Steering committee announced for Purdue’s ‘Victories & Heroes’ campaign

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — On its 2025 Purdue Day of Giving, Purdue University announced the inaugural cohort of the Campaign Steering Committee (CSC), which will help guide the university’s most ambitious fundraising effort to date, “Victories & Heroes: Your Campaign for Purdue.”

CSC members — dedicated alumni, parents and friends — will play a critical role in shaping and advancing the campaign’s success and will work closely with the Campaign Planning Committee, consisting of staff at Purdue University and Purdue for Life Foundation. CSC will also likely grow to around 50 families by the end of the campaign. 

“The heart and soul of Purdue has always been its people, and the new comprehensive campaign will be guided by the Campaign Steering Committee,” said Purdue President Mung Chiang. “This incredible group of alumni and friends are champions of our mission and architects of our future. Their leadership, passion and commitment will help us reach new heights, connect with more Boilermakers across many areas, and ensure Purdue’s impact continues to grow. We are ever grateful for their willingness to give back in such meaningful ways to the Old Gold and Black.”  

Announced in February during the President’s Council Annual Dinner in Naples, Florida, “Victories & Heroes” is a $4 billion campaign — the largest in Purdue’s history — with a target completion date of early 2030.

The Campaign Steering Committee is chaired by:

• Vanessa Castagna (BS psychology, speech and communication ’71) of Naples, Florida
• John Edwardson (BSIE ’71, HDR ’06) and Fran Edwardson of Winnetka, Illinois
• Bill Elmore (BSEE ’75, MSEE ’76) of Palo Alto, California

Additional committee members include:

• Samuel Allen (BS industrial management ’75, HDR ’17) and Marsha Allen (BS early childhood education ’75) of Milton, Georgia
• Snehal Antani (BS computer science ’02) of Tiburon, California
• Irene Binash (BSCHE ’79, MS management ’81) and Brian Binash of Houston, Texas
• Bill Bindley (BS industrial economics ’62, HDR ’97) of Indianapolis, Indiana
• Janine Black (BS interdisciplinary science ’83, BA French ’89) and Barry Arkles of Pipersville, Pennsylvania
• Drew Brees (BS industrial management ’01) and Brittany Brees (BS organizational leadership ’00) of Del Mar, California
• Chris Burke (BSCE ’77, MSCE ’79, PhD civil engineering ’83, HDR ’10) and Susan Burke (BS speech/language/hearing science ’78) of Naperville, Illinois
• Marc Carlson (BSME ’82, MS executive education ’92) and Jacqueline DuPont of San Juan Capistrano, California
• Jim Cure (BSCE ’75) and Carol Cure of Portland, Oregon
• Bill Dudley (BSCE ’74, HDR ’15) of Scottsdale, Arizona
• Norman Gilsdorf (BSCHE ’77) and Lioubov Gilsdorf of Boulder, Colorado
• Jason Girzadas (BS economics ’92) and Virginia Girzadas of Diablo, California
• Mike Graff (BSCHE ’79) and Rhonda Graff of Houston, Texas
• Dave Hagar (BS earth sciences ’79) and Alice Hagar of Edmund, Oklahoma
• Marc Hagle (BSEE ’71, MS industrial administration ’72) and Sharon Hagle of Winter Park, Florida
• Mike Harris (BSCMPE ’91) and Brenda Harris of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania
• Keith Krach (BSIE ’79, HDR ’18) of Menlo Park, California
• Marshall Larsen (MS industrial administration ’72) and Susan Larsen of Scottsdale, Arizona
• Chris Lister (BSIE ’95) and Melinda Lister of Lake Forest, Illinois
• Tim McGinley (BSCHE ’63) and Jane McGinley (BS elementary education ’62) of Carmel, Indiana
• Norman Nabhan (BA recreation ’71) and Karyn Nabhan of Houston, Texas
• Matt Painter (BA sociology ’94) and Sherry Painter of West Lafayette, Indiana
• Patti Poppe (BSIE ’89, MSIE ’91) and Eric Poppe of Lafayette, California
• Marvin Richardson (BS pharmacy ’80) and Melanie Richardson of Noblesville, Indiana
• Rusty Rueff (BA communications ’84, MS counseling education ’86) and Patti Rueff of Burlingame, California
• Jennifer Rumsey (BSME ’96, HDR ’24) and Jim Rumsey (BS computer engineering ’96) of Columbus, Indiana
• Bill Young (BS interdisciplinary science ’87) and Carla Young of Winnetka, Illinois
• John Zehner (BS pharmacy ’91) and Lori Zehner (BS management ’92) of Indianapolis, Indiana

The campaign will accelerate the growth of Purdue’s endowment while focusing on the university’s four strategic initiatives — its comprehensive urban expansion in Indianapolis, the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue Computes and One Health — as well as Purdue Athletics and other key areas. The financial support will help further amplify successes across the university’s land-grant mission: learning, discovery and engagement. The philanthropic funds raised will support scholarships, professorships, research, facilities and university programs.

To learn more and participate in “Victories & Heroes: Your Campaign for Purdue,” visit purdue.edu/campaign.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 107,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 58,000 at our main campus in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its comprehensive urban expansion, the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue Computes and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.

About the Purdue for Life Foundation

The Purdue for Life Foundation helps friends and alumni of Purdue University stay connected, get involved and give back. Created on March 11, 2020, the foundation deepens alumni ties to Purdue, drives and coordinates all alumni-related activities across the Purdue family’s postgraduation lives and works with alumni and friends to garner support for the university. Our organization combines the alumni engagement function of the Purdue Alumni Association and the University Development Office, and it includes President’s Council and the John Purdue Club, as well as alumni lifelong learning programs and on-campus residential opportunities. Learn more at https://purdueforlife.org/.