France A Cordova (2007 - 2012)
France A. Córdova became Purdue University’s eleventh president on July 16, 2007, as well as professor of physics and astronomy. She was the first woman to assume the position. While President she oversaw a strategic plan that emphasized student success, research and global engagement. She led Purdue to its highest levels of research funding, reputation rankings, and record level student retention rates and expanded its role as a top research institution on the global stage. She served for 5 years, leaving the school in 2012. She promoted the affordability of the school’s education and promotes faculty success. Under her, Purdue raised over 1 billion dollars for research funding. She also is recognized for expanding diversity among students and faculty. |
Martin C. Jischke (2000 - 2007)
Martin C. Jischke was inaugurated in 2000 and remained president for 7 years. He led a 5-year program to elevate Purdue to a higher status focusing on discovery, research and learning. He raised over 1.7 billion dollars and led the school during a time of massive expansion. During his term as president, 43 new buildings were constructed. He set up need based scholarships for instate students across all 92 counties of Indiana and an Indianapolis scholarship to give students a degree in science majors. The discovery park, a 300 million dollar project, is widely viewed as his crowning achievement while president. |
Stephen C. Beering (1983 - 2000)
Under Beering, Purdue’s enrollment increased dramatically along with scholarship programs. His tenure included the construction of 20 new buildings and the renovation of 13 others. Included was a 32 million dollar power plant expansion, Hillenbrand Hall, and several major additions to engineering, veterinary medicine and athletic complexes. He worked hard to get Purdue on the international stage and under him, private donations increased by 400%. He still serves as an ambassador for the university and helps with fundraising across the world. |
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Arthur G. Hansen (1971-1982)
Hansen was the only Purdue president to have been and alumni. He was focused on building relationships with students and developing fundraising efforts for the university. Hansen also founded the President’s Council which has grown from 30 members when it started to 17,000 members today. Hansen supported the Black Cultural Center and the Society of Black Engineers. He also supported the Purdue Retirees Association. Hansen wanted to better research for students, so new buildings were constructed for agriculture, psychology, life sciences, nursing, technology, engineering, and athletics. Under his reign, enrollment also increased.
Hansen was the only Purdue president to have been and alumni. He was focused on building relationships with students and developing fundraising efforts for the university. Hansen also founded the President’s Council which has grown from 30 members when it started to 17,000 members today. Hansen supported the Black Cultural Center and the Society of Black Engineers. He also supported the Purdue Retirees Association. Hansen wanted to better research for students, so new buildings were constructed for agriculture, psychology, life sciences, nursing, technology, engineering, and athletics. Under his reign, enrollment also increased.
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Fredrick L. Hovde (1946-1971)
Hovde had the longest reign as a president of Purdue. Purdue emerged as a leading research institute under Hovde. The university also had its greatest growth not only in enrollment (5,600 to 39,500), but also in the annual budget ($12.7 million to $136 million). The schools of industrial engineering, materials engineering, technology, and veterinary medicine were established. He also served on many government boards while president. President Lyndon Johnson appointed him as a member of the Board of Visitors to the United States Naval Academy. Hovde received many awards during his time at Purdue including President Emeritus.
Hovde had the longest reign as a president of Purdue. Purdue emerged as a leading research institute under Hovde. The university also had its greatest growth not only in enrollment (5,600 to 39,500), but also in the annual budget ($12.7 million to $136 million). The schools of industrial engineering, materials engineering, technology, and veterinary medicine were established. He also served on many government boards while president. President Lyndon Johnson appointed him as a member of the Board of Visitors to the United States Naval Academy. Hovde received many awards during his time at Purdue including President Emeritus.
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Edward C. Elliot ( 1922-1945)
Purdue saw its greatest period of growth in prestige and service under Elliot. Enrollment doubled, twenty-eight major buildings were constructed, and the university’s net worth almost tripled. He established The Division of Education Reference, School of Home Economics, and Purdue’s Graduate School, and other programs. Elliot also played a role in the establishment of the Rose-Ade Foundation, Purdue Research Foundation, and the Purdue Aeronautics Corporation. Purdue became the first university to own and operate an airport. In order to promote educational opportunities for women, Elliot brought Amelia Earhart and Dr. Lillian Gilbreth to Purdue. Elliot and David Ross helped establish the Amelia Earhart Fund for Aeronautical Research. Elliot helped with war efforts during WWII during his presidency. Upon retirement, Purdue’s Board of Trustees created the office of President Emeritus for Elliot.
Purdue saw its greatest period of growth in prestige and service under Elliot. Enrollment doubled, twenty-eight major buildings were constructed, and the university’s net worth almost tripled. He established The Division of Education Reference, School of Home Economics, and Purdue’s Graduate School, and other programs. Elliot also played a role in the establishment of the Rose-Ade Foundation, Purdue Research Foundation, and the Purdue Aeronautics Corporation. Purdue became the first university to own and operate an airport. In order to promote educational opportunities for women, Elliot brought Amelia Earhart and Dr. Lillian Gilbreth to Purdue. Elliot and David Ross helped establish the Amelia Earhart Fund for Aeronautical Research. Elliot helped with war efforts during WWII during his presidency. Upon retirement, Purdue’s Board of Trustees created the office of President Emeritus for Elliot.
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Winthrop E. Stone (1900-1921)
Stone became president after president James Smart died. Under Stone, the schools of agriculture and engineering grew. He also appointed Purdue’s first Dean of Women, Carolyn E. Shoemaker, in 1913. Stone witnessed the Purdue Wreck train collision in 1903 and assisted those who were injured or dying. He promoted women’s studies at Purdue, and in 1905, he announced the formation of the department of household economics with the influence of the first female trustee of Purdue. Stone headed off a major rivalry between IU and Purdue because of the existence of Purdue’s medical school. This caused a lot of tension between IU and Purdue and after a few years of legislation review, Stone said Purdue would withdraw and leave medicine in the care of IU. Stone hoped this would help improve medical education in Indiana and while it did stimulate public medical education, it caused a rivalry. “IU does not graduate engineers and Purdue does not graduate medical doctors”. His efforts started a rivalry that lasts till today, only now it’s not in academics, but sports.
Stone became president after president James Smart died. Under Stone, the schools of agriculture and engineering grew. He also appointed Purdue’s first Dean of Women, Carolyn E. Shoemaker, in 1913. Stone witnessed the Purdue Wreck train collision in 1903 and assisted those who were injured or dying. He promoted women’s studies at Purdue, and in 1905, he announced the formation of the department of household economics with the influence of the first female trustee of Purdue. Stone headed off a major rivalry between IU and Purdue because of the existence of Purdue’s medical school. This caused a lot of tension between IU and Purdue and after a few years of legislation review, Stone said Purdue would withdraw and leave medicine in the care of IU. Stone hoped this would help improve medical education in Indiana and while it did stimulate public medical education, it caused a rivalry. “IU does not graduate engineers and Purdue does not graduate medical doctors”. His efforts started a rivalry that lasts till today, only now it’s not in academics, but sports.
James Smart (1883-1900)
James Smart became Purdue president in 1883. He is known today as the engineers President, helping build the civil, mechanical and electrical engineering schools as well as the pharmacy department. He also created the Big 10, then known as the Western Conference, the first collegiate sports conference in the country. He created this conference in an attempt to decrease the cheating that was incredibly rampant throughout the collegiate sports world, especially in football. We actually became known as the Boilermakers when Wabash accused us of hiring railroad worker to play on our football team. He was the first president to not leave office due to a problem or disagreement when he did so in 1900. Emerson White (1876-1883) Emerson came into Purdue in 1876 to become it’s first long term president, with the intent to solidify Purdue’s place as an agricultural and mechanical arts school. Too lead and not follow. He also attempted to ban fraternities on campus. He amended the school constitution to ban any and all fraternal activities, make all incoming students sign documentation that they were not to join a fraternity, and forced the Sigma Chi chapter on campus to go underground. After a student refused to sign the anti-fraternity agreement and was not allowed admission, he pressed legal charges. The student won in the Indiana state Supreme Court. White continued to persecute fraternities until state law mandated that the anit-fraternity rules be amended, or have funding cut. With this White resigned in 1883. |
Adam Shortridge (1874-1875)
Shortridge became Purdue president in 1874 right before classes began. He grew the schools area of focus by creating schools of physics, civil and mechanical engineering. He also opened up the doors for women. He however retired after 18 months in 1875 due to a combination of health problems and disagreements with John Purdue who he found difficult to get along with. |
Richard Owens (1872-1874)
After the Morril land grant, Owens began working on creating a new agricultural school at IU. However, he ended up creating an entirely new Unitversity in Lafayette, known as Purdue in 1872. Owen sold to Purdue a large collection of books that created the beginning of our library. He however, ended up having disagreements with other leaders when he wanted a large focus on agriculture at the school, more comfortable dorms that what was normal, and a more beautiful landscape. He resigned because of these disagreements less than a month before classes began in 1874. |