The Purdue University Board of Trustees approved resolutions of appreciation for outgoing President Mung Chiang, who will become president of Northwestern University on July 1, and for Arvind Raman, former John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering, who in May was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as undersecretary of commerce for standards and technology and also will serve as director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
The Board of Trustees approved elevating the Eli Lilly and Company and Purdue University Research Alliance Center to institute status and renaming it the Lilly Purdue Innovation Institute.
Highlighted by the previously approved tuition freeze and further strategic investments — while operating within a structurally balanced framework — the Board of Trustees adopted the university’s operating budget for fiscal year 2027.
The Board of Trustees gave approval to plan, finance, construct and award construction contracts for classroom and office renovations to the Purdue Armory, a landmark facility that’s home to the university’s ROTC headquarters and other seasonal activities.
Michael Berghoff, chair of Purdue Global’s Board of Trustees, announced his intent to step down as chair, effective June 30. Berghoff has served as chair of the Purdue Global Board of Trustees since the institution’s formation in 2017. He served concurrently as chair of Purdue University’s Board of Trustees for much of that time (2014-24).
In his report to the Board of Trustees, President Mung Chiang recognized faculty who received significant sponsored research awards from February to May and thanked friends of the university for their recent generous contributions. He led a discussion updating One Health — one of Purdue’s four intersecting
strategic initiatives
— highlighting advancements in the partnership between Purdue and Eli Lilly and Company; the Crossroads Academic Medical Institute; research agreements, awards and faculty recruitment; new institutes and facilities; West Lafayette’s three forthcoming hospitals; and its portion of America’s Hard Tech Corridor. Chiang also extended his gratitude to the board and President Emeritus Mitch Daniels for the opportunity to serve as president for the last three and a half years and thanked the university’s faculty, staff and students.
College of Veterinary Medicine Dean Bret Marsh gave a report to the Purdue Board of Trustees, highlighting the college’s strengths and outlining its future direction. He emphasized the college’s strong potential for increasing enrollment by more than 40% to address the nation’s serious shortage of veterinarians, especially in rural areas. He also noted how new veterinary practice partnerships and a potential clinical trials hospital in the Indianapolis One Health Innovation District could further advance Purdue’s
One Health strategic initiative.
Abigail Mizzi has dreamed of flying in space for a long time. The young Boilermaker will become the nation’s first graduate student to conduct research aboard a commercial Virgin Galactic suborbital flight scheduled to launch in 2027. The Bloomingdale, Illinois, grad student brought that excitement and energy to Purdue’s Board of Trustees, sharing her story as part of a new student-focused presentation that will be included in trustees meetings going forward. Mizzi, a John Martinson Honors College alum as a Purdue undergraduate, is expected to fly aboard the
historic Purdue 1 with original research payloads during the suborbital flight. “I’m super excited for this one-of-a-kind opportunity to be a part of this historic mission with my research experiment. This is my giant leap and my journey to Purdue 1,” Mizzi told the trustees.
In her report to the Board of Trustees, Julie Dussliere, president and CEO of the Purdue for Life Foundation, highlighted the success of Purdue Day of Giving. This year’s event resulted in $95.5 million through 34,454 gifts, bringing the cumulative total raised over 13 years of giving days to nearly $698 million. Dussliere also provided an update on “Victories & Heroes: Your Campaign for Purdue” and recognized donors who have supported strategic initiatives. Fueled by increased momentum at the campaign’s midpoint, the undertaking has so far raised $2.2 billion, 55% of its $4 billion goal.
During the Purdue Global Board of Trustees’ meeting, Marlo Robinson, Purdue Global’s School of Nursing dean, presented on programs and future initiatives. Interim Chancellor Jon Harbor presented data about credit for prior learning and the law school’s 75% overall Indiana bar exam pass rates.
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