2023 Alumni Awards

Shannon McPeek

BS ‘16, Nursing

Education:
BS ‘16, Nursing, Human Development and Family Studies Minor, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
 
Highlights:
2016-2018: Neonatal ICU Nurse at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital
2016-2020: Travel Neonatal ICU Nurse in New York City, Seattle, Los Angeles, Sydney and San Diego
2020: Operation Happy Nurse Stress Relief Community launches
2021: Operation Happy Nurse has users in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia
2022: L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth Honoree

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Johanna Rohler

BS ‘16, Nutrition and Dietetics

Education:
MBA ‘19, Marketing, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
BS ‘16, Nutrition and Dietetics, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
 
Highlights:
2022-Present: Senior Brand Manager, Bertolli, Deoleo USA
2022: Marketing Manager, Frito-Lay
2019-2022: Associate Brand Manager, Nutrition, Coca-Cola
2018: Forbes 30 Under 30 Fellow
Founder of The Dietitian Center

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Dr. Matthew Smith

BS ‘11, Occupational Health Science, General Health Sciences with Pre-Physical Therapy Concentration

Education:
DSc ’22, Physical Therapy, Bellin College, Green Bay, WI
MS ‘19, Orthopaedic Physical Therapy, Daemen University, Amherst, NY
DPT ‘14, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
BS ‘11, Occupational Health Science, General Health Sciences with Pre-Physical Therapy Concentration, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN


Highlights:
2022: Doctor of Science (DSc), Bellin College
2022: Outstanding Young Alumni Award, Purdue University
2021-Present: Assistant Professor of Physical Therapy, North Central College
2019-Present: Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Therapists
2017-Present: Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Orthopaedic Physical Therapy

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Elizabeth Erickson-DiRenzo, PhD, CCC-SLP

PhD ’12, Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (Voice Physiology)

Education:
PhD ’12, Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences (Voice Physiology), Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
MS ‘08, Speech-Language Pathology, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
BS ’06 with Honors; Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences; Purdue University; West Lafayette, IN
 
Highlights:
2022-Present: Associate Professor – University Medical Line, Division of Laryngology, Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA
2022: Principal Investigator; National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Deafness and other Communication Disorders, R01 DC020176-01; “Evaluating the role of epithelial basal cells in laryngeal homeostasis and disease development”
2021: “The human voice, in all its idiosyncratic glory” (Review of the book “This is the Voice,” by John Colapinto), Science, Vol. 371, Issue 6528, doi:10.1126/science.abf7191
2020: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Award; Stanford University School of Medicine Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery for “Transgender voice and communication therapy”
2014-Present: Speech-Language Pathologist, Stanford Voice and Swallowing Center, Stanford Healthcare, Stanford, CA

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Barbara E. Millen, DrPH, MPH, RD, FADA

BS ‘72, Nutrition Science

Education:
DrPH ‘78, Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA
MPH ‘74, Harvard University, Boston, MA
BS ‘72, Nutrition Science, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
 
Highlights:
2009-present: Director, Boston Nutrition Foundation and President, Millennium Prevention, Inc.
2013-2015: Chair, US Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee for the 2015-2020 US Dietary Guidelines 
2009: The Dr. Elaine Monsen Award of the National Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics for outstanding research literature
2005-2015: NIH Expert Advisory Panels. 2013 AHA/ACC Guideline on Lifestyle Management to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk. 2013 AHA/ACC/TOS Guideline for the Management of Overweight and Obesity in Adults
1990-1995: Director of Nutrition Initiatives, World Health Organization, InterHealth Programme on Global Prevention of Chronic Diseases
1982-2009: Founding Director of Nutrition Epidemiological Research: The Framingham Heart Study

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Neal Schmitt

PhD ‘72, Industrial Psychology

Education:
PhD ‘72, Industrial Psychology, Social Psychology Minor, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
MS ‘69, Industrial Psychology, Social Psychology Minor, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
BA ‘66, Psychology, Biology Minor, Loras College, Dubuque, IA
 
Highlights:
2000: Service as Chair of Psychology at Michigan State and later as Interim Dean of the College of Social Science
1989: Elected President of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology and the preceding activities on committees and various work groups
1989: Appointed Journal of Applied Psychology editor
1980: Birth of daughter
1974: Appointment to a faculty position at Michigan State University and subsequent faculty promotions

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Kathleen A Stroia, M.S., P.T., ATC

BS ‘83, Movement and Sports Sciences

WTA Senior Vice President, Performance Health

Education:
BS ’88, Physical Therapy, University of Health Sciences, Chicago Medical School, Chicago, IL
MS ‘84, Athletic Training, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
BS ‘83, Movement and Sports Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
 
Highlights:
1990-Present: Held a leadership position with the Women’s Tennis Association for over 30 years and coordinated women’s healthcare coverage at eight Olympic Games. 
2021: Department of Health and Kinesiology Distinctive Service Award, Purdue University
2007:  Tennis Educational Merit Award, International Tennis Hall of Fame
2007:  Most Distinguished Athletic Trainer Award, National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA)  
2011-Present: Founding Member and Chair, Professional Association of Athlete Development Specialists (PAADS)

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Mary Lee Chin, MS, RDN

BS ‘71, Foods and Nutrition

Education:
MS ‘73, Clinical Nutrition, Case Western Reserve, Cleveland, OH
BS ‘71, Foods and Nutrition, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
 
Highlights:
2021: Distinguished Lecture (Lenna Frances Cooper) Award, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
2020-2022: Chair; Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access Committee; Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
2014-2022: Member and Past Chair, Leaders Engaged in Advancing Dialogue (LEAD), Monsanto
2012-Present: Vice-Chair and Incoming Chair, Member; Denver Botanic Gardens Board of Trustees
2008: Co-Chair of APIAVote Gala, Democratic National Convention
2007-2013: Mayoral Appointee and Past Chair, City and County of Denver, Asian Pacific American Human Rights and Community Partnerships Commission

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James E. Dora, Jr.

BS ‘86, Hospitality and Tourism Management

Education:
BS ‘86, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN

Highlights:
1991-Present: President and CEO, General Hotels Corporation, Indianapolis, IN
1988-1991: Assistant General Manager, Embassy Suites Hotel, Indianapolis, IN
1987-1988: Internship, Holiday Inn, Memphis, TN; Hamburg, Germany; and Singapore
1986-1987: Sales Manager, Holiday Inn North, Fort Lauderdale, FL

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Mary Lou Hazleton

BS ‘65, Speech and Hearing Therapy

Education:
BS ‘65, Speech and Hearing Therapy, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
MA ‘87, Communication Disorders, Speech/Language Pathology, Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, MI
 
Highlights:
2019-Present: Board Member, President’s Council, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
2018-2021: Board Member, College of Health and Human Sciences Dean’s Leadership Council, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
1993-2004: Speech-Language Pathologist, St. Mary’s Hospital, Saginaw, MI
1986-2005: Member, American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
1986-1991 and 1983-2004: Speech-Language Pathologist, Saginaw Community Hospital, Saginaw, MI
1980-1981: Speech-Language Pathologist, St. John’s International School, Waterloo, Belgium

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