8 College of Science graduates receive 2012 Distinguished Alumni Award
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Eight graduates from the College of Science received the 2012 Distinguished Alumni Awards on Friday (April 13).
A ceremony honored alumni that have had a significant impact in their fields and on society. Award recipients include: Bruce Bradley, Thomas Q. Carney, Dennis R. Dean, Lisa Hodson-Walker, David Leckrone, Larry Peterson, Wayne A. Taylor and Tony Zhang.
* Bruce Bradley graduated from Purdue in 1972 with a bachelor's degree in mathematics education. He is vice president and actuary at United Healthcare, a position he has held since 2001.
* Thomas Q. Carney graduated from Purdue in 1971 with a bachelor's degree in professional pilot technology. He earned a master's in aviation climatology from Purdue in 1977 and a doctoral in atmospheric science in 1984. Currently a Purdue professor of aviation technology, Carney has recorded 11,000 flight hours.
* Dennis R. Dean graduated from Purdue in 1979 with a doctoral degree in molecular biology. He is Distinguished Professor and Stroobants Professor of Biotechnology at Virginia Tech University and author of more than 160 research papers.
* Lisa Hodson-Walker graduated from Purdue in 1986 with bachelor's degrees in applied mathematics and secondary math education. She is co-founder of Silverwood Organic Farm, which uses sustainable farming to bring historical, colonial farmland back into production. She also previously worked for Ford Motor Co., was a vice president for Staples and a managing director ofSilverwood Partners, a specialized investment banking firm.
* David Leckrone graduated from Purdue in 1964 with a bachelor's degree in physics. Leckrone spent four decades with NASA, including 17 years as senior project scientist for the Hubble Space Telescope program.
* Larry Peterson graduated from Purdue in 1981 with a master's degree and in 1985 with a doctorate, both in computer science. The Robert E. Kahn Professor of Computer Science at Princeton University has generated more than $32 million in sponsored funding for his research and co-authored the best-selling network textbook, "Computer Networks: A Systems Approach."
* Wayne A. Taylor graduated from Purdue in 1976 with a bachelor's degree in mathematics/statistics. He earned his master's in 1978 and doctorate in 1983, both in statistics. Taylor is chairman of Taylor Enterprises Inc., a software company he launched that also provides Six Sigma consulting and training.
* Tony Zhang graduated from Purdue in 1989 with a doctoral in chemistry. As a student, Zhang was mentored by Purdue professor Ei-ichi Negishi, the 2010 Nobel Prize recipient in chemistry. Zhang joined Eli Lilly & Co. in 1992, anc currently serves as the company's vice president for global external R&D in Asia.
Writer: Brian Peloza, (765) 494-2081, bpeloza@purdue.edu
Source: Janelle Musch, director of alumni relations and special events, (765) 494-0586, jmusch@purdue.edu
Note to Journalists: Complete biographies and photographs of the 2012 distinguished alumni are available online at https://www.science.purdue.edu/DSAhonorees