News | College of Health and Human Sciences

Harmony Oliver and her 10 classmates are the first College of Health and Human Sciences undergraduates at Purdue in Indianapolis. The hospitality and tourism management major in Indianapolis was launched in August along with Department of Health and Kinesiology graduate programs in athletic training and sport management.

Written by: Tim Brouk, tbrouk@purdue.edu For Harmony Oliver, being one of the first Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences undergraduates in Indianapolis means being close to home. The Indianapolis native chose the Purdue White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School...

When Purdue University Department of Nutrition Science alumna Mary Ellen Gilliam was a young girl, she was part of the free and reduced lunch program in her hometown of Gary, Indiana. Now assistant director of child nutrition for the Metropolitan School District of Wayne Township and board president of the Indiana School Nutrition Association, Gilliam is making a difference for kids just like her.

Written By: Rebecca Hoffa, rhoffa@purdue.edu When Purdue University Department of Nutrition Science alumna Mary Ellen Gilliam was a young girl, she was part of the free and reduced lunch program in her hometown of Gary, Indiana. Now assistant director of...

Perfectionism, conscientiousness and orderliness tend to be seen as positive traits of high-achieving individuals. But what happens when they start affecting that individual’s relationships or ability to function in life?

Obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) is exactly that: a mental health condition centered around extreme perfectionism, conscientiousness and control. Unlike obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), which is a mental health condition that includes unwanted thoughts (obsessions) and actions to mitigate the perceived threat (compulsions), OCPD isn’t perceived as a nuisance to the person experiencing the condition; it’s often first identified by the people closest to them in their lives.

Doug Samuel, professor of psychological sciences in Purdue University’s College of Health and Human Sciences, has focused a significant portion of his research on OCPD. He has recently made strides in helping provide frameworks for clinicians to assess when these traits are becoming problematic to ultimately help their patients live happier, more functional lives.

Written By: Rebecca Hoffa, rhoffa@purdue.edu Perfectionism, conscientiousness and orderliness tend to be seen as positive traits of high-achieving individuals. But what happens when they start affecting that individual’s relationships or ability to function in life? Obsessive compulsive personality disorder (OCPD)...

The Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences welcomed 18 new faculty in 2026, including two Moveable Dream Hires in Nutrition Science and two designated to Purdue in Indianapolis.

The Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences welcomed 18 new faculty in 2026, including two Moveable Dream Hires in Nutrition Science and two designated to Purdue in Indianapolis. Appointments effective 8/17/2026 unless otherwise noted. Human Development and Family Science Anna HochgrafAssistant...

Ken Rich’s dream on his first day on campus was to become Purdue University’s 1959 senior class president.

When Rich was 12, he was scared by his father having serious brain surgery, so he set his sights on achieving an “important position.” Rich’s goal to pursue student government started in high school when he read about a student who had overcome adversity to become president of his senior class at Penn State University — a position that sounded “important.”

However, as a first-year student majoring in electrical engineering, Rich was pulled aside his first day on campus during his physical examination and told he wouldn’t graduate from Purdue unless he improved his speech.

Written By: Rebecca Hoffa, rhoffa@purdue.edu Ken Rich’s dream on his first day on campus was to become Purdue University’s 1959 senior class president. When Rich was 12, he was scared by his father having serious brain surgery, so he set...

To improve the attention deficits in aphasia patients —  which can impact language comprehension, conversational skills and overall rehabilitation outcomes —  Arianna LaCroix, assistant professor in the Purdue University Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences; her lab; and Daniel Evans, assistant professor and director of music therapy at Purdue University Fort Wayne, are conducting a preliminary study examining the effects of music and audiobook listening on attention and language in people with aphasia.

Written by: Tim Brouk, tbrouk@purdue.edu More than 2 million people in the United States are living with aphasia, a language disorder that affects the ability to communicate, including speaking, understanding, reading and writing, according to the National Aphasia Association. Some...