This week’s ‘Thumbs Up’ recipients

Purdue Today’s “Thumbs Up” series gives faculty and staff members the opportunity to recognize, thank and congratulate others for their outstanding service, support and performance across the Purdue system. This week’s “Thumbs Up” recipients are:

Payroll appointment specialist team

We would like to extend a huge thank-you to Brittany Poore, Christina Wilson, Kristen Wilcox, Tricia Seef and Kasey Ludwig (all Payroll Services). August and September were very busy for the employment centers, and we know you were too! We appreciate your quick responses to our questions, your politeness and your assistance. We value your support during this busy time and the rest of the year. Your efforts do not go unnoticed. We are grateful for everything you do! — Executive Offices Business Operations Center and Student Life employment centers

Caryn Morgan

Thank you to Caryn (Engineering) for always being willing to answer questions, share knowledge and help connect people across campus. Her willingness to help is truly appreciated! — Katie May (Nuclear Engineering)

Miranda Meyer

Thank you to Miranda (Summer and Winter Sessions) and her team for all of the time and effort put into making the summer programs such a success. Your hard work and dedication are truly appreciated, and I look forward to seeing the programs continue to grow next year! — Katie May (Nuclear Engineering)

Maira Aponte-Rodriguez

Thank you, Maira (Graduate Records), for always being willing to answer my questions or point me in the right direction. I sincerely appreciate all of your help and support over the past couple of years. I’ve learned so much from you; and I’m truly grateful for your kindness, guidance and willingness to help! — Katie May (Nuclear Engineering)

Jessica Jones and Diane Lewis

I want to congratulate Jessica and Diane (both Administrative Operations — Indianapolis) for being recognized by the Indianapolis Student Success Team as Boiler Gold Rush MVPs for all of their hard work, partnership, support and impact on the team and Purdue new beginners throughout Boiler Gold Rush and Boiler Gold Rush International. Awesome job! — Edreece Redmond (Administrative Operations — Indianapolis)

Ashley Fawcett and Mandi Gramelspacher

There are not enough thumbs on campus to raise for the work Ashley and Mandi (both Libraries) did to support Purdue Libraries hosting the 2026 Midwest Data Librarian Symposium. I have watched them seamlessly support numerous Libraries events over the past few years, but this was the first time I had the pleasure of working with them personally on a program. I have heard nothing but stellar reviews from the attendees about how everything was planned and implemented, and none of that could have been accomplished without them. Thank you both for showing data librarians and data specialists from all over the Midwest (and beyond) how well Purdue Libraries can put on a conference! — 2026 MDLS co-chairs

Lisa Phillips

Thumbs-up to Dr. Phillips (Purdue Global — Arts and Sciences) for outstanding service and dedication as our foundational faculty host for the virtual commencement! Having served as our very first virtual commencement host, Dr. Phillips has transformed our virtual ceremonies into deeply meaningful, personal experiences for our graduates and their families. With exceptional grace, authentic care and infectious energy, Dr. Phillips bridges the digital distance to ensure that every graduate receives the recognition and honor they deserve. We are so grateful to Dr. Phillips for being part of this tradition and for making our commencement ceremonies an unforgettable milestone for our students and their families. Thank you, Dr. Phillips, on behalf of the graduation and events team. — Laurie Hansen (Purdue Global — Communications, Alumni and Engagement)

Glenn Walton

Thumbs-up to faculty and virtual commencement host Professor Glenn Walton (Purdue Global — Business and Information Technology)! Virtual commencement wouldn’t be the same without the vibrant energy and sharp style of Professor Walton. Having hosted several of our ceremonies, he seamlessly brings the joy, laughter and energy of his seminars straight to the virtual commencement stage. Dressed to the nines — complete with a perfectly chosen background and a well-timed sound effects board — Professor Walton turns every celebration into a memorable experience. His lighthearted humor and infectious enthusiasm put graduates and families at ease, ensuring every moment feels festive, engaging and personal. On behalf of the graduation and events team, thank you, Professor Walton, for bringing your signature flair, humor and heart to our virtual stage! — Laurie Hansen (Purdue Global — Communications, Alumni and Engagement)

Purdue Global commencement shoutout board moderators

Thumbs-up to Angela Sutherland, Beth Lee, Julie Dort, Carol Edwards, Carolyn Stevenson, Christiana Bevier, Michelle Bianco, Dawn Mikalatos, Ismail Joseph, Maggie Henley, January Pearson, Joyce Davis, Mimi Gough, Kat Young, Kimberly Cantu, Lanie Wright, Lisa Phillips, Melinda Linscott, Mike Pouraryan, Monica Hubler, Nikita Muneshwar, Rebekah Haight, Ritu Sharma, Tammy Chiong, Lasonya Green and Ketlie Monpremier for serving as behind-the-scenes support for the graduation team during commencement weekends. They sign up early and show up consistently, and many team members have served in this role for over five years. This year, members signed up for the May and October ceremonies, with most volunteering for both. Together, they reviewed and approved more than 1,500 posts of well-wishes and congratulations, ensuring students and families felt celebrated while actively safeguarding Purdue Global’s reputation, brand and inclusive culture. On behalf of the graduation and events team, many thanks to you all for moderating the shoutout board. We could not do it without you! — Laurie Hansen (Purdue Global — Communications, Alumni and Engagement)

Bill Helton

I would like to give a big “Thumbs Up” to Bill, a desktop support specialist in IT End User Experience. I recently received a new computer and needed help to get everything set up. Bill suggested that I come into his office so he could personally walk me through the process. He was amazing! Bill patiently walked me through each step, made sure all of my programs were working properly, set up my email and scheduled the remaining updates to run later so I could get back to work. Bill was knowledgeable, personable and, above all, incredibly patient. I truly appreciated the time he took to make sure everything was working and that I felt comfortable with my new computer. Thank you, Bill, for your outstanding customer service and for being so helpful! — Pamela Stokes (Purdue Conferences)

Tim Arnold

Tim (Building Services) has been taking care of his area very well. When I come over to see if he needs anything, he is always working and asking questions to improve and learn new tasks to bring his inspection score up. He is safety oriented and strives to do his best every day. — Najibullah Wardag (Building Services)

Jakob Utter and Chris Velazquez

Jakob and Chris (both Building Services) kindly helped get a student’s bike out of a tree at Hillenbrand Hall. They completed the rescue completely unprompted after clocking out. Their act of community spirit highlights a wonderful work ethic and caring nature. I would like to give them a well-deserved “Thumbs Up” for going above and beyond. — Julie Clugh (Hillenbrand Dining)

Jennifer Cutter and Stephanie Keller

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Jennifer (Graduate Admissions) and Stephanie (Graduate Records). They are always looking out for others and are eager to guide and support their fellow colleagues and students. — Umme Bushra (General Operations)

Amanda Shields

Amanda (Purdue Conferences), I just wanted to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for everything you did to help make the 2026 Center for Secure Microelectronics Ecosystem Annual Meeting a success. From coordinating all of the venues to anticipating needs before I even had a chance to ask, your support made an enormous difference, and it did not go unnoticed. It is truly a pleasure to work with someone who brings such care and attention to everything they do. Thank you for all of it. — Jenny Mattson (Birck Nanotechnology Center)

Brenda Fresch, Michele Bourst and Sarah Johnson

Two thumbs-up to Brenda, Michele and Sarah (all Purdue Global — Communications, Alumni and Engagement) on the commencement team for an unforgettable graduation weekend! Putting together an in-person event, in a new venue, for thousands of graduates and their families is a massive, monthslong undertaking. From early strategic planning and complex logistics to live execution and final teardown, this team handled every single detail with exceptional skill, patience and dedication. Behind the seamless moments of graduates walking to hear their name read were months of rigorous cross-functional coordination, vendor management and timeline planning; exhausting physical days on the floor managing crowd flow, stage operations and guest experience; and instant cool-headed problem-solving whenever real-time challenges popped up. Executing an event of this scale requires every member to bring their absolute best, and this team set a new benchmark for excellence. They created lifelong memories for thousands of people and represented our organization at the highest level. — Beth Smith (Purdue Global — Office of the Provost)

Amy Hawkinson, Adam Bartels, Liz Fitzgerald and Cathy Faulkner

Big shoutout to Amy and Adam (both Purdue Global — Communications, Alumni and Engagement), Liz (Purdue Global — Center for Teaching and Learning) and Cathy (Purdue Global — Office of the Chancellor) on the commencement event crew for their incredible support! Big events rely on great preparation, but execution is where the magic happens! We want to extend a massive thank-you to the cross-departmental helpers who joined us on-site to ensure graduation weekend ran without a hitch. From early morning prep to the final name called, this team powered our event floor by guiding crowd flow and maintaining smooth floor operations throughout each ceremony, stepping in wherever needed to deliver a warm and seamless guest experience for our graduates’ families, and thinking fast on their feet to resolve live operational needs in real time. We are deeply grateful for your energy and commitment to making graduation weekend a resounding success! — Beth Smith (Purdue Global — Office of the Provost)

Monal Patel, Barbara Kent and Jackie Ward

While months of preparation go into graduation weekend, event day relies heavily on the dedication of team members who step in on the ground. We want to express our sincere gratitude to our event-day ambassadors for their crucial role during our ceremonies! Monal (Purdue Global — Social and Behavioral Sciences), Barbara (Purdue Global — Audit and Compliance) and Jackie (Purdue Global — Regional Accreditation) dedicated their entire day — spanning nearly 13 hours on-site — to ensure our graduates and guests had a seamless experience. They worked closely alongside area leads to handle guest flow, seating guidance and key ceremony touchpoints. They provided hospitality by answering questions, assisting attendees with special needs and maintaining an upbeat, celebratory environment. And they brought unwavering commitment and enthusiasm from the time the doors opened through the final closing remarks. We are deeply grateful for your willingness to lend your time and energy to support this major university milestone! — Beth Smith (Purdue Global — Office of the Provost)

Laurie Hansen and Brenda Fresch

Creating an engaging online ceremony for more than 1,400 virtual graduates takes high-level coordination, technical accuracy and real-time heart. Laurie and Brenda (both Purdue Global — Communications, Alumni and Engagement) worked behind the scenes to power our virtual commencement! From early preparation to live event execution, this team brought precision and care to every detail. Their meticulous preparation included customizing ceremony templates, building out structured run-of-show schedules and double-checking every audio name recording for complete accuracy. They facilitated technical rehearsals, collaborated with our production partners so graduates could take the virtual stage on camera, troubleshot technical issues on the fly and hosted a dedicated room for celebrating families and friends. Sincere thanks to Brenda and Laurie, whose hard work made our virtual ceremonies an unforgettable success for our graduates around the world! — Beth Smith (Purdue Global — Office of the Provost)

Eva Nodine

Commencement is the ultimate celebration of student success, and that vision starts right at the top. Eva (Purdue Global — Office of the Chancellor) connects with graduates at every touchpoint — from the lectern to the staging room and outside after the ceremonies. Her deep care for our students shows in how she pulls out all the stops to welcome them into the Purdue family. Beyond the stage, she sincerely recognizes the tireless work of the behind-the-scenes staff who bring graduation to life. Thank you, Eva, for being our biggest cheerleader and keeping student success at the heart of our mission! — Beth Smith (Purdue Global — Office of the Provost)

Want to recognize someone for a job well done? View the submission form and guidelines on the “Thumbs Up” webpage.