Postdoctoral Affairs Staff

Rachelle Swan, Ph.D.
rachelle@purdue.edu
(765) 496-7652
Dr. Swan is the Director of Postdoctoral Affairs. She began her research career as a postdoctoral fellow at Purdue University's Military Family Research Institute after attaining her Ph.D. in Human Development from the University of California, Irvine. Following this tenure, she transitioned from academia to specialize in program evaluation research and grant management while dedicating time to nurturing her family and serving as a volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for children. Dr. Swan returned to Purdue twenty years later to manage a research laboratory within the Department of Psychological Sciences. She maintained her grant-writing skills during this period through voluntary engagements with organizations such as Isaiah 117 House. Her professional accomplishments and personal dedication provide an exemplary framework for her current responsibilities, including orchestrating postdoctoral career development initiatives and fostering a campus community for postdoctoral scholars to thrive personally and professionally.

Kyra Leal
kyra@purdue.edu
(765) 496-1597
Kyra Leal plays a pivotal role as the Postdoctoral Affairs Program Administrator where her deep commitment and extensive experience are instrumental in supporting OGSPS’ mission and vision for Purdue Postdocs. She is an energetic source serving postdoc needs through email and website management, professional development coordination, award administration, and (her favorite) postdoc community-building.
Kyra's dedication to Purdue University is evident in her long tenure, having been a valued staff member since 2012. She began her career at Hall of Music Productions before transitioning to OGSPS in January 2025, and is a role model for Purdue staff seeking higher education: Kyra earned her Bachelor of Science in Liberal Studies (2022) and her Masters of Science in Higher Education (2025) from Purdue University Global.