Brenda Coulson to present at MaPSAC’s Hadley speaker series

The 2026 Richard A. Hadley Professional Development Series presentation, hosted by the Management and Professional Staff Advisory Committee, will feature Brenda Coulson, senior director of talent acquisition for Purdue Human Resources.

This year’s presentation will take place in person only from 9-10 a.m. April 16 in Pfendler Hall of Agriculture, Room 241. Registration is required, and all university staff members are welcome to attend with supervisor approval.

Coulson’s presentation, “Influencing From Any Seat: Building Individual Leadership Through Self-Awareness and Career Growth,” will be an interactive session that connects personal insight to practical actions to support professional growth, visibility and contribution across the organization. Designed to be engaging and application-focused, the session will include discussion, real-world examples and hands-on activities that participants can immediately apply to their day-to-day work.

Attendees will explore how understanding their strengths, working style and impact can help them influence effectively, regardless of role or title, and they will leave with practical tools and perspectives to strengthen their leadership presence, make more intentional career decisions and influence from any seat. 

In her HR role, Coulson leads strategic initiatives that shape how the university attracts, engages and supports talent across all staff levels. She is known for helping individuals tap into their strengths, grow their capabilities and make meaningful contributions to their roles, regardless of title.

Coulson also contributes to Purdue’s broader HR transformation work, including workforce analytics, employee engagement and talent development initiatives. Her work reflects a core belief that leadership is a behavior — not a position — and that every individual has the ability to shape outcomes and culture.

Questions for Coulson can be emailed in advance to mapsac-pd@purdue.edu.

The Hadley series is named for Richard A. Hadley, a Purdue alumnus and former employee who was a founding member of the Administrative and Professional Staff Advisory Committee, the predecessor of MaPSAC. Hadley was a senior mechanical engineer at Purdue for nearly 25 years before his death in 1993.

The series, presented each spring to provide career enrichment for Purdue staff members, is supported by the Richard Hadley Memorial MaPSAC Fund for Staff Development. Gifts to that fund, including gifts on the Purdue Day of Giving, will help continue the series.