Backpacking through Central America and India was a life-changing experience for Radhika (Rangarajan) Dirks (S’03). During the trip with her husband, Travis Dirks (S’04), she witnessed heartache, strife — and an opportunity to leverage the enormous power of artificial intelligence (AI). “We saw a lot of unfortunate things that seemed like they should have been […]
Hillary (Direnzo) Gramm’s (HHS’05) time at Purdue led her to a career, her husband, and their child, whom they gave a Purdue-themed name (Amelia, as in Earhart). And it was the unlikeliest of items that brought Gramm to West Lafayette: a baby sweat suit. “I’m one of the first in my family to graduate from […]
Taking control of your career is a bold action. While you can’t control everything, you can take steps to increase your chances at a fabulous career. There is no better time to refocus and reinvent yourself than during a career transition. Take this time to reimagine and reinvent! 1. Don’t expect someone else to manage […]
When Paula Fontana (M’93) arrived at Purdue after graduating from a small private high school, she expected to encounter a cut-throat environment. But she was surprised to discover a supportive community. A graduate of the Dr. Cornell Business Opportunity Program — “I’m a proud BOPer,” she says — Fontana was grateful for the opportunity to immerse herself […]
Ron Hickland Jr. created his own lane, merging a passion for engineering with a love for bowling At age 15, while traveling with his father, a competitive bowler, Ron Hickland (ME’01) met a bowling ball designer who explained to him that mechanical engineers design the core of the ball and chemical engineers design the cover […]
Purdue Alumni connects graduates, advances students The life and legacy of Roger Blalock (HHS’69) was a major inspiration for Toyinda Smith (HHS’98). It wasn’t just his outstanding athletic career, averaging more than 12 points a game on the men’s basketball team. And it wasn’t just his ongoing leadership within Purdue Athletics, coaching men’s basketball from […]
Erika Wetterlin (IE’15) charts her own course to professional success It was a running joke growing up that I learned the Purdue fight song before my ABCs. I spent Saturdays getting up early to tailgate before watching Drew Brees throw another winning touchdown. I’m a third generation Boilermaker, so my parents raised me to believe […]
Veterinarian leaves career in academia to serve veterans In ways big and small, Purdue alumni shape the world every day. Across the country and around the globe, thousands of Purdue graduates make a positive impact on their communities. Timed to coincide with Purdue’s sesquicentennial, the Purdue Alumni Association is working to recognize the untold stories […]
Every day, 22 people die waiting for an organ transplant. Darrin Carrico (HHS’90) is trying to change that unacceptable statistic. Carrico graduated with a degree in restaurant, hotel, and institutional management, with an emphasis on business, but realized six months after graduating that his passion lay elsewhere. “I had an entrepreneurial bent, but I wanted […]
Meghan Fay (HHS’06) has a knack for being in the right place at the right time. What else could explain a career that began with a degree in behavioral neuroscience and has included continent-hopping work in law, wedding planning, and luxury fragrance design? Her personal credo underscores the varied avenues she’s taken: “I have a […]
