This Is Purdue

In this episode of This Is Purdue, we’re talking to College of Liberal Arts alumnus Rusty Rueff, a philanthropist, investor and advisor. 

Listen in as Rusty discusses art’s crucial relationship to humanity, leading the company Electronic Arts through the video game industry boom, his role in President Barack Obama’s second presidential campaign and how his mother’s mantra, “tomorrow will go a lot better if you lay your clothes out the night before,” guided his life and career. 

Recognizing that many of his own life’s fortunes stem from relationships, experiences and opportunities born out of Purdue, Rusty also discusses why he feels compelled to give back to the University and what the Boilermaker community means to him.  

You don’t want to miss this episode!  

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In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to IndyCar engineer Angela Ashmore.  

Angela, an engineer for Chip Ganassi Racing’s No. 8 Huski Chocolate Honda, is a lifelong motorsports fan. Her giant leap into professional racing came after relentless persistence and perseverance. 

Listen in as Angela discusses her experience with Purdue’s Formula Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) student club, how the problem-solving techniques she learned at Purdue’s School of Mechanical Engineering helped propel her career and a shift from working in NASCAR to IndyCar.  

Also, hear why Marcus Ericsson, IndyCar driver for CGR's No. 8 Huski Chocolate Honda, believes Angela serves as a role model for other women in STEM and the professional motorsports world.  

As for Angela’s next giant leap? She’s aiming for an Indianapolis 500 win! 

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In this episode of This Is Purdue, we’re talking to former Purdue football players Mike Phipps and Don Kiepert, who played on the iconic late 1960s team under Coach Jack Mollenkopf.

This quarterback duo friendship started at Purdue, and the two have been best friends for more than 50 years. After graduating, Mike went on to play quarterback in the NFL for 12 years for the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears, while Don had a successful career running multiple pharmaceutical companies.  

You’ll hear Mike and Don share stories about loyalty, persistence and the legacy behind Boilermaker football legend Leroy Keyes.  

Come for the behind-the-scenes history of the 1967 Big Ten championship team, stay for stories only decades of Boilermaker friendship can provide. 

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In this episode of This Is Purdue, we’re highlighting the story of the Anthrop family, a Purdue Athletics legacy from West Lafayette, Indiana.  

If you’re a Purdue sports fan, you’ve probably heard the name Anthrop. Brothers Dru, Danny and Jackson Anthrop were all Boilermaker athletes, and their father, John, played both basketball and baseball for Purdue, and was on Purdue’s 1980 Final Four team.  

Listen in as the family shares highlights of what it was like growing up with Purdue essentially in their backyard, traveling to away games and how they balanced academics and athletics.  

Plus, hear from Jana Anthrop (also known as Mama Anthrop) on what the Purdue community and Boilermaker spirit has meant to their family throughout the years.  

You don’t want to miss this special legacy episode! 

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In this episode of "This Is Purdue,” we’re diving into Purdue Day of Giving, an annual event to support Purdue's giant leap as one of the world's leading academic institutions. Every year on Purdue Day of Giving, thousands of alumni, donors and friends pay it forward – and show just how much the university has meant to them. 

Amber Turner, assistant vice president for broad-based campaigns and strategic engagement for the Purdue for Life Foundation, and Kate Pottschmidt, senior director of broad-based campaigns and digital engagement for the Purdue for Life Foundation, discuss how Day of Giving got started in 2014 and how it’s grown since then to raise a total of $241.5 million. 

Plus, you’ll hear from Dick Buell, establisher of the L. Dick Buell Endowed Head Men’s Basketball Coaching position and President’s Council (part of the Purdue for Life Foundation) member, about why he focuses on giving back to his alma mater.  

Mark your calendars – this year’s Purdue Day of Giving is Wednesday, April 27! 

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In this episode of "This Is Purdue," two couples share their love stories that began during their time at Purdue University. 

Randy and Linda Shields, co-chairs of President’s Council (part of the Purdue for Life Foundation), and Norm and Karen Blake, President’s Council members, are celebrating 45 and 56 years of marriage, respectively, after meeting at Purdue. 

You’ll hear why both couples continue to foster relationships and volunteer within the Boilermaker community and their generational stories of traditions, friendships and family. 

Do you have your own Boilermaker Bond love story? We want to hear from you! Tag us on social media @LifeAtPurdue with the hashtag #ThisIsPurdue. 

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In this episode of This Is Purdue, we’re talking to Purdue basketball icon Coach Gene Keady.  

It’s prime time for college basketball season and March Madness is officially here. What better way to celebrate than to listen to our episode with Coach Keady? 

You’ll hear the 25-year head coach of the Boilermakers men’s basketball team discuss Purdue’s balance of academics and athletics and why he loves watching his protégé, Matt Painter, coach. 

Plus, listen in to hear Coach Keady’s thoughts on the NCAA March Madness tournament, why Mackey Arena is such a special place and his game day traditions. You don’t want to miss this episode with a true Boilermaker legend! 

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In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Scott Niswonger, founder and chair of the Niswonger Foundation, which was established to make a positive and sustainable difference in education in Northeast Tennessee. 

After graduating from Purdue, Scott founded both Landair Transport, Inc. and Forward Air Corporation, and is the lead benefactor for the Niswonger Children’s Hospital, which is home to one of only eight St. Jude affiliate clinics in the world. 

Scott embodies Boilermaker spirit and innovation — whether it's creating jobs and employing more than 9,000 people in a rural area of Tennessee or changing high school students’ lives with the Niswonger Foundation. 

Listen in to hear how Purdue’s unique flight curriculum propelled Scott to where he is now. Plus, you don’t want to miss his stories on why giving back and investing in his community has been rewarding beyond measure. 

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In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Katie Gearlds, the first-year Purdue women’s basketball head coach. 

As an Indiana native and former Purdue player, Coach Gearlds describes what it feels like to have her dream job and how she recruits the right fits for the Purdue culture while striving to empower and influence the young women on her team. 

Coach Gearlds also discusses the incredible support system from the Purdue Athletics community and what it will take for the team to nab more Big Ten Championship titles in the coming seasons. 

Plus, we have some fun talking about her extensive shoe collection, featuring — you guessed it — plenty of gold and black shoes. If you love Purdue, you’ll love this conversation! 

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In this episode of This Is Purdue, we’re celebrating Black Boilermaker excellence with stories from three Purdue University alumni who have made significant giant leaps. 

Amber Johnson (PhD computer science ’19), Sydney Simone (BA communication ’19), and Curtis Baylor (BSIE ’72) all have different backgrounds and different stories about why they chose Purdue. You’ll hear why this computer engineer, TV reporter and Army veteran value their experience on campus, and what they’re doing to continue to support and grow the Black community at Purdue. 

Plus, these three alumni share what Black History Month means to them. 

You’ll want to hear their guidance on getting involved with Purdue’s Black Cultural Center, the importance of volunteering, reaching out to the Black community and more. Listen in! 

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