Old Masters announces returning alumni

Ten Old Masters will be returning to campus Nov. 4-6 to celebrate their professional success and inspire current students. While on campus, Old Masters will participate in classroom talks, student organization receptions and a community-wide panel discussion to create relationships with students.

Students and faculty are encouraged to request an Old Master for a classroom talk or organization reception by filling out a form on the Purdue Old Masters website.

The program’s largest event, Evening with the Old Masters, allows the Old Masters to reach a large portion of the student body and Greater Lafayette and to connect by answering questions submitted from the audience. This convocation is open to all and will be held at 5 p.m. Nov. 5 at Stewart Center’s Loeb Playhouse.

An Old Master is an exceptional person who has made significant contributions to their own field, and this year all are alumni returning to their alma mater to share ideas and experiences with current Boilermakers. Each year, a group of 12 students known as the Central Committee evaluate hundreds of nominations in order to choose 10 deserving candidates.

Alongside these 10 alumni is an Honorary Old Master. This is a faculty or staff member that shares the same passion for mentoring students as the other Old Masters and has achieved high levels of success during their time at Purdue.

The 2018 Old Masters are:

Matt Booty, BS 1988, electrical and computer engineering; MFA 1991, theater sound design. Head, Microsoft Studios. 

Andrea Chavez, BS 1988, aeronautical and astronautical engineering; director of national defense and planning, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.

Susan Lozier, BS 1979, chemical engineering; professor of physical oceanography, Duke University.

Scott Niswonger, AAS 1968, aviation technology; doctorate in technology; chairman and principal, Landair Corp., and chairman and founder, Niswonger Foundation.

BJ Penn, BS 1960, industrial distribution; CEO, Genesis IV Consulting.

Todd Putman, BA 1984, communication; general manager, Campbell Soup Co.

Tarrus Richardson, BS 1991, accounting; CEO, IMB Development Corp.

Julie Schnieders, AAS 1978, nursing; executive director, St. Vincent Carmel’s Women’s Center, and nurse practitioner.

Patricia Stroup, MBA, food science and agribusiness; economics global vice president and head of commodities, Nestle.

Julie Wainwright, BS 1979, management; CEO and founder, TheRealReal.com.

Richard Rand, Honorary Old Master. Professor and coordinator of undergraduate theatre studies, Purdue.

The Old Masters program has been a Purdue tradition since 1950. The program is known for connecting distinguished professionals to the student body in order to enrich traditions, unite generations and empower one another to move the world forward together as Boilermakers.

More information about this year’s Old Masters, the history of the program, involvement within the program and classroom requests can be found at the Purdue Old Masters website.