Hailing from St. Louis, Missouri, Viveca Fairbanks-Henderson (ECE’90) recalls being homesick when she initially came to Purdue as a freshman.

“It was difficult to be away from my family in the middle of cornfields,” Fairbanks-Henderson says. “My parents reminded me that it was only four years of my life that would enable me to have the career I wanted and that I needed to stay focused.”

Under the mentorship of Marion Blalock (LA’69, MS HHS’73) and the Minority Engineering Program, Fairbanks-Henderson flourished.

“She was the single greatest influence on my development,” Fairbanks-Henderson says. “She had a deep commitment to ensure each one of us had an environment where we could succeed. She was my inspiration to work hard, be a leader, be a learner, and always set the bar high for myself.”

As a student, Fairbanks-Henderson was active in the National Society of Black Engineers, serving as vice president and president of the Purdue student chapter. Her experience with NSBE lay the foundation for lifelong friendships.

Upon graduation, Fairbanks-Henderson started her career at Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati where she had the opportunity to work across engineering, R&D, and supply chain with increasing levels of responsibility both domestically and internationally. 

She’s now vice president, global engineering — industrial sector at Ecolab where she’s focused on delivering exceptional engineering solutions to fuel the company’s growth. Her career experience includes over 28 years in the consumer packaged goods industry.

She advises young professionals to “enjoy the journey and remember no two career paths are identical, so don’t compare yourself to others — char your own course to your desired destination.”

Fairbanks-Henderson maintained strong ties to Purdue, serving as president of the Purdue Black Alumni Organization for 10 years. She is also a past director on the Purdue Alumni Association Board of Directors and executive committee. She is a life member of Purdue Alumni and PBAO.

Outside of work, she gives back to the community as a member of two international service organizations — Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and The Links. She is also a member of Jack & Jill of America.

Fairbanks-Henderson is married to her college sweetheart, Darren Henderson (ECE’91) and they have a 13-year-old son, Bryce, who they affectionately describe as an “adult history buff in a kid’s body.”

She lives by the motto: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”