Biography: Kassandra Agee Chandler was born in Gary, Indiana and graduated from Purdue in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. As a sophomore in 1978, Agee was named Purdue's Homecoming Queen out of an initial group of twenty-four competitors. She was the first African American to hold the position. Agee was also an active student, as she was a member of Alpha Lambda Delta freshman honor society, Purdue Pals, and the Black Voices of Inspiration Choir. Agee Chandler was also a former president and founding member of Purdue's Society of Minority Managers.In addition, Agee also served as a social counselor for the Business Opportunity Program in the School of Management and was a member of the Mortar Board senior honor society. After graduating from the Krannert School of Management, she held positions at the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, Exxon, Dow Chemical and Procter & Gamble. Agee Chandler is founder and principal consultant of Systematic Design Consultants, an information technology consulting firm, in College Station, Texas.

Biography: Maricela Alvarado grew up in Moses Lake, Washington. She received her bachelor's degrees in English and Spanish from Washington State University. Alvarado received her master's degree in education from the University of Florida. She was the first director of Purdue's Latino Cultural Center and initatied the first annual retreat for the Latino Leadership conference. She was also involved with Humanigration, a program that partnered with a non-profit organization called Border Links to educate and learn about the process of immigration.

Biography: Roberta Gleiter received her BS in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University in 1960, a time when women engineers were very few and far in between. As a result, Gleiter faced discrimination in her field. She married a fellow Purdue alumnus, John Gleiter, and raised her three children from 1960 to 1980. In 1980, she re-entered the workforce and became involved in a National Science Foundation program that was geared toward supporting women who were re-entering the engineering field. After completing the program, Gleiter was offered a job with Aerospace Corp., a federally funded research and development organization in Los Angeles. She then earned her MS in Systems Management/Technical Systems from the University of Southern California. Through her employment at Aerospace Corp., Gleiter was responsible for half of a billion dollars worth of satellite software and received numerous awards. Gleiter retired as a project engineer in 2004 and went on to become the co-founder and CEO of the Global Institute for Technology and Engineering (GIFTE), an organization that strives to improve the status of women in the technology and engineering workforce. Gleiter has published several articles and given many presentations nationwide and worldwide. She was a proud advocate for engineering and received the 2008 Outstanding Chemical Engineering Award from Purdue University.

Biography: Marion Blalock, born in East Chicago in 1947, graduated from Washington High School. She earned a BS in Sociology and Psychology and later an MS in Counseling and Personnel Services from Purdue. She worked in Purdue’s Dean of Men’s Office and later was the Assistant Dean of Students (1974). She went on to be an advisor in Engineering where she helped start the National Society of Black Engineers at Purdue, and programs dedicated to the advancement of minority students in Engineering. She received multiple outstanding service awards from Purdue and national organizations. Marion Blalock was a student on the Purdue campus in the early 1960’s and later participated in the establishment of Purdue’s Black Cultural Center. As an advisor for Purdue’s Engineering students, Marion worked on the inception, implementation, fundraising, and on-going management of the Minority Introduction to Engineering (MITE) program at Purdue.

Biography: Marion Blalock, born in East Chicago in 1947, graduated from Washington High School. She earned a BS in Sociology and Psychology and later an MS in Counseling and Personnel Services from Purdue. She worked in Purdue’s Dean of Men’s Office and later was the Assistant Dean of Students (1974). She went on to be an advisor in Engineering where she helped start the National Society of Black Engineers at Purdue, and programs dedicated to the advancement of minority students in Engineering. She received multiple outstanding service awards from Purdue and national organizations. Marion Blalock was a student on the Purdue campus in the early 1960’s and later participated in the establishment of Purdue’s Black Cultural Center. As an advisor for Purdue’s Engineering students, Marion worked on the inception, implementation, fundraising, and on-going management of the Minority Introduction to Engineering (MITE) program at Purdue.

Biography: Esther Conolley was born in Rockford, Ohio to Vaughn and Naomi Conolley in 1924. The family moved to Michigan before eventually settling near Upland, Indiana on a 90 acre farm that Vaughn inherited. Esther graduate high school there, from Jefferson Township Hugh School, in 1941. After graduating high school, Conolley enrolled at Purdue University in the Home Economics School where she majored in Clothing and Interior Home Design. After earning her bachelor's degree, Conolley taught at a high school in New Carlisle before marrying Dr. Charles Boonstra. After marrying the two lived in Indianapolis for a year while Charles finished medical school, and Esther taught at an elementary school. Esther and Charles had two children, Michael and Anne. They moved several times during Charles' early career, but Esther developed an affinity for volunteerism in the various places they lived. She volunteered with the Red Cross assisting hospitals, and as an art history teacher. Esther died in West Lafayette in 2018.

Biography: Susan Bulkeley Butler graduated from Purdue in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management from the Krannert School of Management. The following year, she joined Arthur Andersen & Co., one of the then Big 8 Accounting firms, as the first professional female employee. Butler went on to become the Managing Partner of the Office of the CEO for Andersen Consulting/Accenture, until her retirement from Accenture in 2002. Butler, who has established a reputation as a "benefactor extraordinaire" for Purdue, holds an honorary doctorate from the Krannert School of Management, where she has an endowed chair and a scholarship for women student leaders. A leading member of the Women for Purdue, a group that is dedicated to women's leadership giving, she donated $3.65 million in order to establish the Institute of Leadership Excellence in Discovery Park, as well as an endowed chair. Butler has served on the Purdue Research Foundation Board, the Dean's Advisory Council at Krannert, and is past president of the university's President's Council. She was presented with the Business Leadership Award from the Krannert School in 2004. In 2006, Butler was appointed by Governor Mitch Daniels to Purdue's Board of Trustees, and participated in selecting a successor to President Martin Jischke, Dr. France Cordova. Butler's generous gift of $1 million to the Purdue University Libraries recently established the Susan Bulkeley Butler Women's Archives, which will document the lives and accomplishments of women affiliated with Purdue University and the state of Indiana.

Biography: Born in 1908 in New York City, Gilbreth recounts being the third of twelve children in the Gilbreth household. She recalls life with her parents Frank and Lillian and their work with motion study.

Biography: Dr. Rita Rossi Colwell is a microbiologist, founder of CosmosID, and a distinguished professor at both the University of Maryland at College Park and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She was born in Beverly, Massachusetts to Louis and Louise Rossi and was the seventh of eight children. Colwell earned her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Bacteriology in 1956 and Master of Science (M.S) in Genetics from Purdue University. Colwell moved on to the University of Washington as a research assistant in 1957 where in 1961 she earned her doctorate (Ph.D.) in Oceanography. Colwell stayed at the University of Washington as an assistant professor, followed by some brief work with the Canadian National Research Council (CNRC). In 1964, she became an associate professor at Georgetown University and in 1966 she secured tenure. Colwell accepted a tenured professorship at the University of Maryland in 1972 where she later served as the president of the University of Maryland's Biotechnology Institute. From 1998-2004, Colwell was the director for the National Science Foundation, becoming the first woman and first biological scientist to head the federal agency. In 2008, she founded the company CosmosID. She has also served on numerous science-related boards and associations and belongs to many national and international science academies. Colwell is well known for her work in microbiology, ecology, infectious disease, public health, and computer and satellite technology and she is one of the world's leading experts on cholera. In the 1960's, she became the first researcher in the United States to develop a computer program to analyze bacteriological data and, during her tenure at Georgetown, was the first to discover that the bacterium that causes cholera naturally occurred in the areas around Chesapeake Bay. Dr. Rita Rossi Colwell has received 55 honorary degrees from institutions of higher education, including an Alma Mater from Purdue University, Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star bestowed by the Emperor of Japan, 2006 National Medal of Science of the United States, 2010 Stockholm Water Prize, and 2017 Vannevar Bush Award. There is also a geological site in Antarctica, "Colwell Massif", that has been named in recognition of her work in polar regions.

Biography: Born in 1929, Barbara Cook came to Purdue in 1956 as a counselor in the Office of the Dean of Women. She received her BA in Sociology from the University of Arkansas in 1951, a M.A. in Student Personnel Administration from Syracuse University in 1954, a Ph.D. in Counseling and Personnel Services from Purdue University in 1967 as well as an honorary doctorate from Purdue University in 1996. One of her early responsibilities as councilor in the Dean’s office involved serving as an advisor to Mortar Board, a senior-student honor society over which she presided for nearly thirty years. Cook also served as director of the Placement Service for Women, assistant and associate Dean of Women, associate Dean of Students, and, from 1980 to 1987, Dean of Students. She was a lecturer in the School of Education starting in 1970, and a professor of education from 1987 to 1989. Nationally recognized for her efforts in promoting career opportunities for women, Cook served in several positions within the National Association of Women Deans, Administrators, and Councilors (NAWDAC) including serving as President from 1975–1976. She is also the recipient of numerous awards for her work, including the Helen B. Schleman Gold Medallion for Distinguished Contributions to Purdue University, the Dean Beverley Stone Award for Personal Counseling Contributions, and the Distinguished Lifetime Mortar Board Member Award. Following her retirement in 1989, Barbara Cook was an active member of the Lafayette community and involved with many organizations, including the Salvation Army, Greater Lafayette YWCA, West Lafayette Redevelopment Commission, and the Indiana Governor's Commission for Women. In 2004, a sculpture entitled "When Dreams Dance" was dedicated to Cook and her late colleague and friend, Beverley Stone. It is located in between Schleman and Hovde Halls. Today, the current chapter of the Purdue Mortar Board is named in Cook's honor, who advised the group from 1956 to 1986.

Biography: France A. Córdova, the eleventh president of Purdue University, was born in 1947 in Paris, France. Córdova is the oldest of twelve siblings born to her parents, who returned to the United States after her father’s service to the United States’ State Department was complete. Córdova attended Bishop Amat High School in West Covina, California and was active in her community and school activities. In spite of her later interest in astrophysics, she was initially drawn to the liberal arts, graduating cum laude from Stanford University with a bachelor’s degree in English. During her tenure at Stanford, Córdova also explored her heritage while doing fieldwork with the Zapotec Indians in Oaxaca, Mexico. The trip resulted in the publication of a short novel and recipe book which ultimately led to an internship with Mademoiselle that allowed her to travel further after graduation. These early experiences affected Córdova greatly, and had an impact on her approach as an educator- namely her support of international study, broad-based liberal arts education, and interdisciplinary research. After the Apollo 11 moon landing, Córdova renewed her early interest in science and became fascinated by space. Her initial exploration of astrophysics began with her appointment as a lab assistant. While working, she also took classes to gain foundational knowledge in astrophysics before ultimately earning her PhD in Physics from the California Institute of Technology in 1979. Her PhD thesis was titled X-Ray Observations of Dwarf Novae, and led to several publications and conference presentations. This research continued during Córdova’s ten year appointment at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Córdova first tried her hand at higher education during her four year stint at Pennsylvania State University, where she began as a professor and was promoted to the head of the newly developed Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics. Subsequently, she was selected as the Chief Scientist of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration where she worked on the Hubble Space Telescope and with several other committees. In 1996, she returned to higher education when she was appointed as the vice chancellor for research and professor of physics at University of California, Santa Barbara. In 2002, she remained in the University of California system but transferred to the Riverside campus as the newly appointed chancellor, where she helped to establish a School of Medicine. She remained there until her 2007 appointment as Purdue’s eleventh president. This appointment brought much attention, as Córdova was recognized for being the first female as well as the first Hispanic president of Purdue. Córdova’s time at Purdue was noted for the establishment of the College of Health and Human Sciences, the Global Policy Research Institute, and for improving upon various rankings of the university. At the conclusion of her five year term in 2012, Córdova served as the chair of the Board of Regents for the Smithsonian Institution, before being appointed in 2014 as the new head of the National Science Foundation. In addition to her impressive resume and career thus far, Córdova has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors, some of which are highlighted throughout the collection.

Biography: Ruth Davis Braun was born on December 2, 1920 in Fairfield Township, Tippecanoe County, Indiana to James P. and Elsie Kull Davis. Born Ruth Davis, she is the oldest of six children, all of whom attended Purdue University as did her father. She attended Jefferson High School in Lafayette and in 1936, on a trip to Purdue with her Home Economics class, she met Amelia Earhart. She graduated from Jefferson in 1938 and attended Purdue University where she enrolled in Home Economics. Ruth Davis was a founding member of the Shoemaker Cooperative House, originally named Twin Pines. She lived her during her two and a half years at Purdue University. She left for a position as Secretary of Fairfield Manufacturing. In 1942, Ruth Davis married Harold Braun. They lived in West Lafayette. Ruth left Fairfield Manufacturing to care for their three sons. After her youngest son went to school, she re-entered the workforce. Ruth Braun worked primarily in Finance after returning to work. She was also an active member of the Tippecanoe County Extension Homemakers, Fairfield County club. Ruth Davis Braun passed away on December 9, 2020.

Biography: Carol A. Ecker graduated from the School of Veterinary Medicine in 1964, one of the first of two women graduates to earn a doctorate in the newly established Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program. Her success as a student carried over into her professional life, where she became president of the Clayview Animal Clinic, owner and operator of Clayview farms, secretary-treasurer of Ecker Enterprises and owner of Marcell's Pet Salon. She was also the first female president of the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association. In addition to her presidential term with the IVMA, she was also a member of the IVMA Legislative and Animal Welfare Committees; IVMA Annual Meeting Committee; and the IVMA Audit and Budget Committee. She was a founding member of the Indiana Animal Health Foundation (1998-). The IVMA honored Ecker with the IVMA Veterinarian of the Year Award (1989) and the IVMA President’s Award (2009). Ecker was committed to service within the veterinary community for her entire career. In addition to being involved in several professional organizations, Ecker also intitiated the Twin City Therapy animal bonding program, was an active member of St. Joseph County Humane Society, Portage Manor healthcare facility, and Animal Control Commission of South Bend. She was involved with the Michiana Kennel Club and the Hoosier Summer Classic. Ecker and her husband, Kenny, were active in showing horses and collectively won dozens of AQHA shows with their horses. Carol was a part of the 4H Horse & Pony Club of St. Joseph County, American and Indiana Quarter Horse Associations, and Palomino Horse Breeders Association. Ecker also remained committed to her alma matter, serving in leadership positions in various alumni and advisroy councils at Purdue University. She helped establish the Purdue Veterinary Alumni Association, where she served as secretary-treasurer. She later went on to serve on the Dean's Advisory Council of the School of Veterinary Medicine, and in 1988, became a member of the Purdue Board of Trustees where she served until 1997. Ecker active on the Purdue campus in a number of student and career-oriented programs, including the Dean's Club and the President's Club. She was awarded the Purdue President's Medal in 1994.

Biography: Sally Combs Elliott was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. She graduated from Ben Davis High School and attended the Normal College of the American Gymnastics Union for two years. She completed her BS and MS in Health and Physical Education at Indiana University. She co-led the establishment and the direction of the Women’s Athletic Program at West Lafayette High School and then at Purdue University. Sally’s first jobs were as program director of the Indianapolis YWCA and as a K-12 Physical Education teacher for the Indianapolis Public School system which designated her as a Master Teacher. In 1958 she became a Physical and Health Education instructor at Purdue, and later coordinator of Women’s Athletics. She then taught high school PE for West Lafayette Community School System. With the Title IX legislation, she started the girl’s athletic program at West Lafayette High School. Invited to direct the Women’s Athletic Promotions and Public Relations at Purdue, Sally did the fundraising that fully established Women’s Athletics at Purdue. In 1976 she was inducted into the American Association of University Women (AAUW) and later received Purdue’s Black Coat Award for her successful promotion of women’s athletics at Purdue University.

Biography: Born and raised in Abilene, Kansas, as a child Virginia Ferris was intrigued by plants and nature, a fascination which laid the foundation for her career as an award-winning botanist. She attended Wellesley College in Massachusetts (Phi Beta Kappa), and earned her PhD from Cornell University in 1954. At Purdue she became an award-winning microbiologist and academic leader. Following her work as Assistant Professor at Cornell, Virginia began a nematode consulting service for agriculturalists in Champaign-Urbana when her husband joined the Entomology faculty at the University of Illinois. In 1965 she became an Assistant Professor of Entomology at Purdue after her husband’s appointment there. Ferris was the first female professor in the Department of Entomology. There she shifted her research to microbiology and genetics, and discovered and patented a nematode-resistant strain of soybean. Tenured in 1970, she was then appointed Assistant Dean of Purdue’s Graduate School, and later Assistant Provost. The holder of several patents, Dr. Ferris received many awards over the course of her career and was elected for three six-year terms as national president of Phi Beta Kappa.

Biography: Mary Ford (née Mary Adeline Harrison) was born in Clinton, Indiana and raised in Indianapolis where she graduated from Ben Davis High School. She received her BS from Purdue in Home Economics Vocational Education, and her MA in Textile Science. Ford was a member of Alpha Chi Omega at Purdue. Ford served as President of the Purdue Women’s Club and was on President Jischke’s President’s Council. Mary and her spouse Frederick organized the fundraising and construction of the Classes of 1958 and 1959’s Gateway of the Future arch on the Purdue campus. A room in Stone Hall was named in Mary Ford's honor.

Biography: Mary Louise Foster, a native of Harrisburg, Indiana, studied Home Economics at Purdue. Foster earned a Bachelor’s degree in 1939 and a Master’s degree in 1950. After graduation she taught Home Economics in local public high schools, including the first home economics class for boys at Harrisburg High School. Foster returned to Purdue in 1955 as a professor in the Family and Consumer Sciences Department, where she served as an instructor of the Home Management House course. Foster helped to develop the first program in Home Economics at the University of Vicosa in Brazil, working there from 1960 until 1965. She officially retired from Purdue in 1987, but continued on as an Academic Advisor in the Department of Consumer Sciences and Retailing. Mary Louise Foster served a total of almost sixty years at Purdue. She received the Helen B. Schleman Gold Medallion award in 2000 and the Special Boilermaker Award from the Purdue Alumni Association in 2005. A scholarship in her name has been established by the former Consumer and Family Sciences Student Council (later the Health and Human Sciences Student Council).

Biography: Mary Louise Foster, a native of Harrisburg, Indiana, studied Home Economics at Purdue. Foster earned a Bachelor’s degree in 1939 and a Master’s degree in 1950. After graduation she taught Home Economics in local public high schools, including the first home economics class for boys at Harrisburg High School. Foster returned to Purdue in 1955 as a professor in the Family and Consumer Sciences Department, where she served as an instructor of the Home Management House course. Foster helped to develop the first program in Home Economics at the University of Vicosa in Brazil, working there from 1960 until 1965. She officially retired from Purdue in 1987, but continued on as an Academic Advisor in the Department of Consumer Sciences and Retailing. Mary Louise Foster served a total of almost sixty years at Purdue. She received the Helen B. Schleman Gold Medallion award in 2000 and the Special Boilermaker Award from the Purdue Alumni Association in 2005. A scholarship in her name has been established by the former Consumer and Family Sciences Student Council (later the Health and Human Sciences Student Council).

Biography: LaNelle E. (Nerger) Geddes was born on September 15, 1935 in Houston, Texas to Carl O. and Evelyn Nerger. She received a B.S. in Nursing from the University of Houston in 1957, and earned a PhD in Biophysics there in 1970. After receiving her PhD, Geddes taugh at the Texas Women's University and in the Department of Physiology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. Geddes joined the faculty at Purdue in 1975 where her husband, Leslie A. Geddes, was the head of the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Lanelle started in the School of Nursing as the Assistant Head of the Department. In 1980, she was promoted to the Head of the Department and served as Head until 1991. While at Purdue, Geddes challenged traditional perceptions of nurses as merely doctors' assistants who were wrongly believed to have no expertise or skill for diagnosis and treatment. In addition, Geddes was also instrumental in instituting a four-year nursing baccalaureate program and starting the Freshman Scholars, a program that provided scholarships to outstanding incoming freshman. Geddes' research was focused on cardiovacular physiology. Her teaching emphasized the impact of human pathophysiologic alterations and their influence on nursing and medical care. Her inclusion of pathophysiology encouraged her students to make better clinical judgements and to be stronger patient advocates. From 1996-2003, Geddes also taught pathophysiology to IU School of Medicine students at Purdue University. Geddes retired as a professor emeritus in 2003. Geddes' research and teaching had far-reaching impacts, and she received many awards over the course of her career. She was an AMOCO Foundation (Murphy) Award winner, a fellow of the University Teaching Academy, and a Helen B Schleman Gold Medallion Awardee. She also received the Lafayette YWCA Salute to Women Award and the Westminster Village Lifetime Service Award for her work within the community. Geddes passed away on January 25, 2016.

Biography: Eva Goble was born on May 28, 1910 in southern Clay County and attended school in Jasonville, Indiana where she participated in girls' basketball and was instrumental in starting her high school's first library. Goble started college at Indiana State University, but had to leave school for work when the stock market crashed in 1929. She eventually was able to return to Indiana State University and graduated from the Teaching College in 1941. She worked for Purdue Extension services from 1941 until being named Dean of Home Economics in 1967, a position she held until her retirement in 1973. Goble was also state leader of the Indiana Extension Homemakers Association from 1947 to 1973. She received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Indiana State University in 1968. In 1972, she received one of the first Frederick L. Hovde Awards for Excellence in Educational Service to the Rural People of Indiana. Purdue's College of Consumer and Family Sciences established the Eva Goble Lecture Series in 1992, and Dean Goble, now emeritus, received an honorary doctorate from Purdue in 1999.

Biography: Eva Goble was born on May 28, 1910 in southern Clay County and attended school in Jasonville, Indiana where she participated in girls' basketball and was instrumental in starting her high school's first library. Goble started college at Indiana State University, but had to leave school for work when the stock market crashed in 1929. She eventually was able to return to Indiana State University and graduated from the Teaching College in 1941. She worked for Purdue Extension services from 1941 until being named Dean of Home Economics in 1967, a position she held until her retirement in 1973. Goble was also state leader of the Indiana Extension Homemakers Association from 1947 to 1973. She received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Indiana State University in 1968. In 1972, she received one of the first Frederick L. Hovde Awards for Excellence in Educational Service to the Rural People of Indiana. Purdue's College of Consumer and Family Sciences established the Eva Goble Lecture Series in 1992, and Dean Goble, now emeritus, received an honorary doctorate from Purdue in 1999.

Biography: Diana Hardy is one of the first women firefighters in Indiana. Originally from Logansport (Indiana), she attended Ivy Tech Community College after high school to train as a dental assistant. During this time, she became interested in the EMT field and while earning her associate’s degree, she became a certified EMT. She applied for a position as EMT at the Wabash Township Fire Departmen; however, this department required its EMTs to have training as firefighters. She then became an active volunteer at the Wabash Township Fire Department, and became increasingly interested in fire service. In 1981, she became the first woman to join the Purdue Fire Department. Hardy remained at Purdue for 32 years, bearing witness to many changes within the department and the field, including the hiring of more women. In 2014, at her retirement ceremony, she was presented with a Sagamore of the Wasbash Award, the highest award that can bestowed by the governor of Indiana. It was presented to her by State Representative Sheila Klinker and State Senator Ron Alting. In addition to being one of Indiana’s first female firefighters, she was also the longest serving Purdue firefighter at the time of her retirement.

Biography: A native Southwesterner, Marilyn Haring graduated as her high school’s senior valedictorian in Prescott, Arizona. Educated at Arizona State University, she received her BS and then went on to teach high school, concurrently completing her Master’s degree in Guidance and Counseling, and then her PhD. She served as Dean of the School of Education at Purdue from 1991-2001. Following her PhD program, Marilyn joined the ASU College of Education faculty. Her husband’s death led to her relocation to the University of Massachusetts-Amherst as Education Dean. In 1991, Purdue actively recruited Marilyn for the position of Dean of the School of Education which she fulfilled with great success until 2001 when she continued as a professor in the Education department until her retirement in 2007. During her tenure as Education Dean at Purdue, the School of Education received national recognition for its Reading Recovery Program and Purdue came to rank among the top 50 graduate programs in the country (U.S. News and World Report). In 1994 she received the Violet Haas Award for Outstanding Efforts on Behalf of Women from the Purdue Council on the Status of Women.

Biography: L. Tony Hawkins was the Dean of Students at Purdue University from 1995 to 2011 and Vice President of Academic Affairs from 2011 until his retirement in 2013. He previously served as a counselor and in other roles in the Dean of Students office.

Biography: A native Hoosier, Holtman was born in Indianapolis but raised in Lafayette and attended K-12 there. She then attended Purdue and received her degree in 1940 in Home Economics. She talks about college life during the late 1930's, as well as family activities such as a family owned grocery store. She taught in two rural schools in Indiana and discusses her students and life in Marshall County. A project in Lalte County is also discussed.

Biography: Ismail graduated from Goldsmith College in London with a bachelor's degree in Geography. She earned her master's degree in Geography from Indiana University. She was the director of International Student Services at Purdue from 1983-1993.

Biography: Ismail graduated from Goldsmith College in London with a bachelor's degree in Geography. She earned her master's degree in Geography from Indiana University. She was the director of International Student Services at Purdue from 1983-1993.

Biography: Sarah (Cauble) Johnson was born in Louisville, Kentucky and moved to West Lafayette at age 13. Johnson graduated from Purdue in 1969 with a Bachelor’s degree in Foods and Nutrition from the School of Home Economics. She then moved to the University of Iowa and earned a Master’s degree in Nutrition in January of 1972. Following graduation Johnson became a registered dietician. Johnson began her career at Purdue as a food supervisor at Harrison Hall. After two years she was promoted to Food Manager at Windsor Halls. Johnson remained in that position for 13 years before being selected as Director of Dining Services in 1986. As director, Johnson oversaw the renovation and overhaul of the Purdue Dining Courts, consolidating 11 dining halls into five state-of-the-art facilities. During her career Johnson served as an advisor for Tau Beta Sigma, the honorary sorority of Purdue Bands. Johnson retired in 2008 after serving Purdue for 37 years.

Biography: Born and raised in Indianapolis, Carolyn E. Johnson graduated from Shortridge High School. She earned her BS (Phi Delta Kappa) and MS in Elementary Education at Indiana University. She received her PhD in Educational Administration in 1985 from Purdue where she took a position as Senior Research Associate with Purdue’s African American Research Center. Johnson became Chief Diversity Officer and Interim Vice Provost for Diversity at Purdue as well as the first Director of the Hannah Center in Lafayette. The recipient of awards internationally for her Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) consulting, she has also received the Benet College Bell Ringer’s award and the YWCA’s Salute to Women award. Johnson was inspired to be a teacher since childhood. She taught grade school for fifteen years in Elkhart, Indiana. At Purdue she developed multiple diversity-related courses focusing on African American culture, women, and global studies. An applied course, “Soul Plus Radio Magazine” was developed with WBAA Radio to bring African American Studies to a wider audience. She was a member of The National Association of Chief Diversity Officers of Higher Education and served on the Board of Trustees for Benet College.

Biography: Carolyn Jones was raised and graduated from high school in Fairview Park (Cleveland), Ohio. She attended DePauw University for her BA in History, graduating with honors. She did her MA with a double major in Guidance and Counseling and College Student Personnel at Michigan State University. She attended a National Defense Education Act (NDEA) program in College Personnel then went on for her PhD at the University of Illinois. Jones became Dean of Women at Purdue, which began her long career in many leadership positions including (a.o.) Head of the Student Services Internship Program, University Title IX Coordinator, founding committee member of the Center for Institutional Cooperation (CIC), and Associate Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. Jones was very active in high school with the band, intramural athletics, and theater. As an undergraduate she was president of the Delta Zeta sorority, president of the Student Education Association, and director-producer of the senior class musical. Jones taught junior high school for two years and then was recruited by Albion College as an Assistant Dean before beginning her career at Purdue.

Biography: Carolyn Jones was raised and graduated from high school in Fairview Park (Cleveland), Ohio. She attended DePauw University for her BA in History, graduating with honors. She did her MA with a double major in Guidance and Counseling and College Student Personnel at Michigan State University. She attended a National Defense Education Act (NDEA) program in College Personnel then went on for her PhD at the University of Illinois. Jones became Dean of Women at Purdue, which began her long career in many leadership positions including (a.o.) Head of the Student Services Internship Program, University Title IX Coordinator, founding committee member of the Center for Institutional Cooperation (CIC), and Associate Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs. Jones was very active in high school with the band, intramural athletics, and theater. As an undergraduate she was president of the Delta Zeta sorority, president of the Student Education Association, and director-producer of the senior class musical. Jones taught junior high school for two years and then was recruited by Albion College as an Assistant Dean before beginning her career at Purdue.

Biography: Wilma Jean Eviston was born on a farm in Huntington County, Indiana. She attended Purdue in the 1930s and lived in Duhme Hall at the same time that both Amelia Earhart and Lillian Moller Gilbreth were in residence as counselors and faculty members. Influenced by one of her high school teachers, Wilma Jean chose to major in institution management. Upon graduating in 1939, she was hired by Purdue Memorial Union as the assistant food supervisor. During this time she also met her future husband, a graduate student in civil engineering, and they were married in November 1941. After World War II ended, Wilma Jean and her family moved back to Purdue and eventually built a house on Sugar Hill. After her children were old enough to begin school in 1954, Wilma Jean began working for the Purdue residence halls. She continued managing the residence halls’ dining courts for twenty-six years.

Biography: Kelly was born in Lousiville, Kentucky on January 6, 1943. She attended The Louisville Collegiate School for grade school and high school. She received a master's degree from Louisville in 1970. She received her M.L.N. from Emory in 1973. She worked at the University of South Alabama in Mobile as a hospital librarian. She has been a Life Sciences librarian at Purdue University since 1959.

Biography: Lester was born in north-western Georgia. She received her bachelor's degree in animal science from the University of Georgia in 1981 and her master's degree in animal breeding and genetics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1983. In 1990, she became the executive secretary for the Ag Alumni Association.

Biography: Lester was born in north-western Georgia. She received her bachelor's degree in animal science from the University of Georgia in 1981 and her master's degree in animal breeding and genetics from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1983. In 1990, she became the executive secretary for the Ag Alumni Association.

Biography: Katherine Markee served 43 years to the Purdue University Libraries and retired after working from 1968-2011. She was an associate professor of library science and staff member within Purdue University Archives and Special Collections. Katherine was awarded the Research Support Award from the Purdue chapter of Sigma Xi to recognize her contributions to advances in research. Katherine received an A.B. degree from Trinity College in 1953, Washington, D.C. and a M.A. degree from Teachers College of Columbia University in 1962. She received an M.S.L.S. from Case Western Reserve University in 1968.

Biography: Katherine Markee served 43 years to the Purdue University Libraries and retired after working from 1968-2011. She was an associate professor of library science and staff member within Purdue University Archives and Special Collections. Katherine was awarded the Research Support Award from the Purdue chapter of Sigma Xi to recognize her contributions to advances in research. Katherine received an A.B. degree from Trinity College in 1953, Washington, D.C. and a M.A. degree from Teachers College of Columbia University in 1962. She received an M.S.L.S. from Case Western Reserve University in 1968.

Biography: Sally Mason was born in New York City and graduated from high school in Union, New Jersey. Her career interest was in biology and related fields. She earned her BS in Zoology at the University of Kentucky (1972). She then want on to earn her MS in Developmental Biology from Purdue (1974), and her PhD in Cellular, Molecular, and Developmental Biology from the University of Arizona (1978). After completing her PhD, she held a Postdoctoral research position at Indiana University. She joined the faculty at University of Kansas in 1980, and eventually served as the Associate Dean of Natural Sciences and Mathematics (1990-1995) and the Acting Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (1995-1996). She left the University of Kansas to join the administration at Purdue University. Mason was recruited by Purdue for the position of Provost which she held from 2001-2007. Mason was the first female Provost at the University. During her time as Provost, Mason was responsible for planning, managing, and overseeing all academic programs at Purdue's West Lafayette campus and its four affiliated branch campuses in Indiana. Mason also successfully led the strategic initiative to design and staff the programs in Discovery Park. She oversaw Purdue’s conversion to the OnePurdue and Banner database systems and supported the Engineering faculty initiative to shift to an interdisciplinary approach to their teaching and research. She brought diversity awareness to the Purdue faculty through ongoing workshops, which also included gender awareness training; these events became known as multicultural forums which gave rise to the Diversity Leadership Group, now a permanent advisory committee to the Provost. Dr. Mason also initiated the EPICS program for undergraduate research initiatives and the Women in Philanthropy group. In 2007, Mason was offered the presidency of the University of Iowa, which she accepted. Throughout her career, Mason has published numerous scholarly articles and has received grants from organizations such as the National Institutes of Health, the Wesley Research Foundation, the Lilly Endowment, and the National Science Foundation. Mason also has been appointed to the National Medal of Science Committee for two terms (2006-2011) by the President of the United States.

Biography: Jill P. May was born in Rocky Ford, Colorado to parents Floyd Powell and Glenda Florine “Flo” Riggs. She received her B.A. from Wisconsin State University in English in 1965, and a M.S.L.S from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in library science with an emphasis in children's literature in 1966. She is Professor Emerita in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Purdue University with a focus on language and literacy. While at Purdue, May conducted research on many children’s authors and illustrators and published scholarly articles for journals in the field. She was heavily involved in the Children’s Literature Association (ChLA) and other national associations, where she collaborated with others and formed lifelong relationships with colleagues also working within academia and children’s literature. May coedited a textbook titled Exploring Culturally Diverse Literature for Children and Adolescents: Learning to Listen in New Ways (2004) with friend and colleague, Darwin L. Henderson. Additionally, May and her husband, Robert E. May, coauthored two books, Howard Pyle: Imagining an American School of Art (2011) and Spearhead Environmental Change: the Legacy of Indiana Congressman Floyd J. Fithian (2022). The Purdue Publication, First Opinions, Second Reactions, was also co-edited by May. She has remained active in the field since retiring in 2011 with research interests in culturally diverse children's literature, Howard Pyle School of Art, and women artists (1870-1920).

Biography: Jill P. May was born in Rocky Ford, Colorado to parents Floyd Powell and Glenda Florine “Flo” Riggs. She received her B.A. from Wisconsin State University in English in 1965, and a M.S.L.S from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in library science with an emphasis in children's literature in 1966. She is Professor Emerita in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Purdue University with a focus on language and literacy. While at Purdue, May conducted research on many children’s authors and illustrators and published scholarly articles for journals in the field. She was heavily involved in the Children’s Literature Association (ChLA) and other national associations, where she collaborated with others and formed lifelong relationships with colleagues also working within academia and children’s literature. May coedited a textbook titled Exploring Culturally Diverse Literature for Children and Adolescents: Learning to Listen in New Ways (2004) with friend and colleague, Darwin L. Henderson. Additionally, May and her husband, Robert E. May, coauthored two books, Howard Pyle: Imagining an American School of Art (2011) and Spearhead Environmental Change: the Legacy of Indiana Congressman Floyd J. Fithian (2022). The Purdue Publication, First Opinions, Second Reactions, was also co-edited by May. She has remained active in the field since retiring in 2011 with research interests in culturally diverse children's literature, Howard Pyle School of Art, and women artists (1870-1920).

Biography: Emily Mobley was born in Georgia, but grew up in suburban Detroit. She set her sights on being a librarian at an early age. Mobley attended the University of Michigan (UM) where she earned her BA, and after a period of working for corporate libraries and at Wayne State University, she returned to UM and earned her PhD in Library Science. Mobley began her career at Purdue as Assistant to the Director of the Libraries in 1986. In 1989 she was promoted to full professor and was named the first Dean of Libraries. Mobley was also Purdue’s first Ester Ellis Distinguished Professor of Library Science (1997). Emily Mobley was the first African-American to hold a deanship at Purdue University. During her tenure as Dean of the Libraries (1989-2004), Mobley provided oversight in moving the system towards the electronic era and pushed for growth of library collections to 2.3 million volumes. Among her accomplishments, Mobley played a crucial role in the acquisition of the addition to the Amelia Earhart Collection to Purdue's Archives and Special Collections unit, led a two year renovation of the Humanities, Social Science and Education Library, and helped the English department bring a literary leader to campus each semester. Prior to coming to Purdue, Mobley was library director with General Motors Institute. She also served as a library administrator at Wayne State University, General Motors Research Laboratories and Chrysler Corporation. Mobley was also a past president of the Special Libraries Association and served on the board of directors for the Association of Research Libraries.

Biography: Sandra (Sandy) Monroe worked at Purdue University for 45 years in a variety of roles supporting and improving student life. Monroe was born and raised in Indiana and earned both her bachelor and master degrees from Purdue University. Monroe spent most of her career working at Purdue in many student support roles. She served in the Office of the Dean of Students for over twenty years, including serving as Assistant Dean of Students. She later served as the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, and then as the inaugural Executive Director of University Undergraduate Academic Advising in 2012, where she served until her retirement. During her career, Monroe earned awards for her service such as the Special Boilermaker Award, the Helen B. Schleman Award, the M. Beverley Stone Counseling Award, and the Student Services Career Award. Monroe retired from Purdue in 2021.

Biography: Morris grew up in Gilbert, Louisiana. She received her bachelor's degree in English and the humanities from Louisiana Scholars in 1996. She received an M.L.I.S. from the University of Texas at Austin in Library Science with a specialization in Archival Enterprise from 1996-1998. She worked at the Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin for a bit before she transitioned to the Dallas Museum of Art in 2000. She is the head of the Virginia Kelly Karnes Archives and Special Collections.

Biography: Originally from West Virginia, Betty M. Nelson received a bachelor's degree in psychology and sociology from the Women's Division of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and then a master's degree in student personnel administration from Ohio University. She served over 30 years on the staff of Purdue University, beginning in the Psychology Department before being asked to join Helen Schleman's staff in the Office of the Dean of Women. She served as Assistant and Associate Dean before being appointed Dean of Students to succeed Barbara I. Cook in 1987. During the 1970s and 1980s, much of Nelson's administrative energy was focused on the civil rights of those with disabilities and ensuring that campus was an accessible place for all students, faculty, and staff members. She was instrumental in the creation of Adaptive Programs (now the Disability Resource Center), which formed in response to the needs of students with disabilities. Nelson founded and chaired the Advisory Council on Disability Issues, a faculty and student advisory group to raise awareness of disability issues in the classroom. She was also a charter member of the Association on Higher Education and Disabilities (AHEAD) and a founding member of the Indiana Higher Education Committee on Disabled Students (later named IN-AHEAD). In addition to her advocacy efforts for the disabled, Nelson was instrumental in the establishment of the Student Leadership Development Program in the Office of the Dean of Students. She served in leadership positions in the National Association for Women Deans, Advisors, and Counselors; the NAWDAC Foundation, and the Indiana AWDAC. Nelson is active in community service, having served in leadership roles with the Community Foundation of Greater Lafayette, the Lafayette Rotary Club (as its first woman president), the Lafayette YWCA, Leadership Lafayette, and other local service organizations. Since her retirement, Nelson has provided leadership for the Purdue University Retirees Association. Some of Dean Nelson's awards and honors include the Sagamore of the Wabash, the Grand Marquis de Lafayette Award for Community Service, the Helen B. Schleman Gold Medallion, and the Special Boilermaker Award.

Biography: Dr. Mary O'Hara is a long-time educator and activist. She was born in 1952 to James O'Hara and Dolores O'Hara Hayes. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Masters in Community Development, and a PhD from the Department of Sociology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale. After earning her PhD, O'Hara worked as a sociology professor at John A. Logan College. O'Hara was a close friend of Purdue University professor, Helen Bass Williams. They met in 1984 at the Southern Counties Action Movement's (SCAM) annual meeting, after which they developed a strong personal relationship. She remained a close friend of Williams until Williams' death in 1991. O'Hara wrote her PhD dissertation, titled "Let it fly: The legacy of Helen Bass Williams", on Williams' life experiences and her contributions to the civil rights movement in the United States. In 2007, O'Hara received the "Spirit of Dr. King Community Service Award" for her commitment to effecting social change.

Biography: Judith Marie Greenfield was born in 1946 in Marion, Indiana, to Robert Edman and Mary Frances Greenfield. She earned her bachelors from Allegheny College in 1968, and received her Master's degree from Columbia University in 1969. Judith married Wayne Pask in 1969, and they had a daughter, Alida, together. Pask has had a long career in libraries and information science. Before joining the faculty at Purdue, she had appointments in the libraries at the Rochester Institute of Technology and the University of Illinois. At Purdue, she worked for many years in the Krannert and the Undergraduate Libraries. In addition to her work in the libraries, Pask has authored several publications on information literacy in the digital age and has demonstrated a great commitment to helping students learn how to discern credible information. After her retirement, Pask was honored with a Professor Emerita title.

Biography: Faith Wayne Pearson was born in Monroeville, Indiana, to Joshua and Roxie Wayne. She received her Bachelor of Science from Purdue University in 1942. She began her career as an analytical engineer for Hamilton Stand Division UTC, and subsequently worked in a variety of leadership positions at different companies including United Steel, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, and the town of Wethersfield, Connecticut. She has also served in a variety of speaking and teaching engagements, including at Yale in 1978. In 1989, Pearson returned to Purdue to re-earn her pilot's license.

Biography: Elizabeth Penney came to Purdue University in 1943 to particupate in the war-time Curtiss-Wright Cadette program, where women were trained in aeronautical engineering to work in Curtiss-Wright factories across the United States. Penney, Libby Rumpf at the time, was one of the first cohort of the Curtiss-Wright Cadettes at Purdue University. At age 16, she attended Cornell and was enrolled in the Home Economics program before being accepted into the Cadette program and transferring to Purdue University. Upon completing the program, Penney worked in the Curtiss-Wright factory in Columbus, Ohio where she was responsible for quality control to ensure the planes being manufactured were up to standard. After World-War II ended, Penney continued her education at the University of Minnesota, graduating in 1947 with a Bachelor of Science and concentration in mathematics. She later became a bio-statistician with the Nassau County Health Department in New York and experienced the shift to automation and the computer age.

Biography: Dr. Teresa Roche is currently the Chief Human Resources Officer for the City of Fort Collins. She attended Purdue University in the 1970s and 1980s and again in the late 1990’s where she earned a Ph.D. in Educational Technology, Master’s degree in Counseling and Personnel Services, and Bachelor’s degree in Education and Interpersonal and Public Communications. In 2019, Roche became an Executive in Residence at Purdue and serves on Purdue’s Student Life Advisory Committee. Teresa Roche grew into adulthood during two of the most significant social justice movements in the United States, the civil rights movement and the equal rights movement, both of which strongly impacted her life. Roche was heavily involved in activism on campus, particularly as it relates to women’s rights. She met with university leaders to discuss the effects of Title IX on the university, spoke out in support of the Equal Rights Amendment, and helped shift the focus of women’s organizations on campus to issues of women’s careers, family responsibilities for dual career parents, and women’s reproductive health. Roche was also very involved in student organizations while at Purdue. She held leadership positions in her sorority Delta Gamma, the Purdue Student Government, the Association for Women’s Students, and the Old Masters Program, and was a member of Iron Key, Omicron Delta Kappa, Kappa Delta Pi, and Phi Alpha Theta. While on the Purdue Student Government, Roche founded a new department called Women’s Awareness, focusing largely on campus safety and co-founded the Communications Council whose goal was to support the dialogue between students and the elected members of the student government. Prior to completing her undergraduate degree, Roche had developed a strong relationship with Betty Nelson and the staff in the Office of the Dean of Students, including Beverley Stone and Barbara Cook. As such, the Dean of Students Office offered her an internship if she would pursue her graduate studies at Purdue, which she accepted. In addition, Roche held an internship in the University Placement Office, was the Senior Staff Resident of Graduate Hall East, and was very involved in external organizations in her field of study during her graduate studies at Purdue. Dr. Roche has received numerous accolades including many from Purdue. As an undergraduate, she earned the Bruce Kendall Award and a Mortar Board fellowship to pursue her graduate studies. Since graduation, Roche has been named an Old Masters at Purdue (2005), received the Distinguished Alumni award from the College of Education (2009) and in 2019 Mortar Board presented her with a national citation to become a member of their honor society.

Biography: Savaiano received a bachelor's degree in biology from Claremont McKenna College. He received his master's degree and Ph.D. in nutrition from University of California at Davis. He taught in the department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota from 1980-1995. He is an associate Provost and Professor of Foods and Nutrition at Purdue University. He has researched lactose intolerance for many years. His research has attempted to understand and identify the dietary factors that can improve lactose intolerance which in turn would promote adequate calcium intake. Most of his research articles focus in that area. He was Dean of Consumer and Family Sciences at Purdue from 1995-2010. He was inducted into the Foods and Nutrition Hall of Fame at Purdue University. He moved to Purdue in 1995.

Biography: Dr. Dolores Janet Cooper Shockley was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Dr. Shockley was the first African American woman to earn a doctorate degree from the School of Pharmacy at Purdue University and the first African American woman to earn a doctorate in pharmacology in the United States.

Biography: Steiner was born in Decatur, IN on October 11, 1985. Steiner was appointed to the Purdue Board of Trustees by Mitch Daniels. She majored in agricultural economics.

Biography: Betty M. Suddarth worked at Purdue University from 1951-1996, first in admissions research at Purdue University and later as Purdue's first female registrar, a position she held from 1980 until 1994. Her research focused on student services, curriculum, recruitment, and enrollment. Suddarth received the Indiana Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers Distinguished Service Award in 1988. Prior to receiving the award, she served as the Association's president in 1986. Suddarth retired as registrar in 1994 and, after staying on for two more years, officially retired in 1996 at which point the Purdue Board of Trustees approved Suddarth's emeritus status. Suddarth also served as the president of the Purdue University Retirees Association from 2007-2008.

Biography: Betty M. Suddarth worked at Purdue University from 1951-1996, first in admissions research at Purdue University and later as Purdue's first female registrar, a position she held from 1980 until 1994. Her research focused on student services, curriculum, recruitment, and enrollment. Suddarth received the Indiana Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers Distinguished Service Award in 1988. Prior to receiving the award, she served as the Association's president in 1986. Suddarth retired as registrar in 1994 and, after staying on for two more years, officially retired in 1996 at which point the Purdue Board of Trustees approved Suddarth's emeritus status. Suddarth also served as the president of the Purdue University Retirees Association from 2007-2008.

Biography: Betty M. Suddarth worked at Purdue University from 1951-1996, first in admissions research at Purdue University and later as Purdue's first female registrar, a position she held from 1980 until 1994. Her research focused on student services, curriculum, recruitment, and enrollment. Suddarth received the Indiana Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers Distinguished Service Award in 1988. Prior to receiving the award, she served as the Association's president in 1986. Suddarth retired as registrar in 1994 and, after staying on for two more years, officially retired in 1996 at which point the Purdue Board of Trustees approved Suddarth's emeritus status. Suddarth also served as the president of the Purdue University Retirees Association from 2007-2008.

Biography: Sullivan was born in Patterson, New Jersey on October 3, 1951. Kathryn Sullivan was the first woman to walk in space. She has been on three shuttle missions and in 2004 was inducted into the Astronaut Hall of Fame. In 1988, she served in the U.S. Naval Reserve working as a oceanography officer. She retired in 2006 with the title of captain. She was the director of the Battelle Center for Mathematics and Science Education Policy in the John Glenn School of Public Affairs while at The Ohio State University. In 1996, she served as president and chief executive officer of the Center for Science and Industry. She served on the National Science Board and is a speaker, geolist, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientist.

Biography: Taylor grew up in Piermont, Indiana. She is the sister to Teddy (Theodora) Andrews. She graduated from Rossville High School in 1936 near the end of the Great Depression. The family moved to West Lafayette in order for the children to attend Purdue. She worked as a maid in home of Dean Potter for a year before entering Purdue and studying home economics. She talks about the Potter family. She was a member of Orchesis organization and Virginia C. Meredith Club for home economics. She met her husband, Dr. William E. Taylor, while at Purdue and discusses his Wyoming background. Margaret graduated in 1941, William in 1942. They married in Jacksonville, Florida in 1943. Taylor traveled with William while he was in the Army. She received master's degree in Human Family Relations in 1978 from Arizona State University. After that Margaret came back to Purdue and worked at the library. After her husband received his doctorate in 1950, the family moved out West.

Biography: Renee Thomas was born and raised in Cape May, New Jersey. She earned her bachelor's degree from the College of New Jersey, majoring in Political Science and African Studies. After graduation, Thomas worked as Assistant Director for the Office of Affirmative Action at Ohio University, where she also earned her master's degree. In 1990, she came to Purdue’s Black Cultural Center (BCC) and in 1996 became the director. In 1999, Thomas led fundraising efforts and oversaw the design and construction of the new facility for the BCC. Building on the work of former BCC director, Tony Zamora, Thomas continued the academic mentorship of African-American students at Purdue and the support of the BCC’s performing arts groups, the Black Voices of Inspiration, the Jahari Dance Troupe, and the Haraka Writers. Thomas engaged significant political and cultural leaders to speak and teach at the BCC. She also established several research programs with visits to historical and cultural sites important to African-American history and culture in the US. Thomas also founded the Ford Learning Research Center in the Purdue BCC library. In addition to her work at the BCC, Thomas has served on the board of directors for Leadership Lafayette and the YWCA, the Eli Lilly community advisory panel, Tippecanoe Arts Federation's director's roundtable and the Hanna Community Center's advisory council. Thomas has received numerous awards for her work, including the YWCA Salute to Women Award, the 2007 Purdue Martin Luther King Jr. Dreamer Award, Trenton State College Distinguished Alumni Award, Purdue Black Graduate Association Staff Leadership Award, and the Tippecanoe County Minority Health Coalition Award for Community Service.

Biography: Suzanne Topping was born in Madison, Wisconsin and grew up in Spring Green. She attended La Crosse College and went on to the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She met her husband there and married, had five children, and eventually moved to West Lafayette after the loss of her husband in a plane crash. She completed her BA in Child Development at Purdue and went on to earn her Master’s degree in Counseling. Perceiving the need for full-time daycare on campus, Topping organized and ran Purdue’s first professional childcare program. Building it up over the years with very little funding, the program grew and became a success with support from national organizations such as National Education for Young Children (NAEYC). Topping remarried and continued to devote herself to the success of the childcare program at Purdue, and also worked as a counselor for Krannert’s School of Management.

Biography: Clara Birch Snepp Vogt is a graduate and previous faculty member of Purdue University. Vogt graduated with a degree in Home Economics, specializing in housing, and became the first female instructor in many years in the Department of Engineering Graphics at Purdue. Clara Snepp was born in Gary Indiana in 1927 to Virginia Chase Snepp and Karl Milton Snepp. Both her father and her brother, Karl Snepp Jr., were Purdue graduates; her father in Engineering, and her brother in Home Economics/Institutional Management. Before coming to Purdue, Snepp attended DePauw University, majoring in Merchandising. After two years, she started a full-time position at Carson Pirie Scott, a large department store in Chicago, where she had been working during her summer breaks from DePauw. She was "gently fired" from Carson's and moved back in with her parents in Gary, Indiana where she started working as an engineering record clerk with a local utility company. Vogt began considering continuing college and, after encouragement from her brother, applied to Purdue University for a degree in Home Economics. She started at Purdue in 1952 and took the standard home economics courses, as well as courses in engineering drawing, architectural drawing and design, heating and air conditioning, electricity, landscape design, and city planning. She graduated in 1954 and became an engineering graphics instructor in the Department of Engineering Graphics where she would teach for four years. She was the first woman in many years to teach in that department and her success helped pave the way for women in the graphics field at Purdue. During her time at Purdue, Clara Snepp met her husband, Clifford Vogt, and they married in 1955. In 1958, after Cliff received his PhD in chemistry from Purdue, they left Indiana. Clara Vogt continued to work in architectural drawing and residential design as a consultant, and even designed two of her and Cliff's houses, in Connecticut and Georgia.

Biography: Dr. Janice Voss was born on October 8, 1956 to James and Louise Voss in South Bend, Indiana. Voss attended Minnechaug Regional High School in Wilbraham, Massachusetts and graduated from Purdue University with a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Science in 1975. She then earned a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering, and a Doctorate in Aeronautics/Astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1977 and 1987, respectively. Having worked on computer simulations and as a crew trainer at the NASA Johnson Space Center during her graduate studies, Voss took a position at the Orbital Sciences Corporation upon completing her doctorate, where she was involved with mission integration and flight operations. In January 1990, Voss was selected by NASA to become an astronaut, and qualified as a mission specialist in July 1991. She flew on five space flights from 1993 until 2000, including the STS-57, STS-63, STS-83, STS-94 and STS-99, having logged a total of 49 days and 18.8 million miles in space. From 2004 to 2007, Voss was the Science Director for the Kepler spacecraft at the NASA Ames Research Center. Most recently, she served as Payloads Lead of the Astronaut Office Station Branch. Janice Voss died of breast cancer in February 2012.

Biography: Sarah J. Watlington, also known as Sally Watlington, is a retired Captain of the U.S. Navy and was the first female executive officer of an NROTC unit at Purdue University. She was born May 6, 1938 to William Thomas and Margaret Watlington in Denver, Colorado. She graduated from Purdue University in 1960 with a BA. She received her MS in 1970 from the Naval Post Graduate School. Since retiring from her career in the Navy, Watlington has been highly active in her community and with philanthropic endeavors. In 1995, she was awarded a Sagamore of the Wabash Award by Governor Evan Bayh.

Biography: Dr. Connie Weaver is an expert in nutrition science with a focus on women's health, botanicals, and age-related diseases. Through her research, Dr. Weaver has developed peak bone mass and mineral requirements, a rapid screening method for bone loss therapies using 41Ca, in addition to researching the effect of diet on gut microbiomes and cardiovascular risk. Dr. Weaver worked at Purdue University from 1978-2018 and has earned numerous awards, special appointments and grants, published numerous articles, and served on many boards and committees concerned with health. Connie M. Weaver was born in LaGrande, Oregon on October 29, 1950. Weaver earned her Bachelor (1972) and Master (1974) of Science in Nutrition at Oregon State University and her doctorate in Nutrition from the University of Florida (1978). She began her teaching career in 1973 as a teaching assistant in the Department of Foods and Nutrition at Oregon State University. She continued as a teacher and research assistant in foods and nutrition until she earned her first professorial position at Purdue University in 1978 as an Assistant Professor of Foods and Nutrition. At this time, she was pregnant with her first child. Just twenty months later, she had twins. During this time, Dr. Weaver was working towards tenure at Purdue, which she received in 1984. Dr. Weaver became a full professor in 1988. She continued in Department of Food and Nutrition (later Food Science, then Nutrition Science) for the remainder of her time at Purdue, later serving as head of the department (1991-2016) and earned the title of Distinguished Professor (2000). She was also the director of the National Institute of Health (NIH) Botanicals Center for Age-Related Diseases (2000-2011), deputy director of NIH Indiana Clinical and Translational Science Institute (2008-), co-director of the International Breast Cancer and Nutrition Project (2010-), and the director of the Women's Global Health Institute. Dr. Weaver held numerous camps for children to conduct her research on calcium and diet. She held eleven camps which focused on calcium. These camps were called "Camp Calcium" and the last one was held in 2010. In 2017 she held "Camp Dash", the first of four, which would focus on researching calcium's effect on blood pressure and diet. Many issues arose during the first few weeks of camp, resulting in the camp being cancelled early and a lawsuit against Purdue University. Dr. Weaver left Purdue University in December 2018. Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Connie Weaver has earned over 50 special appointments and more than 40 awards, in addition to earning over fifty million dollars in grants for Purdue University. She has also published over 380 research articles in addition to teaching and developing courses, speaking at academic events, and hosting conferences and symposiums. She has also served on numerous committees and boards that focus on health and nutrition.

Biography: Dr. Connie Weaver is an expert in nutrition science with a focus on women's health, botanicals, and age-related diseases. Through her research, Dr. Weaver has developed peak bone mass and mineral requirements, a rapid screening method for bone loss therapies using 41Ca, in addition to researching the effect of diet on gut microbiomes and cardiovascular risk. Dr. Weaver worked at Purdue University from 1978-2018 and has earned numerous awards, special appointments and grants, published numerous articles, and served on many boards and committees concerned with health. Connie M. Weaver was born in LaGrande, Oregon on October 29, 1950. Weaver earned her Bachelor (1972) and Master (1974) of Science in Nutrition at Oregon State University and her doctorate in Nutrition from the University of Florida (1978). She began her teaching career in 1973 as a teaching assistant in the Department of Foods and Nutrition at Oregon State University. She continued as a teacher and research assistant in foods and nutrition until she earned her first professorial position at Purdue University in 1978 as an Assistant Professor of Foods and Nutrition. At this time, she was pregnant with her first child. Just twenty months later, she had twins. During this time, Dr. Weaver was working towards tenure at Purdue, which she received in 1984. Dr. Weaver became a full professor in 1988. She continued in Department of Food and Nutrition (later Food Science, then Nutrition Science) for the remainder of her time at Purdue, later serving as head of the department (1991-2016) and earned the title of Distinguished Professor (2000). She was also the director of the National Institute of Health (NIH) Botanicals Center for Age-Related Diseases (2000-2011), deputy director of NIH Indiana Clinical and Translational Science Institute (2008-), co-director of the International Breast Cancer and Nutrition Project (2010-), and the director of the Women's Global Health Institute. Dr. Weaver held numerous camps for children to conduct her research on calcium and diet. She held eleven camps which focused on calcium. These camps were called "Camp Calcium" and the last one was held in 2010. In 2017 she held "Camp Dash", the first of four, which would focus on researching calcium's effect on blood pressure and diet. Many issues arose during the first few weeks of camp, resulting in the camp being cancelled early and a lawsuit against Purdue University. Dr. Weaver left Purdue University in December 2018. Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Connie Weaver has earned over 50 special appointments and more than 40 awards, in addition to earning over fifty million dollars in grants for Purdue University. She has also published over 380 research articles in addition to teaching and developing courses, speaking at academic events, and hosting conferences and symposiums. She has also served on numerous committees and boards that focus on health and nutrition.

Biography: Woo was born in 1954 and raised in Hong Kong. For grades 1 through 12, she was educated by the Maryknoll Sisters of Ossining. She earned a bachelor's degree in economics with highest distinction and honors, and a master's degree in industrial administration with recognition as a Krannert Scholar. She went on to complete a doctorate in strategic management in 1979. For her doctorate her research area was in small competitiors. She worked at General Motors and was an assistant to the chairman of Startegic Planning Associates. She returned to Purdue to teach and do research within the school of Krannert. She joined the faculty at Purdue in 1981. She was a former Purdue associate executive vice president for academic affairs. She directed the Professsional Master's programs within the Krannert School of Management from 1993-1995. In 1997, she was chosen as the Martin J. Gillen Dean of the University of Notre Dame for the college of business. She left that position in January 2012 to transition to the position of president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services.