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 […]
Cynthia (M’90) and Eric (T’89) Newman are co-owners of the The Newman Group of Indianapolis Inc. and regional vice presidents with Primerica Inc. where they help families make sense of their money. Cornell Bell was a major influence in both Cynthia and Eric’s development, having recruited them to the Business Opportunity Program (BOP) from Lew […]
As the first black dean at Purdue, Emily Mobley faced challenges with others assuming she was an affirmative action hire, something she addressed in a 2009 interview with the Purdue Exponent: “Some people thought I was hired because I was black, but I was qualified,” Mobley said. “They didn’t expect that I had the skills, […]
Tim Coleman (M’90) has been with Eli Lilly for three decades, having started after graduation as a systems analyst. During his career, he has held numerous positions, spanning human resources, IT, manufacturing, marketing, and research & development. Today, Coleman serves as vice president and information officer for Medicines Development Information & Digital Solutions at Lilly, […]
LaMarcus J. Hall (MS EDU’19) chose to pursue an advanced degree at Purdue because he knew the program would be academically rigorous and that the Purdue name conveyed excellence around the world. However, his path at Purdue wasn’t easy. “My experience was like no other,” Hall says. “I had to jump many hurdles to maintain my […]
Dolores Cooper Shockley (MS P’53, PhD P’55) was the first Black woman to earn a PhD from Purdue and the first Black woman in the United States to earn a PhD in pharmacology. Shockley was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi, on April 21, 1930. She enrolled at Louisiana State University in 1947, intending to pursue a […]
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 […]
For nearly half a century, Roger Blalock (HHS’69) was a prominent figure on Purdue’s campus. He was a two-year basketball letterwinner, averaging 12.3 points per game during the 1966–67 season. While his college career was cut short when he suffered a broken ankle against Butler in December 1967, he would remain a giant figure in […]
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, […]
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 […]
