August 3, 2018

Purdue trustees approve new named Education deanship, other faculty honors

Nancy Marchand-Martella Nancy Marchand-Martella
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Purdue University Board of Trustees on Friday (Aug. 3) approved a new named deanship in the College of Education, ratified the appointment of five named and distinguished faculty and issued a resolution of appreciation for friends of the university.

Nancy Marchand-Martella, who became the dean of the College of Education on July 16, was ratified as the Suzi and Dale Gallagher Dean of Education, the result of a generous gift from Suzi (BS ’70, liberal arts) and Dale (BS ’69, industrial engineering) Gallagher in honor of the College of Education’s significant impact on past, current and future generations of students in Indiana, across the nation and around the world.

“We are extremely proud of the College of Education at Purdue and the role it has fulfilled in meeting challenges and opportunities in the field of education. We believe that naming the deanship will help ensure continued success by providing support for key initiatives and flexibility for ever increasing needs in education,” the Gallaghers said.

Tony Vyn Tony Vyn
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Additionally, Tony Vyn was named the inaugural Henry A. Wallace Chair in Crop Sciences; David Love was named the Nick Trbovich Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Steven Pekarek was named the Edmund O. Schweitzer, III Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering; Patrick Wolfe was named the Miller Family Professor of Statistics and Computer Science; and Suresh Mittal was named Distinguished Professor of Virology.

Vyn, a professor of agronomy, is internationally known for his work in cropping systems, tillage, and integrated genetic and management approaches to achieving improved plant nutrient efficiencies in corn production​. He joined Purdue in 1998 and dedicates his research, mentorship and Extension programs to improving the future of production agriculture in order to feed a growing world population.

David Love David Love
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Love, who joined Purdue’s electrical and computer engineering faculty in 2004, is the leader of the College of Engineering’s Efficient Spectrum Usage Preeminent Team, which seeks to address the growing congestion on communications radio frequencies so that law enforcement and emergency responders can communicate more effectively and efficiently during times of crisis. He is a renowned researcher in the broad area of wireless communications, with specific emphasis on feedback-assisted adaptive wireless systems.

Steve Pekarek Steve Pekarek
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Pekarek, an alumnus of the College of Engineering and a faculty member in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, is a leader in the fields of electromagnetic component modeling and design, electric machine design and power electronics. His research in power and energy has led to advances in vehicle charging systems, ship and aircraft electrical architectures and the control of DC microgrids.

Patrick Wolfe Patrick Wolfe
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Wolfe, the Frederick L. Hovde Dean of Science, was previously the Miller Family Professor of Statistics. The board approved amending his title to Miller Family Professor of Statistics and Computer Science in recognition of his joint appointment in both the Department of Statistics and the Department of Computer Science. Wolfe also holds a courtesy appointment in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Suresh Mittal Suresh Mittal
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Mittal is an internationally renowned scholar in the area of molecular virology and a leader in designing human and nonhuman adenoviral vectors for recombinant vaccines and gene therapy. One of his current research interests is to develop a universal influenza virus vaccine. In addition to his appointment in the College of Veterinary Medicine, he is the Infectious Disease Program leader for the Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease (PI4D) and a member of the Purdue Center for Cancer Research, the Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery and the Bindley Bioscience Center.

Trustees also approved a resolution of appreciation for those who recently have contributed $1 million or more to the university. Friends include White Lodging Services Inc., to support the Purdue Polytechnic Institute; Walter and Bonnie Breidenbach, to support student scholarships; the Parker Hannifin Foundation, to support the College of Agriculture and the College of Engineering; Brian Breidenbach, to support student scholarships; the Herrick Foundation, to support the School of Mechanical Engineering; Jack and Kay Hockema, to support the Krannert School of Management; L. Dick Buell, to support Intercollegiate Athletics; anonymous, to support the College of Science; anonymous, to support the School of Mechanical Engineering; and anonymous, to support the College of Science. 

Sources: Amy Noah, arnoah@purdue.edu

Tony Vyn, tvyn@purdue.edu

David Love, djlove@purdue.edu

Steven Pekarek, spekarek@purdue.edu

Patrick Wolfe, patrick@purdue.edu

Suresh Mittal, mittal@purdue.edu

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