Purdue News

December 9, 2002 Purdue president to 'engage' Marion County in all-day visit WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University leaders are continuing a series of Purdue Days in Indiana with a visit to Marion County on Friday (12/13). Purdue President Martin C. Jischke (pronounced JIS-key) will be joined by Purdue faculty and administrators as he talks and listens to area residents who have a variety of ties to Purdue. During the day, the group will visit the Purdue Engagement Office, Shortridge Middle School, the Center for Inquiry, White River Gardens, the Indianapolis Zoo, Goodwill Industries and Rolls-Royce. Jischke has made engagement between Purdue and the state of Indiana, its businesses and citizens a major theme of his presidency. One of the highlights of the visit will be the Science Bound program at Shortridge Middle School, a program to help underrepresented students realize their dreams of attending college. Science Bound, initiated a year ago by Jischke, gives interested Indianapolis Public School students an opportunity to earn a full scholarship to Purdue to study for careers in engineering, science, math, technology and math/science education. Don K. Gentry, Purdue's vice provost for engagement, said, "President Jischke has been a strong and consistent advocate of bringing Purdue to the state and the state to Purdue. Purdue is committed to being a force in Indianapolis, and we will be showcasing our new Indianapolis Office of Engagement and its new director Thomas Carroll with our visit." Accompanying the president will be Gentry; David C. Petritz, director of Purdue Extension; Alysa C. Rollock, vice president for human relations; Victor L. Lechtenberg, dean of agriculture; Alan H. Rebar, dean of the School of Veterinary Medicine; and other Purdue faculty and administrators. Jischke, who came to Purdue in August 2000, is the university's 10th president. He previously served for nine years as president of Iowa State University, like Purdue, a land-grant institution. His experience in higher education also includes 17 years as professor and dean at the University of Oklahoma and five years as chancellor of the University of Missouri-Rolla. Jischke was the founding president of the Global Consortium of Higher Education and Research for Agriculture. He served as chairman and board member of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges and as a board member of the American Council on Education, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and Kellogg Commission on the Future of State and Land-Grant Universities. He is on the boards of directors of the Association of American Universities and the American Council on Competitiveness. After receiving his doctorate in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1968, Jischke joined the faculty of the University of Oklahoma's School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering. During his 17 years at Oklahoma, he served in multiple capacities. He became director of the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering in 1977. He served as dean of the College of Engineering from 1981 to 1986, and he was named the university's interim president in 1985. Purdue Days in Indiana have taken Jischke to the Indianapolis State Fair in August, Vincennes in September, Logansport in October and Dearborn County in November. Following the Indianapolis visit, Purdue Days will continue in Rensselaer on Jan. 21, Columbia City on Feb. 18, Scottsburg on March 28 and Anderson on April 24. Writer: Mike Lillich, (765) 494-2077, mlillich@purdue.edu Source: Don K. Gentry, (765) 494-9095, dkgentry@purdue.edu During the day, Jischke and his party will be at the following locations: 9 a.m. – The Indianapolis Engagement Office/Extension Office, at INTECH Park on 71st Street, just off I-465, to meet community leaders and media. 10:10 a.m.– Shortridge Middle School. Jischke will be met by Jan Sharp, Susan Miller and Julia Hains. Sharp is a lead teacher in Science Bound, and Miller is a mentor teacher. Hains is the outreach coordinator and the Science Bound program director for the Department of Chemistry at Purdue University. The students will be doing crime-scene analysis using sophisticated scientific equipment. This activity is part of an after-school program for Science Bound students. 11 a.m. – The Center for Inquiry, a diverse, urban elementary-middle science magnet school with non-graded, multi-age classrooms. Purdue Extension assisted with the landscaping and planning of the playground and used Extension-produced educational materials. Christine Collier, the principal, can be reached at (765) 226-4202. Noon – Luncheon with minority business leaders at the White River Gardens in the Hulman Riverhouse North Room. 1 p.m.– Tour White River Gardens. Jischke will discuss the partnership between Purdue and White River Gardens, as well as the work of the Purdue-sponsored statewide Master Gardeners program. 1:30 p.m. – The Indianapolis Zoo. Jischke will be hosted by Mike Crowther, president of the zoo. Jischke also will tour the Veterinary Hospital. 2:15 p.m.– Tour Goodwill Industries. Jischke will review Purdue's Technical Assistance Program projects at the center. 3:15 p.m.– Tour Rolls-Royce. Jischke also will discuss technology transfer with Rolls-Royce Ventures. 5 p.m.– Purdue Alumni Club reception. 6 p.m. – Farm Bureau dinner. NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: A publication-quality photograph of Martin C. Jischke is available at ftp://ftp.purdue.edu/pub/uns/+JISCHKE.Portraits/jischke.desk.jpeg. Jischke will be available at 9 a.m. to speak with media at the Indianapolis Engagement Office/Extension Office, at INTECH Park on 71st Street, just off I-465. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page