Inaugural Trailblazer Award recipients named

Two associate professors have received inaugural Trailblazer Awards for mid-career excellence and impact in research and scholarship.

The Trailblazer Award was launched by the Provost's Office in January as an annual award for mid-career faculty members whose recent research, scholarship or creative work has made a significant impact in their disciplines in the College of Education, College of Liberal Arts, College of Health and Human Sciences or Purdue University Libraries.

The two inaugural Trailblazer Award recipients are:

Stewart Chang-Alexander, associate professor of consumer science in the College of Health and Human Sciences.

Chang-Alexander has been a pioneer in evaluating communication between patients and physicians, and assessing interventions to improve this critical component of human health. His innovative, highly regarded work has promoted health and wellness by improving the way clinicians communicate with and listen to their patients. His studies have included patient-clinician communication in the areas of obesity, adolescent medicine, oncology and palliative care.

Mandy Rispoli, associate professor of educational studies in the College of Education.

Rispoli is a leader in the field of special education, focusing particularly on the group of developmental disorders known as autism spectrum disorder, or ASD. She has integrated extensive applied research with community outreach to improve the lives of young children with disabilities. By moving rigorous behavior assessment and intervention from the clinic to the classroom, Rispoli’s work empowers teachers to serve the needs and promote the successes of special needs students throughout the community, the state and the nation.

Recipients of the Purdue University Trailblazer Award are invited to attend the annual Faculty Awards Convocation on April 25, where they will receive a plaque of recognition and a monetary prize of $2,000.