{"id":2141,"date":"2025-12-08T23:06:28","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T23:06:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/campuses\/indianapolis\/?p=2141"},"modified":"2026-03-12T20:55:02","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T20:55:02","slug":"koesters-indianapolis-experience-highlights-student-success-and-city-access","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/koesters-indianapolis-experience-highlights-student-success-and-city-access\/","title":{"rendered":"Koester\u2019s Indianapolis experience highlights student success and city access"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"modal-ready\">\n<div  class=\"purdue-home-image-slider section has-black-background has-padding-top-small \" data-columns=\"1\">\n    <div class=\"container\">\n        <div class=\"glide\">\n            <div class=\"glide__live sr-only\"\n                 aria-live=\"polite\"\n                 aria-atomic=\"true\">\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"glide__track\" data-glide-el=\"track\">\n                <div class=\"glide__slides\">\n                                                                                                        <div class=\"glide__slide\">\n                                    <figure class=\"image\">\n                                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"is-16by9\"                                                src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/News_Koesters_Thumbnail.jpg\"\n                                                alt=\"Koester\u2019s Indianapolis experience highlights student success and city access\" \/>\n                                                                            <\/figure>\n                                <\/div>\n                                                                                                                <div class=\"glide__slide\">\n                                    <figure class=\"image\">\n                                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"is-16by9\"                                                src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/News_Koesters_Student_Trustee_visit_lunch_w_SVP_students.jpg\"\n                                                alt=\"Koesters Student Trustee Visit Lunch\" \/>\n                                                                            <\/figure>\n                                <\/div>\n                                                                                                                <div class=\"glide__slide\">\n                                    <figure class=\"image\">\n                                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"is-16by9\"                                                src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/News_Koesters_S-and-Reagan-Koester-Nov20.png\"\n                                                alt=\"Koesters S and Reagan Koester\" \/>\n                                                                            <\/figure>\n                                <\/div>\n                                                                                                                <div class=\"glide__slide\">\n                                    <figure class=\"image\">\n                                        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"is-16by9\"                                                src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/News_Koesters_Student_Trustee_visit_11-20-2025_canal_walk.jpg\"\n                                                alt=\"Koesters Student Trustee Visit Canal Walk\" \/>\n                                                                            <\/figure>\n                                <\/div>\n                                                                                        <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"slider-controls slider-controls--dark\">\n                <button class=\"glide__arrow arrow--left\">previous<\/button>\n                <div class=\"glide__bullets\" data-glide-el=\"controls[nav]\">\n                                                                        <button class=\"glide__bullet slider__bullet\"\n                                    data-glide-dir=\"=0\"\n                                    aria-label=\"slide 1\"><\/button>\n                                                    <button class=\"glide__bullet slider__bullet\"\n                                    data-glide-dir=\"=1\"\n                                    aria-label=\"slide 2\"><\/button>\n                                                    <button class=\"glide__bullet slider__bullet\"\n                                    data-glide-dir=\"=2\"\n                                    aria-label=\"slide 3\"><\/button>\n                                                    <button class=\"glide__bullet slider__bullet\"\n                                    data-glide-dir=\"=3\"\n                                    aria-label=\"slide 4\"><\/button>\n                                                            <\/div>\n                <button class=\"glide__arrow arrow--right\">next<\/button>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div  class=\"section page-layout-with-sidebar \">\n    <div class=\"container\">\n                \n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns page-layout-columns columns is-multiline is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column column is-full-tablet page-layout-main is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When Reagan Koester, the student trustee on Purdue\u2019s Board of Trustees, attended the board\u2019s October meeting in Indianapolis, she wanted to learn more about student life in this location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Koester, a junior majoring in agribusiness in West Lafayette, accepted an invitation to explore Indianapolis and discovered two things: the possibilities for a Purdue student in this city are abundant and exciting experiences are only steps away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several students and Joanna Kortik, residential community manager for University Residences in Indianapolis, joined Koester Nov. 20 for a walking tour of Purdue\u2019s academic and student spaces, including the LUX and North residence halls.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the LUX, \u201cwe made sure to get a photo with the 12-foot Purdue Pete,\u201d Kortik said. \u201cOn the way back to STT (Sigma Theta Tau), we pointed out several important cultural and student-centered locations where many of our students attend events, including the Campus Center, the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library, the Madam Walker Legacy Center and the Indianapolis Urban League.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A walk along part of the scenic Downtown Canal, which traverses a 3-mile loop and features a range of waterfront museums, shops and pedal boat rentals, was a highlight of the tour for Koester, who indicated the local students were lucky to have the canal on their doorstep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat surprised me most&nbsp;was how accessible the city is for students,\u201d Koester said. \u201cAs one student was explaining her favorite walking path \u2014 before I could even give it a second thought, we were downtown in the city next to several activities.\u201d &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lunch with student leaders, Senior Vice Provost David Umulis and several staff members featured a discussion about the current and ever-expanding opportunities for students, both academically and personally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hearing success stories from students she met was Koester\u2019s favorite part of the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhether it was about starting initiatives, gaining internships or meeting their now-best friends, I truly am grateful to have learned more about what opportunities foster their success,\u201d Koester said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Kortik called Koester\u2019s time with students in Indianapolis an incredibly meaningful show of support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHer willingness to listen, learn and really experience our location showed how committed she is to represent all Purdue students,\u201d Kortik said. \u201cHer genuine interest in their experiences truly made an impact.\u201d&nbsp; &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Koester\u2019s role on the Board of Trustees includes serving on the Academic and Student Affairs Committee and Physical Facilities Committee. She views visits like this as essential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGaining relevant student experience as the boots on the ground on campus is essential for my role,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was a joy to see the Purdue spirit and excitement around the Indianapolis location, and I am eager to share stories learned from the staff and students with the rest of the Purdue community.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column column is-one-quarter-desktop is-full-tablet is-full-mobile page-layout-sidebar is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/news_Reagan_Koester_0733.jpg-819x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"Reagan Koester is the Purdue University Student Trustee for the 2025-2027 term.\" class=\"wp-image-2153\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/news_Reagan_Koester_0733.jpg-819x1024.jpeg 819w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/news_Reagan_Koester_0733.jpg-240x300.jpeg 240w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/news_Reagan_Koester_0733.jpg-768x960.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/news_Reagan_Koester_0733.jpg-1229x1536.jpeg 1229w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/news_Reagan_Koester_0733.jpg-1639x2048.jpeg 1639w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/news_Reagan_Koester_0733.jpg-scaled.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 819px) 100vw, 819px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Reagan Koester is the Purdue University Student Trustee for the 2025-2027 term.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The student trustee position<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/bot\/2025-2027%20student%20trustee\/index.php\">student trustee<\/a> has an equal vote on actions taken by the board during a two-year term. Full-time Purdue students based in the West Lafayette, Indianapolis, Northwest or Fort Wayne locations who have at least two years left before graduation may apply for the position in fall 2026 for the 2027-2029 term.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"ppma_author":[24],"class_list":["post-2141","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"acf":[],"authors":[{"term_id":24,"user_id":25,"is_guest":0,"slug":"sharelwelch","display_name":"Sharel Welch","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/df0e45484f8b5e849814cf350c1eb3f84dcd5911a861daecd983ffad8f6b43a4?s=96&d=mm&r=g","0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2141","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2141"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2141\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2721,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2141\/revisions\/2721"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2141"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2141"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2141"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/indianapolis\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=2141"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}