Today’s top 5 from Purdue University

You will want to read these good stories that you may have missed.

The AP Newsroom (for AP members) and Purdue News YouTube channel (for all reporters) provide comments from Purdue experts on timely topics.

Purdue University College of Engineering to offer guaranteed internship to students in Indianapolis

The College of Engineering is excited to announce a guaranteed paid internship to Purdue University in Indianapolis engineering students in good academic standing. As part of an undergraduate degree program, the work-integrated learning experience may come in the form of a co-op or an industry or undergraduate research internship. Purdue’s goal is to see more students participate in internships related to their field in Indianapolis, which will provide them with hands-on experience, improve retention rates and increase the likelihood of launching their professional careers in Indiana.

Media contact: Derek Schultz, dcschultz@purdue.edu

An astronaut and a communication advocate return to their alma mater as Presidential Ambassadors

Andrew “Drew” Feustel launched himself from the Cradle of Astronauts directly into a life dedicated to the pursuit and promotion of science. Now Drew and his wife and partner, Indira, a speech-language pathologist, are helping others make those small steps to giant leaps as Purdue graduates and as thoughtful and strategic explorers into new frontiers. President Mung Chiang has named the Feustels Presidential Ambassadors of Purdue University, a role in which they will use their expertise, connections, passions and experiences to help further enrich the Purdue community by actively connecting with students, faculty, alumni and staff.  

Media contact: Brittany Steff, bsteff@purdue.edu

Indy leader Evan Hawkins named senior director for administrative operations for Purdue University in Indianapolis

Evan Hawkins has been named senior director for administrative operations for Purdue University in Indianapolis. In this newly established role, Hawkins will serve as a principal contact for Purdue University in Indianapolis, working with partners and stakeholders including state and local officials, municipalities, private industry and community organizations.

Media contact: Derek Schultz, dcschultz@purdue.edu 

AP Video: Retail trends ahead of the holiday season

As the calendar turns to November, Rodney Runyan, professor of retailing and the associate department head of the Division of Consumer Science in Purdue University’s White Lodging-J.W. Marriott, Jr. School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, explains current and future retail trends affecting consumers. Runyan says three things affecting retail trends are inflation, the restart of student loan payments, and uncertainty about the economy and inflation. Runyan also predicts increases in online shopping during the holiday season.

Media contact: Trevor Peters, peter237@purdue.edu

Dry-surface foodborne pathogens under scrutiny at Purdue

Purdue University’s Haley Oliver has launched a project to improve the safety of low-moisture food-processing facilities. Oliver, a professor of food science, will collaborate with Old Dominion University’s Rishi Drolia on the project, which will target the Cronobacter sakazakii pathogen. Millions of infants were affected in 2022 when C. sakazakii-tainted infant formula prompted a prolonged shutdown of a production plant and a monthslong nationwide shortage of formula.

Media contact: Maureen Manier, mmanier@purdue.edu

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research institution with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities and with two colleges in the top 4 in the United States, Purdue discovers and disseminates knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 105,000 students study at Purdue across modalities and locations, with 50,000 in person on the West Lafayette campus. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 12 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap, including its first comprehensive urban campus in Indianapolis, the new Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business, and Purdue Computes, at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.