John A. Sautter
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Vice President for Housing and Food Services
As vice president for Housing and Food Services, John Sautter is responsible for a budget of $126 million and a staff of 900 FTEs that includes University Residences, Purdue Memorial Union, Elliott Hall of Music, Food Stores, and Boiler Television.
He assumed his present role in July 1996. From 1983 to 1996, he served as director of what is now University Residences, heading up an $86 million, self-supporting, on-campus housing operation that accommodates 12,000 students and serves over 3 million meals. Prior to that, Sautter was assistant director for Residence Halls-Student Programs and Counseling (now Residential Life), coordinating the annual selection of 270 resident assistants to ensure effective residential life programming, overseeing the student conduct process, and serving as advisor to the Residence Hall Council. He has also served as assistant director of Residence Halls-Administration, manager of Harrison Hall, and assistant manager of both Shreve and Wiley Halls.
Sautter has both a bachelor’s in speech education and a master’s in college student personnel-higher education administration from Southern Illinois University.
During his tenure with Purdue, Sautter has implemented several significant initiatives, including a division-wide organizational work culture, the main tenets of which include learning as both an individual and an organization; leading by example and inspiring others to do the same; recognizing our common values and holding ourselves and others accountable for modeling them; and caring about each other, our customers, and Purdue University. He also has instituted a well-organized performance management system, where the best employees are rewarded with higher salaries during times of minimal increases.
Sautter’s accomplishments also include writing two handbooks and many articles on residence hall counseling and college housing/student development; conducting motivational presentations; receiving recognition by Iron Key, Purdue Alumni Association, Tomahawk, Reamers, Omicron Delta Kappa, and an Honorary Old Master. He serves as a Purdue sire for the Varsity Glee Club and is namesake of the John A. Sautter Enthusiasm Award, awarded annually since 1981 at Harrison Residence Hall.
Sautter currently serves on the Campus Community Partnership Committee, University Senate Student Affairs Committee, HLC/NCA Accreditation Committee, and has been involved in a number of search committees including vice president for student services, dean of students, directors of admissions and publications, police chief, and Purdue Memorial Union director.
He and his wife, Dianne, have two children, Jonathan and Emily, and three grandchildren, Jack, Caroline, and William.
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