Office of Engagement's
Case Studies
Engagement's Case Studies Library Highlights Meaningful and Reciprocal Community Engagement
Developed by the Office of Engagement, these case studies document and showcase the work of Purdue faculty, staff, units, and community partners. They demonstrate how community engagement advances all three land-grant mission pillars—research, teaching, and engagement—while creating broader public impact.
As outlined in the Engagement Protocol, effective community engagement supports discovery, the scholarship of teaching, the scholarship of engagement, and community empowerment. These outcomes are interconnected and most impactful when they occur together. For more information or to recommend a faculty member, Purdue unit, or community partner, contact engagement@purdue.edu.
Turning Data into Decisions: How the Krenicki Center Advances Student Learning, Research, and Community Impact Through AI and Analytics
The Krenicki Center connects Purdue students and faculty with organizations across the private, public, and nonprofit sectors, creating opportunities to apply these rapidly changing technologies to real-world challenges.
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Montgomery County Health Department: Raising Lead Awareness
Purdue partners with the Montgomery County Health Department on billboards and social media to encourage childhood lead testing.
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Johnnie Mae Farm: Growing Healthy Families
A Purdue Extension partnership with Johnnie Mae Farm brings Fort Wayne families together through urban farming and cooking classes.
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The Art Museum of Greater Lafayette: A New Interactive Art Installation
Purdue EPICS students design a new interactive Rube Goldberg machine art installation for the Art Museum of Greater Lafayette.
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Lincoln Neighborhood: Co-Creating the Greatriarchs Mural
Purdue TREKS students partner with Lincoln Neighborhood residents to paint the Greatriarchs mural, celebrating local community history.
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Montgomery County United Way: Strengthening the First Door Program
To help strengthen First Door’s ability to connect community members with resources, Purdue students worked with United Way to improve access to local housing information.
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Students In Action: Mentoring Youth Leaders Through Service-Learning
Purdue undergraduate students played an active role in mentoring youth, planning conferences, and managing an event, while simultaneously creating meaningful connections between higher education and local schools.
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The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis: Saving the Iconic Water Clock
With help from the Office of Engagement, TAP InDev connected The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis with Purdue University resources to help fix their iconic Water Clock.
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Building Safer Roads, Stronger Communities, and a More Resilient Workforce Across Indiana: The Impact of Indiana LTAP
Indiana LTAP delivers training, technical assistance, technology transfer, and workforce development programs that strengthen transportation systems in communities across the state.
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Providing Opportunities and Aid to Students for the Betterment of the Community: The Reciprocal Nature of The Purdue Federal Work Study Program
The Purdue Federal Work Study program provides meaningful, financially supportive employment opportunities for students while simultaneously strengthening relationships between Purdue and the surrounding community. By partnering with local nonprofits and organizations, the program creates reciprocal pathways of support: students gain valuable professional experience and financial assistance, while employers benefit from motivated, cost-effective labor.
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From Classroom to College: The Story of Indiana GEAR UP
Indiana GEAR UP was a federally funded postsecondary education access grant. It was designed to deliver statewide programming to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education, especially in STEM fields. The program was a collaboration between Purdue University and the Indiana Commission for Higher Education (ICHE).
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Purdue University College of Pharmacy: The Rise of the Center for Health Excellence, Quality, and Innovation
First formed in January 2020, the Center for Health Excellence, Quality, and Innovation (CHEQI) was created within Purdue University’s College of Pharmacy. The center is composed of an interdisciplinary team of faculty, staff, and students who are committed to promoting health access alongside community partners.
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Natalia Rodriguez: Using Engagement-Based Research to Drive Impactful Results in Communities
Dr. Natalia Rodriguez is an associate professor with the College of Health and Human Sciences in the Department of Public Health. Additionally, she has a courtesy appointment with the College of Engineering in the Department of Biomedical Engineering.
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Purdue University Department of Food Science: A Leader in Innovation, Education, and Industry Collaboration
Purdue University’s Department of Food Science is a leader in food innovation, research, and community engagement, dedicated to advancing food safety, quality, and sustainability. Through partnerships the department provides hands-on education and impactful research that support industry growth and prepare students for meaningful careers.
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