Purdue Notebook

May 8, 1998 Alumni honors -- The School of Liberal Arts recently named two Californians as distinguished alumni. Ronald M. Andersen, Los Angeles, is the Fred W. and Pamela K. Wasserman Professor of Health Services in the UCLA School of Public Health. He earned his master's degree in 1962 and his doctoral degree in 1968, both in sociology from Purdue. Andersen spent nearly 30 years associated with the Center for Health Administration Studies at the University of Chicago. Lawrence G. Burton, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., a former National Football League player, is program director for the Boys Town of Los Angeles, Price Family Campus, a youth facility that serves runaway, abused and neglected children. He earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from Purdue in 1975 and was a member of the university's football and track and field teams. -- The School of Consumer and Family Sciences recently honored eight alumni. Kathy Allen Gratrix of Larkspur, Colo., was named outstanding young professional. She is a designer for Thurston Kitchen and Bath in Denver. She earned her bachelor's degree from Purdue in 1984 in environmental design. Jean Busby Beard, Frankfort, Ind. , received the community service award. Her years of donating time, service and financial support earned her and husband, Bill, the Clinton County Citizen of the Year Award in 1989. She earned a bachelor's degree in home economics from Purdue in 1950. Gary L. Pittsford, Anderson, Ind. , won the Friend of Purdue award. President of Pittsford and Associates in Indianapolis, he is the founding chairman of the Financial Planning Program Advisory Board in the Department of Consumer Sciences and Retailing. He studied agricultural economics at Purdue in 1965-67. Five women were named Distinguished Alumnae of the School of Consumer and Family Sciences. Martha McNaughton Field of Leawood, Kan., is the senior manager of research and development for Knit-Rite Inc. in Kansas City, Kan. She earned her bachelor's degree from Purdue in 1947 and her master's degree in 1961, both in textile chemistry. Thesia I. Garner of Washington, D.C., is a research economist in the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the U.S. Department of Labor. She received her master's degree from Purdue in consumer economics in 1978. Diane M. Lindahl of Three Rivers, Mich., is president and founder of Positive Input Corp., a computer software development company for food service and nutrition management. She received her bachelor's degree from Purdue in foods and nutrition in 1975. Janice A. Nielsen of Mitchellville, Md. recently completed an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellowship as a legislative assistant to U.S. Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho. In 1972 she received her bachelor's degree in interior/architectural design with honors from Purdue. Barbara Shannon of State College, Pa., is dean of the College of Health and Human Development at Pennsylvania State University. She earned her doctoral degree from Purdue in 1971 in foods and nutrition. Compiled by J. Michael Willis, (765) 494-0371; e-mail, mike_willis@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; e-mail, purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page