This Is Purdue

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Karen Plaut, Purdue University’s executive vice president for research. 

Karen oversees Purdue’s expanding $600 million research enterprise, and under her leadership, researchers from across the university are working together to solve the world’s toughest challenges. 

In this third episode of our 2024 Purdue Research Series, you will: 

Don’t miss this episode with a Boilermaker who is leading our groundbreaking and life-changing research efforts at Purdue. 

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Jennifer Pyrz, president and CEO of IndyGo. 

A Purdue engineering alumna, Jennifer (BS civil engineering ’95, MS civil engineering ’97) was appointed president and CEO of Indiana’s largest public transit agency in May 2024. 

In this episode you will: 

Don’t miss this episode with a Boilermaker who is using her innovative spirit to advance public transit in a city that hundreds of thousands of people call home.   

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to former NASA astronaut and Purdue University Presidential Ambassador Drew Feustel (BS solid earth sciences ’89, MS geophysics ’91), Purdue professors and NASA contributors Briony Horgan and Marshall Porterfield, and SpaceKids Global founders Marc (BS electrical engineering ’71, MS business and industrial administration ’72) and Sharon Hagle. 

These five Purdue space experts came together for a live panel after Purdue premiered a first-of-its-kind short film — “Boilers to Mars” — in front of a sold-out crowd in Fowler Hall.  

“Boilers to Mars” is a 10-minute film designed to explore what it will take to go first — to take the small steps that lead to the next giant leap. Each character’s persistence in this short film was inspired by our very own Boilermaker students, faculty and alumni. 

In this episode you will: 

You don’t want to miss this special live recording celebrating Purdue Brand Studio’s short film “Boilers to Mars” with insights from these Purdue space experts and leaders. 

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to George Karlaftis (BS selling and sales management ’21), Purdue football alum, current defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs and two-time Super Bowl champion. 

In this episode you will: 

Whether you’re a Purdue or NFL fan, you don’t want to miss this incredible episode with an alum whose Boilermaker persistence has helped shape him into the two-time Super Bowl champ he is today.  

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Jay Gephart, the Al G. Wright Chair of Purdue Bands & Orchestras, conductor of Purdue Wind Ensemble and director of the “All-American” Marching Band. 

The prestigious marching band is known as the heartbeat of the university, with Jay serving as its fifth director. In this episode you will: 

Don’t miss this episode celebrating Jay Gephart’s leadership and impact on Purdue Bands & Orchestras. 

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Bob Mindrum, former director of the Purdue Memorial Union and author of “Purdue Memorial Union, The First 100 Years, 1924 to 2024.” 

The Purdue Memorial Union — a longtime centerpiece of Purdue’s campus — is celebrating its 100th anniversary on Sept. 9, 2024.  

In this episode you will: 

If you’re interested in history, you’re in for a treat with this episode, Boilermakers! Join us in celebrating 100 years of this beloved campus icon. 

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Preeti Sivasankar, Purdue University’s vice president for research innovation and professor in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. 

Societal transformation begins with research, and no one knows this better than Preeti. Since joining Purdue’s faculty 19 years ago, she has contributed to making the department a leader in the field. Purdue is now home to the No. 2 speech-language pathology graduate program and No. 8 audiology graduate program in the country according to U.S. News & World Report. And as the newly appointed vice president for research innovation, she helps lead other Boilermaker researchers as their work continues to impact the world. 

In this second episode of our 2024 Purdue Research Series, you will: 

You don’t want to miss this special episode with this persistent and boundary-pushing Boilermaker! 

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Adriana Harmeyer, clinical assistant professor and archivist for university history, and “Jeopardy!” super-champion.  

In May and June 2024, Adriana earned super-champion status after winning 15 consecutive games of “Jeopardy!” As a longtime fan of this Emmy Award-winning game show, she was able to make her “Jeopardy!” dreams come true thanks to plenty of preparation and persistence. 

In this episode you will: 

You don’t want to miss this special episode with this Boilermaker “Jeopardy!” star.  

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Jan-Anders Mansson, executive director of the Ray Ewry Sports Engineering Center and Distinguished Professor of Materials and Chemical Engineering at Purdue.

Sports engineering affects everyone, from those dedicated to getting their daily steps in to the most decorated Olympic athletes. The Purdue Research Series returns to “This Is Purdue” for a second season to explore how Purdue provides practical solutions to the world’s toughest challenges. In this first episode of the research series, you will: 

The research done at Purdue University continues to change the world of sports, and Jan-Anders and his team are looking forward to unlocking the future of sports engineering within the Ray Ewry Sports Engineering Center. 

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Beth Bostwick, serial entrepreneur and author. 

As a prominent entrepreneur and mentor within Purdue Innovates, Beth (MS human resources ’89) provides passionate insights into the world of startups and details how young entrepreneurs can set themselves up for success. In this episode you will: 

Whether you’re an entrepreneur wondering how you can further develop your startup or looking for a way to use your innovative spirit, don’t miss this episode full of advice and insights from this successful Boilermaker trailblazer.