About Us

Cherise Hall

Vice Provost of Enrollment Management

Cherise Hall is the vice provost of Enrollment Management. This position provides leadership to the Office of Admissions, Office of the Registrar, Division of Financial Aid, Strategic Student Communications, Boilermaker Opportunity Program Plus (BOP+) and Student Data.  
 
Cherise is a graduate of Purdue’s Agricultural Economics Department and has a master’s degree in business administration from Purdue Global. She worked in finance at Purdue for more than 20 years including the position of USDA Account Manager, business manager and assistant director of the Agricultural Sponsored Program Services Office and served as the director of financial affairs for the College of Agriculture for nine years.  

While serving as the vice provost for Finance and Strategic Initiatives, Cherise led the budget process for the academic campus, and developed and implemented university financial strategies on behalf of the provost. She led the Institutional Data Analytics and Assessment Office (IDA+A). Cherise was also a sponsor of multiple university initiatives such as the campus classroom master plan, Transformative Education 2.0, and the Digital Faculty Reporting tool. 

Charles “Chip” Timmons

Executive Director of Undergraduate Admissions

As executive director of Undergraduate Admissions, Chip Timmons leads Purdue’s recruitment, evaluation and admission of new undergraduate students. Prior to Purdue, he spent more than 25 years in selective college admissions at Wabash College, his alma mater, where he most recently served as dean for enrollment management and led record growth in applications, admissions, enrollment and retention. 

Chip grew up in Frankfort, Indiana, and remains a proud Hot Dogs fan. He enjoys fishing and spending time at the beach with his wife, Stephanie, and their dog, Harvey. They’re also the proud parents of two sons, Landon and Drake.

Heidi Carl

Assistant Vice Provost & Executive Director of Financial Aid

In her persistent pursuit to help college be more affordable for students, Heidi Carl serves as the director of Financial Aid. It’s Heidi’s mission to provide strategy and vision for Purdue’s financial aid policies and practices.

Heidi earned both her bachelor’s in communication and master’s in education and counseling psychology from Western Michigan University. She loves adventure and all the little things life has to offer. Funny, kind and caring, her simple pleasures include cooking, baking, reading and traveling.  

Jamie Ingersoll

Executive Director of Enrollment Management Strategic Communications and Initiatives

With a passion for shaping the student journey, Jamie Ingersoll serves as executive director of Enrollment Management Strategic Communications and Initiatives. In this role, Jamie leads the communications and Slate teams, bringing together storytelling, brand strategy and technology to engage prospective and admitted students. Jamie is focused on showcasing the Purdue experience while improving operational efficiency and the overall user experience through thoughtful use of Slate. 

Jamie earned a bachelor’s degree in strategic communications from the University of Utah and a master’s degree in the same field from Purdue University. 

Outside of work, Jamie enjoys planning family adventures with her two young sons and squeezing in a good reality show whenever there’s a spare minute. 

Sheila Hurt

University Registrar

As university registrar, Sheila Hurt leads the team responsible for academic records, curriculum, registration, classroom scheduling and student systems, bridging the university’s academic and administrative operations. Sheila began her career at Purdue as an academic advisor in the College of Liberal Arts and later in Exploratory Studies. She then spent several years leading strategic student success initiatives for the vice provost for Teaching and Learning. Along the way, she earned a PhD in educational psychology with a concentration in quantitative research methods, focusing her dissertation on how students use AP credit. 

A graduate of Northwestern University and Boston College, Sheila is skilled at solving complex problems by balancing data-informed decision-making with a strong commitment to student and staff well-being. She lives in West Lafayette with her husband and three children. Outside of attending her children’s sporting events, she enjoys playing word games or reading a good romance novel. 

Ja’Niah Downing

Director of Boilermaker Opportunity Program Plus

Ja’Niah Downing serves as director of the Boilermaker Opportunity Program Plus (BOP+). In this role, he leads the Don and Liz Thompson MEP Program, the Dr. Cornell A. Bell Business Opportunity Program and First-Generation Student Services to support students from recruitment through graduation. 

Ja’Niah is a higher education professional with more than a decade of experience in enrollment management and student success. He has served students at Purdue University, Ivy Tech Community College and his alma mater, Illinois State University. He earned a bachelor’s degree in exercise science and a master’s in college student personnel administration from Illinois State. He also has been active in the Indiana Association for College Admission Counseling, serving as president and chair of the Inclusion, Access and Success Committee. 

As a first-generation, low-income student from an under-resourced high school, Ja’Niah understands the impact that access, guidance and support can have on a student’s future. He’s committed to helping students navigate higher education and reach their full potential. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife, Dr. Lindley McDavid, their two sons, Wesley and Spencer, and their dog, Iris.