Welcome to the third issue of Life 360. As we enter our fourth academic year since our founding (July 1, 2010), we thought it would be interesting to explore the past, present and future of HHS. While the college is relatively young, its nine academic units, plus HHS Extension, have existed for decades. Just check out the historical images to see what I mean!
"A Living Legacy, 50 Years in the Making" covers the history of the School of Nursing, from its origins in Purdue's School of Technology, to its current home in HHS. Faculty, staff, students and alumni throughout the school's remarkable 50 years have been instrumental in attaining today's elite status — a leader in nursing education. For a list of events that will celebrate Nursing's Golden Anniversary, please visit www.nursing.purdue.edu/50.
"At the Speed of Technology" reports on just a few of the life-changing technologies that have been developed by HHS researchers, including SpeechVive, a device that cues patients with Parkinson's disease to speak more loudly and clearly. The technology was developed by Jessica Huber, associate professor of speech, language, and hearing sciences. Huber is also the 2012-13 faculty entrepreneur-in-residence at Discovery Park's Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship.
With the completion of the HHS Strategic Plan last fall, the college is well on its way to implementing the plan's learning, discovery and engagement goals. "A Forecast for the Future" offers an overview of where HHS is headed, including commentary from Purdue's 12th president, Mitch Daniels.
In the short-term, our plans for the 2013-14 academic year include exploring synergies among various HHS undergraduate programs and evaluating the potential for new interdisciplinary programs; growing undergraduate research opportunities; and addressing the growing demand for distance learning and career counseling. And with the introduction this past spring of seven strategic research themes, representing 244 HHS faculty (including 19 new faculty who joined the college this fall), we've set the course for exploring the bounds of interdisciplinary research. Our research themes include Lifespan Development; Prevention, Diagnosis and Treatment of Disease and Disabilities; Promotion of Health and Wellness; Mental Health; Neuroscience; Social Relationships and Culture; and Work and Leisure.
I'd like to thank you for your support and encouragement as we continue to build your new home at Purdue, the College of Health and Human Sciences. I hope you'll share with us your thoughts about our magazine Life 360 by responding to the readership survey in the back of the magazine or by completing the survey online at www.purdue.edu/hhs/life360survey. We appreciate your feedback.
Hail Purdue!
Christine Ladisch
Dean
