Alder to lead Purdue engagement efforts in Indy
Barbara Alder
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue's Office of Engagement has appointed Barbara J. Alder, the location director of Purdue Technology at Anderson and Richmond, as the university's director of engagement in central Indiana.
Alder will serve as the key point of contact for Purdue assets and will serve as the region’s liaison to many of Purdue's programs including the Technical Assistance Program, Statewide Technology, Cooperative Extension and the Science Bound program, a Purdue partnership with the Indianapolis Public Schools. She will help connect Purdue and its assets to central Indiana’s leaders, including those in the corporate and business communities, to promote economic growth and development in the state.
"The Indianapolis Office of Engagement is a critical piece of our engagement family," said Suresh Garimella, associate vice president for Engagement and the R. Eugene and Susie E. Goodson distinguished professor of mechanical engineering. "Barbara has a very successful track record in connecting business, industry and community leaders in Anderson and Richmond to the resources at Purdue. That background has prepared her well for her new role."
Before she joined Purdue in 2008, Alder's career spanned 26 years with Verizon Communications (formerly GTE), moving through positions of increasing responsibility in internal audit, network and customer service operations, metrics and performance reporting, municipal affairs, and regulatory planning and strategy. She also has prior experience in higher education administration, having served in admissions and financial aid for Hanover College.
The office's inaugural director, Thomas Carroll, retired earlier this year, capping a decade of leadership at Purdue and within the Office of Engagement. Carroll is a past president of the Purdue Alumni Association Board of Directors and was the owner of Guide Corp. in Pendleton.
After a brief transition period, Alder and the office will move to a new location at 101 W. Ohio St. in Indianapolis. A native of Henry County, Alder received her bachelor's degree in business administration from Hanover College and a master's in business administration from Indiana University.
Purdue Technology at Anderson and Richmond will be overseen by Andy Schaffer, the interim executive director of Statewide Technology, until a replacement is chosen.
Writer: Jeanne Norberg, 765-494-2084; jnorberg@purdue.edu
Sources: Suresh Garimella, 765-494-9095, garimell@purdue.edu
Barbara Alder, 765-648-2902, balder@purdue.edu