Student Life Recognitions

Tay Named Recipient of Trailblazer Award

Louis Tay, William C. Byham Associate Professor in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, College of Health and Human Sciences was named the recipient of a Trailblazer Award for midcareer excellence and impact in research and scholarship.

Tay leads the research and assessment work on Steps to Leaps, a university-wide initiative focused on student well-being and resiliency. Tay is a member of the Steps to Leaps steering committee and research collaborative, and authors and coordinates content for the Steps to Leaps Well-Being Tip of the Week. His new class, “Beyond Mental Health: The Science of Well-Being,” addresses multiple aspects of well-being including research, scientific theories and the scientific process of its study, and the application of psychological exercises in the lives of students. His research contributes to the enhancement of data science and methodological research in psychology and science-based well-being programs.

The Purdue University Trailblazer Award is an annual award for midcareer faculty in the College of Education, College of Liberal Arts, College of Health and Human Sciences, and the Purdue University Libraries and School of Information Studies whose recent research, scholarship or creative work has made a significant impact in the disciplines of humanities, social sciences and information sciences. Recipients of the Trailblazer Award receive a plaque of recognition and monetary prize of $2,000.

Gruver Awarded the Helen B. Schleman Gold Medallion

Melissa Gruver, associate director for Civic Engagement & Leadership Development (CELD), was awarded the Helen B. Schleman Gold Medallion, which honors the legacy of Dean Helen B. Schleman, who served as Dean of Women from 1947-68.

In her role with CELD, Gruver supervises a team committed to designing experiences for Purdue students to develop their lifelong civic identities. Under Gruver’s direction, CELD supports programs such as the ACE Campus Food Pantry, which makes food available to members of the Purdue community who may be experiencing food insecurity; the Emily Mauzy Vogel Sophomore Leadership Conference, an overnight program involving team building, personal development and an introduction to strengths-based approaches to inclusive leadership; and the Purdue Women in Leadership Institute, a biannual one-day conference that develops the leadership capacity of women and exposes participants to current issues affecting women. Gruver played a leading role in the PurdueVotes Coalition, a campus-wide committee that worked together to increase student voting rates and help students form the habits of active and engaged citizenship.

“Melissa defines leadership as a process of creating positive change in one’s environment by influencing the decisions of others while maintaining respect for their freedom,” wrote Gruver’s nominator. “She models this through her commitment to mutually beneficial community partnerships and an assets-based approach to communities.”

The Helen B. Schleman Gold Medallion is presented by Purdue Mortar Board annually to a faculty member or administrator for their contributions to Purdue, especially in the promotion and advancement of women students and women’s issues. The winner receives a monetary award and a medallion in addition to having their name engraved on a plaque.

Pacheco Honored with MaPSAC Excellence Award

Vanessa Pacheco, coordinator for civic engagement at Civic Engagement & Leadership Development, was recognized with the 2021 MaPSAC Excellence Award.

Pacheco played a key role in the expansion of the ACE Campus Food Pantry and its adaptation of Protect Purdue protocols in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under Pacheco’s leadership, the pantry expanded hours and opened satellite locations to increase accessibility for students, and transitioned from a shopping model to an order model during the pandemic. She also played a key role in ensuring service opportunities for Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service remained in place during the pandemic.

The MaPSAC Excellence Award, given by the Management and Professional Staff Advisory Committee, recognizes a full-time management or professional staff member who shows initiative and leads by example. The winner receives a plaque and $1,500.