A woman who reached for the sky helped women reach for the stars
Amelia Earhart has long inspired young women to pursue their dreams, even if they face obstacles to their goals and especially if those dreams will take them beyond traditional careers. Still, in 2006, women held 1.3 million jobs in science and engineering, a third of the 3.7 million held by men. That means plenty of opportunity for women in these fields. Science and engineering careers offer the chance to make new discoveries and to make a difference in the world.
My View: How our economic garden grows
"The recently announced new crop of 50 Indiana Companies to Watch reflects not only the vision of their founding entrepreneurs, but also the future of Indiana."
40 Years After Moon Landing, Time to Launch the Next 'Giant Leap for Mankind'
The Apollo program was a booster rocket for American science. That innovation must be rekindled.
Purdue University: Discovery Space
"At a time when research dollars are drying up and public universities face growing funding constraints and rising costs, Purdue has established itself as a major regional engine of economic growth, business incubation, and breakthrough research."
"I never forgot my dreams of science, and in 1969, shortly after I graduated from Stanford University I was inspired by two events."
Losing Sleep Over Student Success?
"Whether our concerns are about the future of an individual student, our nation’s competitiveness, or the health and security of the world’s people, the underlying issue is the challenge of making our students' college experience successful."
2007 Special Report on Diversity: It's Not Rocket Science
France Córdova Blazes Trail for Diversity at the University Level
Head in the Clouds, Feet on the Ground
"We don’t have any idea what our limits are. When you’re out on some of these frontiers, people sometimes don’t understand where you’re going. I want people to feel comfortable with the leading edge."
Women in Astronomy, A Sampler of Issues and Ideas
"Women need encouragement, and this encouragement has to start at home; parents need to value a science career for their daughters."
America's Top 100 Young Scientists
"The implications of their work over the next decades will be more profound than we can imagine."
![]() |
Executive Director of Strategic Planning and Assessment
In his capacity as Executive Director of Strategic Planning and Assessment, Rabindra Mukerjea reports to the president of Purdue University. His expertise lies in the areas of strategic planning and assessment and budget/resource planning. Since 2001, he has held his current position as well as a professorship in horticulture and landscape architecture.
He received a BA with honors in architecture in 1966 from the Indian Institute of Technology in Karagpur, India. In 1969, he earned a master of applied science (systems design) from the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, where he immediately began employment as a lecturer in the university's School of Architecture. Moving to Iowa State University in 1971, he began rising through the school as assistant professor (1971-75), associate professor (1975-82), assistant to the chair (1976-81), coordinator of graduate programs in architecture (1981-83), professor (1982-01), and acting chair (1986-87); to interim dean of the College of Design (1984-85; 1992-94), associate dean for academic and student affairs, and assistant to the president for academic and student affairs; to assistant to the president for budget planning and analysis, and in 2001, professor emeritus of architecture and Christian Petersen Laureate, College of Design.
He currently holds service activities/appointments, task force, and committee responsibilities commensurate with his position, including membership in the president's cabinet and Capital Projects Council, member of the Information Technology Executive Steering Committee and chair of the Policy Subcommittee, advisor to the University Senate, and chair of both the Information Technology Executive Steering Committee and the Enterprise Resource Planning Implementation Steering Committee.
He is author of various publications and papers on computer-aided design and has been principal investigator for many research projects in the areas of architectural programming and CAD.
His community service as strategic planning consultant includes the Lafayette/West Lafayette School Corporation, Indiana Health Industry Forum, Indiana Arts Commission, Tippecanoe Arts Federation, The Art Museum of Greater Lafayette, The Museum at Prophetstown, Leadership Lafayette, and board member and vice president of the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra.
Related Links: