News | College of Health and Human Sciences

While there are many unique paths at Purdue University that can lead a student to professional school, the biomedical health sciences major in the College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) offers students a diverse perspective and expansive course line-up that prepares them to understand health sciences more broadly. This not only prepares students with a wide range of skills to apply science to healthcare but also offers opportunities for students to explore health-related career opportunities beyond professional school.

The health and well-being of families is central to the research conducted through Purdue University’s Center for Families. Housed within the College of Health and Human Sciences’ (HHS) Department of Human Development and Family Studies, the center offers a hub where researchers, students and alumni can collaborate to explore a variety of issues surrounding families.

By 2044, more than half of the United States population will be comprised of minority groups, according to projections by the U.S. Census Bureau. However, the demographics of the nursing profession continue to skew primarily white and female. This raises a need to diversify the healthcare field to improve health outcomes for minority populations and reduce health disparities.

As an undergraduate majoring in chemistry at Purdue University, Jennifer Escobedo never imaged she would become a dual-degree graduate student, earning a master’s degree and PhD in Purdue’s Department of Public Health within the College of Health and Human Sciences.

When Karrah Teruya started college, she wanted to learn more about the healthcare field, ultimately choosing an undergraduate major in public health. After graduation, Teruya’s interests shifted away from healthcare. Her long-held zeal for food and wine motivated her to move into the restaurant industry, where she worked for several years as a sommelier and wine consultant. Teruya’s career in wine was the ultimate passion project; a job she genuinely enjoyed with good future prospects. Going back to school for another degree was the furthest thing from her mind, let alone being honored as Graduate Student of the Year from Purdue University’s Department of Public Health.

Clinical Associate Professor Gallegos earned a place on the Indiana State Board of Nursing, making him the first Hispanic member of the board in its history, and he is the board’s first advanced practice nurse.

From the global COVID-19 pandemic to a new White House administration, many significant events over the past two years have played a role in shaping the overall health and well-being of military and veteran families throughout the United States.

Alumnus Devin Wyss will be rooting for Purdue despite working as an athletic trainer for both the Boilers and Florida Atlantic football.

When Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) alumnae Helen (Huser) Nill and Maria (Swiezy) Krach graduated with their respective degrees in nursing in 1983 and nutrition and dietetics in 1985, they never anticipated connecting years later to start their own business with three other women in Fort Wayne, Indiana. They didn’t even realize they’d encountered each other previously at Purdue when Nill had been Krach’s sorority rush counselor in Alpha Phi until weeks after they had officially met at a Fort Wayne Medical Society Alliance gathering.

Organized by HTM faculty, staff and students, the summit aims to bring together industry thought leaders, alumni, faculty, and undergraduate and graduate students to network and learn about pressing topics and trends that are shaping the future of the hospitality industry.

After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, HHS study abroad returned in May. Dozens of students took advantage of the opportunity to learn more about their program while immersing themselves in new cultures.

People often associate trips to the chiropractor with back pain, but chiropractic care goes well beyond the spine, according to 2018 Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) alumna Liron Saletsky.

Shannon Van Hyfte, Purdue University clinical associate professor and director of clinical education in audiology in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, welcomes the news to make hearing aids more available to qualifying Americans ages 18 and older.

The following faculty members are joining the Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences during the 2022-23 academic year.

Jessica Mahecha, a 2020 Purdue University School of Nursing alumna, jumped into a pandemic and found a niche in travel nursing.

Eric Magallanes, a senior in the College of Health and Human Sciences, is the 2022 recipient of the Tyler Trent Courage and Resilience Award.

Health and kinesiology PhD candidate Nick Baumgartner and his students study the connection between memory and acute resistance exercise.

Purdue University White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) alumnus Jeremy Warriner’s dream was to travel the world in the hotel industry. However, in 2005, after many successful years in the industry, a severe car wreck changed his life forever, causing him to lose both of his legs to severe burns.

Assistant Professor Shawn Jung studies the ins and outs of conventions and similar events — technology that enhances attendees’ experiences, technology that assists organizers, how events impact cities’ economies and how conventions are navigating loosened COVID-19 restrictions.

Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) alumna Meredith Robbins was considering becoming a doctor until she took a toxicology class taught by Jonathan Shannahan. Shannahan, an assistant professor in the School of Health Sciences, introduced her to forensic toxicology through “The Poisoner’s Handbook” by Deborah Blum, and Robbins found herself hooked on learning more about an entirely different area of medicine.

The prospect of graduate school can seem daunting for any undergraduate student, but for students from underrepresented backgrounds, the stakes can be even higher. To help these students gain momentum toward graduate school in STEM fields and get involved in research, the Purdue University Louis Strokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) program supports a variety of research and professional development opportunities during the fall, spring and summer semesters. The program also offers funding to support students’ research activities.

Most of us know — and likely have envied — a list-making, highly productive co-worker who is quietly on task. As the epitome of self-restraint, this low-key colleague meets or beats every deadline without a hint of drama.
But even as we admire these co-workers’ discipline and self-control, it’s possible — even likely — that we aren’t seeking them out to join us for lunch or to socialize after work.

Locally owned downtown businesses do much more than just sell goods and services to customers — they sell the city or town, according to Professor Rodney Runyan.

Robert Wright (’67) and his family’s Beef House Restaurant has been home to sizzling ribeye steaks and famous hot dinner rolls since 1964.

Psychological sciences Assistant Professor Sydney Trask looks at the retrosplenial cortex because of the memories stored within. This work aims to discover new pathways in the understanding of age-related neurodegenerative conditions such as dementia.

Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences alumna Julie Taulman’s first introduction to adaptive sports came only months after her son, Kyle, became paralyzed in 2003. At two years old, Kyle was diagnosed with a stage-three, high-risk neuroblastoma cancer, which caused a tumor to wrap around his spine and prevented him from walking again. Despite the daunting diagnosis, the discovery of adaptive sports gave Taulman renewed hope that her son could live a normal life.

To give professionals who are interested in healthcare an opportunity to develop valuable skills in business, management and quality improvement in healthcare delivery, Purdue University’s College of Health and Human Sciences is offering two new online graduate certificates in healthcare operations management and healthcare quality improvement.

As it meets the evolving needs of healthcare, Purdue University’s Master of Health Administration (MHA) program was recently named one of the best online master’s degree programs in health administration by OnlineMastersDegrees.org (OMD), earning the No. 3 spot on the list.

Led by Lydia Kruse, clinical assistant professor in the Purdue Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, the Purdue Center for Voice specializes in Gender-Affirming Voice and Communication Training and Parkinson’s disease vocal therapies.

While Barb Beaulieu has introduced a wide variety of family-centered programs within Purdue University’s College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) Extension during her time as an extension specialist in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS), she is most proud of the co-parenting education program, which offers education on communication strategies for parents going through divorce.

Keith R. Molter, a cherished and dedicated husband, brother, uncle, friend and mentor, passed away May 23 at IU Arnett Hospital in Lafayette, Indiana, following a six-month illness.

Purdue University’s College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) has announced Ceridwyn A. King as the next head of the White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM), effective July 1, 2022. She will be preceded by Dr. Xinran Lehto, who has served as interim head since October 1, 2021, and will remain on the HTM faculty.

Low-income families have been especially affected by the formula shortage. Purdue Health and Human Sciences faculty want mothers to know there is support, whether they are new or experienced moms.

When students began returning to campus in fall 2020, roughly six months into the COVID-19 pandemic, Purdue University put its Protect Purdue protocols in place to keep students, faculty and staff healthy while keeping campus open. Ellen Wells, associate professor in the School of Health Sciences, saw this as a research opportunity that aligned with her occupational and environmental health sciences focus in the College of Health and Human Sciences.

Lois Dennison’s dream college had advanced Chinese language courses and a stable where she could bring her horse along with her. Purdue University offered both. A 2013 College of Health and Human Sciences alumna, Dennison arrived at Purdue with an open mind about where her education might lead her, and during her second semester, she found her passion in the White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM).

Ten years ago, Bailey (Personette) Warmoth was put on the national bone marrow registry, which led to her saving the life of a little girl.

Senior Parikshit Pawar has known since his sophomore year of high school that he wanted to be a doctor, so when he learned about the School of Health Sciences within Purdue University’s College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS), it seemed like a natural fit to leave Austin, Texas, and come to West Lafayette.

Purdue University’s Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (SLHS) is celebrating 30 years of funding with the National Institutes of Health’s T32 training grant, which was recently renewed for another five years in the department. This grant supports funding for three students who are working toward their PhD and one postdoctoral researcher in SLHS each year with the goal of advancing leaders in the field and bridging the gap between clinical training and research.

From stress relief to informing their studies, Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences students have choreographed dance into their busy college careers.

As the Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences welcomes Chris Coleman as the new head of the School of Nursing, Pam Karagory, clinical professor of nursing, will finish her four-year stint as head of the school. Loved by students, staff, faculty and alumni in the school and beyond, Karagory has left her mark during her leadership.

The professorship is named after two pillars of the program – Professor Emeritus Paul Ziemer and Purdue Health Sciences’ first head, Dr. John Christian. The goal of this professorship is to recognize upcoming researchers who, with the support of this professorship, can invest more time in research that will advance Health Sciences.

An impressive mix of academic success, leadership, character and service earned Emma Gausman the 2022 Flora Roberts Award, which goes to the most outstanding female senior at Purdue University.

March Madness spilled into April as 24 teams competed in Hoops 4 Hunger, a basketball tournament held by the Purdue University Health and Kinesiology Undergraduate Club April 9 in Lambert Fieldhouse.

Jiyeon Lee, associate professor in the Purdue University Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, has studied individuals with aphasia for much of her career.

Learn more about the College of Health and Human Sciences 2021-2022 outstanding seniors.

From bringing the lab into students’ homes to elevating students’ internship experiences and developing new simulation opportunities, the Patsy J. Mellott Teaching Innovation Award has fostered many innovative ideas in the Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS). The most recent award recipients, Becky Good and Janelle Potetz in the School of Nursing, will be integrating a flexible simulation program as part of four nurse practitioner graduate clinical courses to combat clinical placement challenges due to availability.

To further advance student learning in the Purdue University School of Nursing, Purdue alumni Mark and Maureen Miller recently gifted $14 million to endow the headship, contribute toward equipment for the planned Nursing and Pharmacy Education Building, create a new endowed scholarship for the accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, and add substantially to their existing scholarship endowments.

This semester, the Purdue University School of Health Sciences welcomed two doctoral students as part of the University’s Overseas Visiting Doctoral Fellowship program. Finding their fit in two College of Health and Human Sciences research labs, Fatema Currim and Karthikeyan Subbiaha Nadar Chelladurai both aim to improve human health and well-being through their research, which they will build upon during their 12 months on campus.

To showcase some of the ways the college is transforming lives and communities, we will host a variety of events from March 25 to April 1.

Purdue University’s College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) is pleased to announce Christopher (Chris) L. Coleman will serve as the head of the School of Nursing and the inaugural associate dean for clinical education, effective July 1, 2022. Dr. Coleman will be preceded by Pam Karagory, who will remain on faculty in the School of Nursing.

Jake Jarvis, a health and kinesiology junior who cranked a pinch-hit home run March 2 at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, said a proper swing involves just about every part of the body, especially the lower half.

Participating in Cass County’s Extension Homemakers club introduced Sara Walthery to a fountain of youth. While not an actual fountain, the Stay Strong/Stay Healthy program, which was originally brought to the county by former Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) Extension educator Penny Troutman, has made a significant difference in Walthery’s overall health. As someone who enjoys playing the Celtic harp and gardening, Walthery credits the program with helping her continue to do the things she loves.

Nearing a 100-year milestone in late 2022, Matthews Hall has a rich history in the Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) — from its namesake, Mary L. Matthews, to the alumni, faculty, staff and students who have shaped it throughout the years.

e University’s chapter of Exercise is Medicine on Campus, housed within the Department of Health and Kinesiology, has earned gold-level recognition from the American College of Sports Medicine.

Phil Klaus and John Gremling, both 2004 graduates, worked together to not only provide shelter to the displaced families — they helped establish the Afghans into central Indiana communities.

When hiring, many organizations use artificial intelligence tools to scan resumes and predict job-relevant skills. Colleges and universities use AI to automatically score essays, process transcripts and review extracurricular activities to predetermine who is likely to be a “good student.” With so many unique use cases, it is important to ask: can AI tools ever be truly unbiased decision-makers? In response to claims of unfairness and bias in tools used in hiring, college admissions, predictive policing, health interventions and more, the University of Minnesota recently developed a new set of auditing guidelines for AI tools.

The Great Lakes Athletic Trainers’ Association (GLATA) will honor Scott Lawrance, clinical professor and director of athletic training education at Purdue University, with the 2022 GLATA Golden Pinnacle Award.

Developing a strategic plan to chart the future of the Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) was an early mission of HHS Dean Marion K. Underwood when she arrived at Purdue in 2018. She brought her expertise in strategic planning from the University of Texas at Dallas to form a collaborative strategic planning process and, in fall 2019, led the development of the 10-year HHS Strategic Roadmap.

The College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) is pleased to announce Dr. Catherine “Cammie” McBride as associate dean for research (ADR), effective August 15, 2022, with a .5 appointment as associate dean for research and a .5 appointment as professor of human development and family studies. She will be preceded by Dr. Kim Buhman who has served as interim associate dean for research since July 1, 2021, and will remain on faculty in the Department of Nutrition Science.

Associate Professor Arielle Borovsky’s Language Learning And Meaning Acquisition (LLAMA) Lab The lovable camelid is the mascot for the lab, which welcomes young participants between the ages of 18 months and 6 years in ongoing research initiatives in learning how and when young children verbalize and recognize words.

When it comes to literally fueling Purdue student athletes, Lauren Link’s work as director of sports nutrition for Purdue Athletics is of utmost importance. From menu planning to overseeing food service, Link supplies proper nutrition that drives slam dunks, workouts and studying.

S. Sianna Castillo credits her time at Purdue for igniting her love for molecular science and continuing her passion for research.

Scott Hutton and his team have developed products and methods that analyze and perform blood-based diagnostic testing.

Currently leading Argonne National Laboratory as laboratory director, Kearns is being recognized with the Purdue College of Health and Human Sciences 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award for his significant accomplishments and leadership in bionucleonics, as he advances Argonne National Laboratory’s research and teamwork to new heights.

Tasha Hall finds orthodontics to be a puzzle — no two patients are quite the same. While she attributes her diverse education from the Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) with equipping her with the prerequisites needed to enter any field of medicine, it was the variability of orthodontics that was her passion.

A professor in Northwestern University’s School of Communication, Dhar is being recognized with the Purdue HHS 2022 Distinguished Alumni Award for his significant career advancement, long-term leadership and noteworthy professional accomplishments in the speech, language and hearing sciences field.

Now in her 30th year of teaching in Dearborn County, Indiana, Osman is being recognized with the Purdue HHS 2022 Distinguished Service Award for her leadership and significant contributions in East Central High School’s family and consumer sciences program, as she shapes the lives of her students and encourages them to give back to their community.

Studying as an undergraduate and master’s student at Bihar University in India, College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) alumnus Ramadhar Singh read and admired the work of esteemed Purdue University Department of Psychological Sciences professors in his textbooks. When he received a Fulbright scholarship in 1970, he took the opportunity to pursue his doctoral degree in the United States, where he requested to transfer from another university to Purdue to work under the direction of social psychologist Donn Byrne.

The Purdue Imaging, Evaluation, and Treatment (I-EaT) of Swallowing Research Lab received a $150,000 gift and a $25,000 endowment from David Greulich. The funds are in memory of his late wife, Deanna Greulich.

The incident that occurred on our campus on Friday, February 4, has shocked and disturbed so many in our community, and with good reason. The incident involved use of force by a Purdue University police officer on a Purdue student. (Please be aware that the video footage available online has potentially triggering and distressing content.) On our college campus, where we expect unbiased, fair and appropriate treatment in all contexts, this incident raises many questions. Purdue has promised a swift and thorough internal investigation of the situation; an independent review of the Purdue University Police Department’s investigation by the Indiana State Police; and release of all evidence, including body-worn and in-car camera footage. These are essential first steps, and transparency is absolutely necessary for our community to fully understand the incident and where we go next.

The HHS Online Faculty Fellows Program launched in the fall of 2021 and explores opportunities for new professional, continuing and graduate education online offerings while providing support for the development of new online offerings. This initiative was inspired by the “Create More Online Offerings” strategic theme in HHS’ 10-year Strategic Roadmap.

From Bell Tower kisses to picnics in Horticulture Park, these HHS alumni started their love stories at Purdue.

The translational research study examines the connection between nerves like the vagus and major organs like the stomach.

Becky Good, clinical associate professor of nursing and director of the family nurse practitioner program, and Janelle Potetz, clinical assistant professor of nursing, are the 2021 recipients of the Patsy J. Mellott Teaching Innovation Award. Established by College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) alumna Patsy Mellott, the award supports HHS faculty who demonstrate their excellence and leadership as teachers by proposing significant innovations to enhance the quality of HHS educational programs.

Ashlee Sudbury, a Purdue Extension Nutrition Education Program coordinator, offers insights about how to eat healthier at the dinner table and shopping healthier at the grocery store.

Dark and dreary days that are prominent throughout Indiana winters can leave anyone feeling a bit more sluggish than normal, but when it starts interfering with day-to-day activities, that lack of energy could be a sign of something more serious, such as seasonal affective disorder.

Qinglan Ding, assistant professor in the School of Nursing, has instructed cohorts of young Data Mine researchers, many of whom live together in Hillenbrand Hall and work together on projects that have a public health focus.

Brad Lincks’ interest in treating patients with mental illness while a Purdue University School of Nursing student in the early 1990s was somewhat ahead of the times.

new year. It’s time for a new you by introducing more exercise into your life, which is easier said than done when there’s an ongoing pandemic, terrible weather and the stresses of everyday life.

The popular New Year’s resolution to spend more time with loved ones — whether that be romantic partners, parents, siblings, friends or others — can actually offer a variety of physical and mental health benefits.

In a year where topics such as high inflation rates made frequent appearances in the news, saving more money is likely toward the top of many households’ resolutions lists for 2022. While it can seem like a daunting task, setting a New Year’s resolution to save more money or improve financial well-being doesn’t have to be difficult to achieve.

The Lodde family’s business has lasted through 16 U.S. presidents, six U.S. wars, 456 Purdue football victories and countless road construction projects. One pandemic will be on that list as father and son Bill and Wiley Lodde have teamed up to keep Igloo Frozen Custard in the minds, hearts and stomachs of its loyal clientele.

Stewart Chang Alexander and Randolph Hubach, associate professors in Purdue University’s Department of Public Health, are working to improve healthcare quality and access to reduce health disparities for sexual and gender minority populations. Aligning with HHS’ Developmental Health and Wellness and Healthy Lifestyles and Vital Longevity signature research areas, their work aims to improve outcomes for LGBTQ adolescents who are establishing their relationship with healthcare as well as foster inclusive, supportive healthcare across the life span in both rural and urban communities.

With batons in hand, Amanda Coy will help lead the Boilermakers back to Nashville, Tennessee, for a 3 p.m. EST return on Dec. 30 to the Music City Bowl. The big game against the University of Tennessee will kick off just weeks after Coy and her twirling talents were featured during the 100th Miss America Competition.

Having three family members who were diabetic, nutrition played an important role in Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences alumna Jennifer Folliard’s family. She made the decision in seventh grade that she wanted to major in dietetics and set her sights on finding the best dietetics program in country. She ultimately chose Purdue’s Department of Nutrition Science.

Kameron Moding, assistant professor of human development and family studies in Purdue University’s College of Health and Human Sciences, studies how picky eating, or selectivity with both familiar and unfamiliar foods, and food neophobia, or reluctance toward unfamiliar foods, relate to temperament and personality. Moding’s research shows that children who are more shy or fearful tend to be more food neophobic, or hesitant to try new foods.

To help prevent foodborne illness outbreaks across households and commercial organizations, faculty in Purdue University’s White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) provide all hospitality and tourism management students with food safety knowledge. They also align their research with the College of Health and Human Sciences’ Healthy Lifestyles and Vital Longevity and Sustainable and Thriving Organizations and Communities signature research areas to foster food safety and operations best practices.

The Teaching Kitchen hosts dietetics by day and intimate cooking classes open to the public by night. After about a year-long hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the classes returned this fall to the kitchen located in Lyles-Porter Hall.

For older adults who may have concerns about their memory or are experiencing language issues, Purdue University’s BrainBuilders program is designed to help maintain cognitive and social skills by giving their brains a workout. The program meets from 10-11:30 a.m. Thursdays in Lyles-Porter Hall on Purdue’s West Lafayette campus, and it is currently accepting new clients for the spring semester.

As vice president of hospitality at Staples Center, HTM alumnus Sam Porter must make sure guests are comfortable and provided with quality food, drink, merchandise and any other request — whether it’s from someone with 13 million Twitter followers or 30.

Brad Garton, a 1979 Purdue University School of Health Sciences alumnus who is now director of the Computer Music Center at Columbia University, was once known as Mr. Science when he was an undergraduate student conducting research and performing in front of thousands of his fellow Boilermakers as part of the punk rock band Dow Jones and the Industrials.

It’s a passion for helping families through some of their lowest times that has driven her to continue her father’s legacy and help the oldest African American-owned business in Spartanburg, South Carolina, thrive as it approaches 106 years of service.

The person who started the phrase “it’s the thought that counts” probably didn’t work in retail. As the holiday shopping season reaches full swing and individuals began to brainstorm gifts and spending amounts that won’t disappoint, certain trends are showing up across retailers and consumers — even beyond the pressure to shop early.

Service learning can benefit the student’s character and career path.
Several programs in the Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences urge their students to use what they learn in the classroom to benefit off-campus communities.

Upon graduating high school, Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences alumnus Ian Schaller knew he wanted to pursue a STEM career, but doing what, he wasn’t entirely sure. When he found the School of Health Sciences’ health physics concentration within the radiological health sciences major, he was intrigued to learn more. This set him on his journey of understanding radiation and helping others work with it safely.  

iversity College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) alumna Mallori Walker knows she was born to be a pediatric nurse practitioner — a statement that has been echoed by her former professors in the School of Nursing. Now a pediatric nurse practitioner at IU Health Arnett; chair of IU Health’s system-wide diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) council; a lecturer in the Purdue School of Nursing; and a doctoral student at Rush University, Walker hopes to continue to lead the nursing profession to new heights.

Sarah Griffith applies psychology in the classroom and on the pitch while helping lead Purdue University soccer to its most successful season in more than a decade.

Susan E. Swithers, professor of psychological sciences in Purdue University’s College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS), has been appointed as the college’s first associate dean for faculty affairs. In this new role, she will provide additional leadership in the areas of faculty hiring and faculty professional development. Swithers’ appointment became effective Nov. 1 and will be in place for two years with the possibility of reappointment.