News | College of Health and Human Sciences

Health sciences PhD candidate Hyunjin Kim’s Purdue career has yielded multiple research papers, off-campus success and a desire to propel stem cell research field.

As the first nationwide program designed specifically for women student veterans, the Focus Forward Fellowship, established in 2016, has helped 130 women veterans who are working toward a college degree find connection, build career skills and set their sights on success. The nationally competitive program, which is housed in the Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences’ Military Family Research Institute (MFRI), is welcoming its largest-ever cohort this summer, bringing 24 women to campus from July 18-22.

Starship robots are seen throughout Purdue University’s campus daily, delivering food to hungry faculty, staff and students. They serve as an example of one of the many ways robotics and technology have been introduced to the service industry.

Qinglan “Priscilla” Ding, assistant professor in the School of Nursing, is the 2023 recipient of the Barbara H. and Ben R. Edmondson HHS Faculty Development Award.

Heather Eicher-Miller, professor in the Purdue University Department of Nutrition Science, is the winner of the 2023 Danone International Prize for Alimentation. The 100,000-euro award recognizes outstanding, innovative and multidisciplinary scientific research that represents a major advance in sustainable eating and drinking practices that contribute to the health of individuals, including food choice, purchase, preparation, cooking and meal organization, and their determinants.

Brad Niemeier, Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences alumnus, former Purdue football player and founder of Azzip Pizza, recently was recognized as the Top Menu Innovator in Pizza Marketplace’s list of 100 Top Movers and Shakers. Since launching the business less than two years after his 2012 graduation from the White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM), Niemeier has grown Azzip Pizza to 10 locations, with the 11th opening in Indianapolis this summer.

This analysis of drug theft in long-term health facilities is believed to be a first in the field.

The College of Health and Human Sciences is proud to announce this year’s HHS Outstanding Seniors.

Talking about death and dying can seem scary and full of unknowns, no matter the person’s stage in life. However, for patients with Parkinson’s disease, who have an unpredictable illness trajectory, the timing of these discussions can be critical to ensure the best possible end-of-life care.

Emily Cowette, a sophomore in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (SLHS), made her debut leading the Purdue “All-American” Marching Band in fall 2022. This spring, she passed the renewal process and was confirmed as Golden Girl for the next academic year.

Scott Lawrance, clinical professor in the Department of Health and Kinesiology, is the recipient of the 2023 Jane S. Link Outstanding Teaching Award.

Individuals with autism see the world in a different way than their neurotypical peers. While some may view this as a negative, Purdue Associate Professor Brandon Keehn and other researchers promote positives within the minds of those with ASD. One example is people with autism can notice minute differences in work situations, especially in STEM fields.

Georgia A. Malandraki, professor of speech, language, and hearing sciences, is the recipient of the 2023 Christine M. Ladisch Faculty Leadership Award.

Join the Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) for Spring Fest 2023, where we’ll have a variety of fun activities centered around human health and well-being.

From Marriott Hall to Lyles-Porter Hall and beyond, students in Purdue University’s College of Health and Human Sciences’ (HHS) learn, collaborate and work in research labs in 17 buildings scattered across the West Lafayette campus. To offer students a centralized space that facilitates inclusion and belongingness in HHS, the college recently opened the doors to the HHS Connex Hub in Stone Hall, Room 122, where students can comfortably study, socialize and collaborate between classes.

PALS started as a sports camp in 2002, but it has grown into a more well-rounded experience over the years. Students learn swimming with science, exercise with engineering.

Purdue health and kinesiology clinical associate professors Alice Wilcoxson and Jennifer Popp were named Most Distinguished Athletic Trainers, one of the highest awards the National Athletic Trainers’ Association can give an individual.

Whether in emergency care, pediatrics, outpatient surgery or the neonatal intensive care unit, Mollie Henderson, an alumna of Purdue University’s College of Health and Human Sciences, is bringing comfort and compassion to children and families’ hospital experience.

Congratulations to Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences student-athletes who earned Academic All-Big Ten Honors this winter.

To commemorate National Nutrition Month, three seniors utilized their nutrition know-how to offer their on- and near-campus balanced nutrition dining tips for breakfast and lunch.

Jay Kandampully, professor of service management and hospitality at the Ohio State University, has built his career teaching and researching service on that very idea, working to build relationships and networks that help others around him to grow knowledge in the ever-changing service industries.

From hospitals to health departments to schools and beyond, registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) are making a difference in the health of individuals throughout Indiana as they counsel their clients on making healthy eating decisions based on their nutritional needs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for registered dietitian nutritionists is expected to grow 7% between 2021 and 2031.

As president of what is now the HTM Society, Elizabeth Whittaker (BS ’99) wanted to put the hospitality skills she was learning into practice. From presentation to getting the food out hot and delicious, it was a way to show what HTM students could do front- and back-of-house in an upscale setting.

Matthew Smith, who will return to West Lafayette to receive an Early Career Achievement Award from the Purdue College of Health and Human Sciences on March 31, maintains a practice in Downers Grove, Illinois, while teaching physical therapy students as an assistant professor at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois.

David Purpura, professor of human development and family science in Purdue University’s College of Health and Human Sciences, has devoted much of his career to creating lasting change in children’s understanding of math. By understanding the mechanisms that have demonstratable impacts on children’s early math learning, Purpura and his research team have tailored their findings into the development of math-focused children’s books, including the “Little Elephants’ Big Adventures” series, the “Pattern Pals” series, and the upcoming “Our Mathematical World” series. The books not only offer an opportunity for young children to learn math but also offer a tool that teachers and family members can use to support young children’s learning.

The Center for Families fulfilled Purdue’s land-grant mission through research, teaching and outreach, and it continues to be a concrete reminder that families, in all their diverse forms, are the foundation of society.

A team of Purdue University researchers in the White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management investigated if Americans are willing to put on their walking shoes to take in the sights and sounds at an urban tourist destination.

Jim Dora Jr., a 1986 Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences alumnus and president and CEO of General Hotels Corporation, has a photo on his desk from the launch of a water park at one of his hotels in the 2000s. A success until the 2008 recession, the water park marked just one instance of the innovation that Dora has maintained throughout his more than 30 years in the hospitality industry.

Standing at 6 feet 1 inch with years of high school and club prowess from her hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Eva Hudson raked in such accolades this fall as Big Ten Freshman of the Year and First Team All-Big Ten, and she was the first first-year Purdue volleyball player to be named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-Midwest Region Team in almost 40 years.

Elizabeth Erickson-DiRenzo, a three-time graduate of the Purdue University Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (SLHS), came to Purdue with the goal of doing one thing: improving human health. As an associate professor and clinician scientist in the Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery in the Stanford University School of Medicine, her career has allowed her to do exactly that as both a researcher and clinician.

Barbara Millen, a 1972 Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences graduate, notes that her path to success was paved with acting on once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, from answering an office  call late one Friday night to meeting a group of friends who introduced her to Purdue. Now director of the Boston Nutrition Foundation and president of Millennium Prevention Inc., Millen’s career has allowed her to pursue a wide range of innovative research projects and leadership positions in academia, government and international settings.

Johanna Rohler has always been fascinated by both the art and science of nutrition, but when she sustained a jaw injury her senior year of high school and couldn’t chew anything, she discovered a career path awaiting her. A 2016 graduate of Purdue University’s College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS), Rohler found a supportive, welcoming family culture that shared her love for healthy food in HHS’ Department of Nutrition Science.

When it comes to keeping athletes healthy on the tennis court, Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences alumna Kathleen Stroia and her team serve up expert athletic training for the Women’s Tennis Association.

To commemorate World Hearing Day, audiology students and faculty will hold free hearing screenings Friday, March 3, in the M.D. Steer Audiology Clinic in Lyles-Porter Hall. Screenings are free, available to adults 18 and older, and open to the community. To schedule an appointment, call 765-494-4229. 

When Mary Lou Hazleton arrived at Purdue University in 1961, she found her fit in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, taking classes from pioneering faculty members, including program founder M.D. Steer.

Purdue University’s College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) has offered me a plethora of resources to help me reach my goals, and my peers, advisors and professors have helped shape me into the person I am today.

While admissions directors prepare and work overtime to meet their programs’ needs, Neal Schmitt, a Purdue Psychological Sciences alumnus (MS ‘69, PhD ‘72) and industrial-organizational psychology distinguished professor emeritus, remembers a time when he explored admissions processes that might serve to complement SAT or ACT scores.

Shannon McPeek and her many Operation Happy Nurse volunteers scattered across the country have led programs, such as Fitness for the Caregivers, in all 50 states and six Canadian provinces. She received interest from Australia and some European countries as well. This growth and dedication earned McPeek multiple awards: a 2022 L’Oreal Paris Women of Worth honor and an Early Career Achievement Award from Purdue’s College of Health and Human Sciences.

Ronnie Hill Jr. went from studying x’s and o’s in the Purdue University football playbook to studying personality disorders in the Samuel Assessment Methods for Personality and Psychopathology Lab.

I chose the College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) at Purdue for many reasons: It’s close to home, it has an excellent reputation and excellent academic programs and it is highly affordable. But the reasons I chose Purdue are not the reason I see it as my home today. 

Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences researchers Heather Eicher-Miller, associate professor in the Department of Nutrition Science, and Libby Richards, associate professor in the School of Nursing, published findings from cluster analyses on temporal nutrition intake as well as when and how hard to exercise in a 24-hour span.

True stories take six times longer to reach people on Twitter than false stories, according to a 2018 study from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This is a trend 1971 Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) alumna Mary Lee Chin has dedicated her career to shifting in the foods and nutrition industry.

Growing up, I deeply cared about others, but I didn’t know how I was going to apply that as a future career. Being from out of state, I was intimidated to attend such a large university where I didn’t know many people. After touring the White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management in Purdue’s College of Health and Human Sciences, I knew this was the right place for me. I felt welcomed by the students and faculty. I was inspired by the students’ eagerness to share their experiences and was amazed by their diverse ideas and visions for how they can change the future of hospitality.

Using the simplest ingredients, Morgan Gibson, a senior studying family and consumer sciences in the Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences, knows how to teach a class of high school students how to make a nutritious meal. Serving in his student teaching role at Jefferson High School in Lafayette, Gibson is providing his students with valuable skills that will serve them their entire lives while also developing his skills as a family and consumer sciences (FCS) educator.

Healthcare is ever-evolving, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics projecting 2 million new jobs across healthcare occupations from 2021-31. As more and more people choose to enter the healthcare field, Justice Montgomery, a travel physical therapist and 2016 graduate from Purdue University’s College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS), is helping those interested in a career in healthcare delve deeper into the collaborative nature of healthcare through the podcast Pretty in Practice.

Anne Edwards, an alumna of the Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences’ (HHS) undergraduate and graduate programs in hospitality and tourism management, has translated her hospitality knowledge to a variety of positions, ultimately pursuing a path in higher education. Coming from Northern Illinois University’s Center for Black Studies, Edwards recently returned to Purdue as the new director of the Black Cultural Center.

College of Health and Human Sciences graduate student James Young II was less than a week from death when he walked into a Detroit, Michigan, emergency room in September 2011 and received a series of substantial diagnoses: heart failure; cardiomyopathy, which reduces the heart’s ability to pump blood; enlargement of the heart; kidney disease; and diabetes.

I chose Purdue’s College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) for its immense opportunities within a committed and encouraging environment. Although Purdue is a large university, the opportunities to engage and connect with peers make it feel smaller and more manageable.

Khalya Dent, a sophomore in the Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, is researching the science behind balance in Professor Alexander Francis’ lab.

From the moment I took my first tour of Purdue’s campus with my older sister, I knew I wanted to go to Purdue. Although I wasn’t 100% sure what I wanted to do in the future, when I was applying to Purdue, I knew I wanted to be in the healthcare field.

Heather Eicher-Miller, associate professor in Purdue’s Department of Nutrition Science, was selected by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The College of Health and Human Sciences recognizes alumni through annual HHS Alumni Awards.

When Nina Fowler began her undergraduate internship at Legal Aid Corporation of Tippecanoe County, she never dreamed she would write a grant proposal to the Indiana Bar Foundation to fund a major project in Tippecanoe County nor that her internship would lead to a full-time job upon graduation.

Although the College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) is where I found my fit at Purdue, it wasn’t where I started. I spent my entire first year in another college as a pre-veterinary student, and during that time, I discovered I just wasn’t interested in veterinary medicine. At the end of that spring semester, I decided to change my major to biomedical health sciences with a pre-medicine concentration in HHS. I knew wanted to be a physician, and biomedical health sciences seemed like the major that catered most to aspiring doctors.  

Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences researchers uncovered new details that add to the demographics of older adults most likely to fall.

While some students find their perfect fit in Purdue University’s College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) right away, there are many avenues that lead students to the college, whether they transfer from another university or change their major at Purdue.

I chose Purdue’s College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) because of its abundance of opportunities and resources, both academic and social. Coming to Purdue, I often worried I would never truly fit in and questioned my capabilities, so I was hesitant to push myself academically for fear of failure.

Kiana Skobel is using her fashion-forward talents to help her fellow Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences students look good — all while earning internship credits.

I chose to come to Purdue because of the opportunities available for students within the College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) and the university.

When I started at Purdue, I knew I wanted to pursue a helping profession, but I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do. Throughout my first two years in the College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS), I explored various paths to my career.

To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten, student-athletes must be enrolled full-time at their university for a minimum of 12 months and carry a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Identical twins share a lot with each other: Outside of their outward appearance, they often have many of the same experiences growing up. Doctoral students and twin sisters Melinda and Michelle Karth are no exception.

Dr. Alberto Oseguera, a 2013 Department of Health and Kinesiology alumnus, joined Boilermaker football as the team doctor in October, and he will travel with the program when it faces LSU at the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl in Orlando, Florida.

From place cards to making sure passing the potatoes is done with less strain, Purdue etiquette expert Anthony Cawdron has simple tips for a smooth holiday meal.

Lisa Hilliard, clinical assistant professor in the School of Health Sciences, invested in the future of the 72 students enrolled in her Applied Anatomy for Medicine class by purchasing two Anatomage Clinical Tables, an adjustable table-sized digital touchscreen interface that brings the human body to life in remarkable detail.

The newly renamed A. H. Ismail Center for Preventive and Lifestyle Medicine is still a place for exercise and fellowship between Purdue faculty, staff and students.

The shelves in Professor Kim Buhman’s office in Stone Hall are lined with photo after photo of her former graduate students, showcasing them at some of their proudest moments: graduation, their thesis defense and other milestones in the Purdue University Department of Nutrition Science. Her students’ accomplishments in their careers and lives are some of Buhman’s favorite things about being a faculty mentor in the College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS).

The United States’ healthcare system has gone through massive changes in recent years, and the COVID-19 pandemic made it clear healthcare is a dynamic industry where growth is necessary for success. Purdue University’s online Master of Health Administration (MHA) program prepares students to excel in this evolving field by providing practical, market-driven skills training that translates to the real world.

Located inside Marriott Hall, the John Purdue Room serves as a learning laboratory for future hospitality managers, event planners and hoteliers within the White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management while offering the Purdue University community international and American fine dining experiences.

Mark Wilson, clinical assistant professor in the School of Health Sciences (HSCI) and director of the biomedical health sciences undergraduate program, is the 2022 recipient 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.

Dennis Savaiano, Virginia Claypool Meredith Professor of Nutrition Policy, considers Type 2 diabetes a public health matter. Exercise and a healthy diet dominated by fresh fruit and vegetables are the most effective ways to keep the disease at bay.

On this International Tongue Twister Day (Nov. 13), Clinical Associate Professor Tamar Greenwell’s speech clinic and lab within Purdue University’s Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences. Greenwell and her graduate students work primarily with school-age children to improve their young clients’ speech-sound disorders or speech errors in their conversational speech.

To highlight the many accomplishments of first-generation students, faculty, staff and alumni, the Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences (HHS) is participating in First-Generation College Celebration Week from Nov. 7-11 alongside the rest of the University to increase visibility, community and support for first-generation Boilermakers.

When people hear the word “salesperson,” it doesn’t always elicit a positive reaction. Many people default to the image of the disreputable used car salesperson who is invested in selling a defective clunker. Others think of the persistent door-to-door salesperson who pushes you to buy something you don’t really want or need. But Jen Riley, assistant professor of sales in Purdue University’s Center for Professional Selling, noted the modern sales industry isn’t about selling people things they don’t want or need — it’s about problem-solving.

Assistant Professor Laura Schwab Reese’s most recent projects examine domestic violence and intimate partner violence. Much of the work focuses on the maltreatment of children wrapped up in domestic violence.

The American Cancer Society estimates that roughly 43,250 women in the United States will die from breast cancer in 2022. Dorothy Teegarden, a professor in Purdue University’s Department of Nutrition Science and director of Purdue’s Women’s Global Health Institute, is working to reduce that number.

Collaboration across health professions happens multiple times a day in the healthcare field. Research has shown patient outcomes are better when these collaborations work well, whether they occur in a hospital, clinic or other setting. When these collaborations are weak or nonexistent, the consequences can be significant, both for the patient and the healthcare team.

Starting in fall 2023, Purdue Nursing will offer a new track to students with bachelor’s degrees to earn a PhD in four years, three if they already have a master’s degree. Times may vary depending on the student’s performance and workload.

The data collected from surveys and interviews with the families has the potential to inform programs that service the children and their families in Indiana.

Psychological sciences junior Paulina Tangassi Lucio found a “cheat code” to connections, community and potential lifelong friendships when she joined Delta Phi Mu, a Latina sorority founded by five Purdue University students in 1991.

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.