As an undergraduate, Dwana Franklin-Davis (M’01) found the academic standards of Purdue to be rigorous, but they helped prepare her for her future career. She initially enrolled as a computer science major, where she was often the only black woman in class, which made establishing her place in that academic community daunting. “There wasn’t a […]
Alumna embarks on a 500-mile journey to grapple with her devastating diagnosis and advance breast cancer screening for others The pilgrim gripped each stone, one by one, turning it over in her hand. She felt its weight and ran her finger over its surface before laying it gently down at the base of the Cruz […]
Rochelle R. Asberry (LA’85) spent many years in marketing, sales, and branding in a corporate setting, where she grew small accounts into multimillion-dollar territories. With the skills she acquired, Asberry aspired to get to the next level. For Asberry, that meant setting her sights on building her own company. And with hard work and dedication, […]
Cornell A. Bell (PhD EDU’72, HDR M’07) distinguished himself in education with his personal involvement and dedication in helping provide opportunities to hundreds of students through the Krannert School of Management Business Opportunity Program. He was the director of the program for 37 years until his retirement in 2006 and was known as a father […]
In 1990, Tarrus Richardson (M’91) became the first black Purdue student body president, with 70 percent of the vote. He is an alumnus of the Dr. Cornell Bell Business Opportunity Program. After Richardson received his bachelor of science in accounting from Purdue, he earned his MBA from from Harvard Business School in 1996. Currently Richardson […]
Kassandra “Katie” Agee Chandler (M’80) was born to a blue-collar family from Gary, Indiana. She originally aspired to attend an out of state college following high school graduation. This plan was disrupted when she was contacted by Cornell Bell (PhD EDU’72, HDR M’07). Bell discovered Agee Chandler during her senior year of high school and […]
Dr. Cornell A. Bell Business Opportunity Program marks 50th anniversary Tim Coleman (M’90) never planned to attend Purdue. An outstanding student in high school, the Indianapolis native had his eye set on Northwestern University, where he later earned an MBA at the Kellogg School of Management. But one conversation with the venerable Cornell Bell (PhD […]
Everything is better told as if you’re writing a story — even office memos,” laughs Kevin Martin (M’84), recalling a Harvard Business Review article he read early in his career. “Effective communication skills are really vital to building and growing relationships and taking intelligent risks.” The importance of storytelling, critical thinking, and innovation was instilled […]
At 17, he was at the lowest point of his life. The young man did not know he would become one of the most highly respected and successful leaders in his Houston community and elsewhere, and that he would work for a top financial firm for 10 years, own and operate numerous quick service restaurants, […]
