This week’s ‘Thumbs Up’ recipients

James Krotz

Even amid a busy start to the spring 2026 semester, James (Animal Sciences) took time to listen carefully to my concerns regarding a student scheduling concern. He is consistently supportive, willing to help negotiate solutions that serve everyone well, and he maintains a positive outlook. Your work ethic and enthusiasm are much appreciated by both faculty and students, James! — Casie Bass (Animal Sciences)

Siti Arshad

I wanted to share my gratitude and extend a huge thank-you to our newest team member, Siti, in Building Services. Siti has only been with us for a short time but has already demonstrated some incredible qualities. Siti has been personable, hardworking and curious. Recently, due to the cold, icy weather, the Chaney-Hale Hall of Science floors have been covered in salt, mud and dust. The whole team has been hard at work tackling the issue, and Siti is no exception. She has quickly become a professional at the walk-behind floor scrubber, running it for others on their floors and playing a huge role in keeping the building clean. I’d give Siti three thumbs-up if I could! Nate Homan and I, along with the rest of the crew, are very happy to have Siti on our team. Way to go, Siti! — Connor Forbes (Building Services)

Administrative Operations staff involved with snow removal Jan. 24-25

Many thanks to all the AO staff members who were out clearing snow in the bitter cold the weekend of Jan. 24-25, making campus ready for Monday’s operations! I am very grateful for your hard work; walking across campus would have been impossible without your efforts. Thanks very much! — Donna Ahlen (Provost)

Destiny Cherry and Gianna Kujawski

Thanks to student support generalists Destiny and Gianna (both Dean of Students) for their hard work and dedication to the on-campus student organizations through program approval and student leader support! The work these two do is vital and not overlooked! — Jacob Gerding (Dean of Students)

Ashlee Messersmith

Ashlee (Engineering) helped complete the complex formatting in LaTeX for a book written by an engineering professor. The arduous process required multiple rounds of edits and significant time investment, when this was not in her job description. The Books Initiative team is very grateful for how she invested her expertise to advance a Purdue manuscript toward publication. — Cristina Farmus (Provost)

John Kaufman

John (Grounds) goes above and beyond in supporting the groundskeeper maintenance team by intentionally mentoring several newer employees. His patience, willingness to teach and encouragement have helped newer team members gain confidence, build skills and take pride in their work. His leadership has positively impacted both individual growth and overall team morale. John brings a high level of expertise to the grooming and care of campus plants, shrubs and trees. He takes great pride in the health, appearance and longevity of the landscape, understanding that the condition of our grounds plays an important role in the campus experience for students, staff and visitors alike. Rain, snow or sunshine, John can consistently be found leading or completing large projects with focus and determination. His reliability, strong work ethic and commitment to quality are evident in everything he does. John sets a standard of excellence through his actions and is truly deserving of this recognition. — Nicole Begin (Grounds)

Alfredo Ayala

All of us at the Hypersonics and Applied Research Facility would like to thank Alfredo (Building Services) for his thoroughness and attention to detail in ensuring that our building is always looking its best! We so appreciate all of your hard work and dedication! — Megan Pursell (PARI Infrastructure)