly assists in recovering and repairing electronic devices. He has hosted Glenwood members in international study abroad experiences, provided tutoring, helped in finding internships and continued relationships beyond graduation.