Purdue executive vice president Hasler to retire March 31

Dan Hasler
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue President Mitch Daniels announced Wednesday (Feb. 12) that Dan Hasler, executive vice president for communications, plans to retire from his service to the university, effective March 31.

“Now seven years into his original two-year enlistment with Purdue, Dan has finally persuaded himself and me that it is time for a next chapter of his life,” Daniels said. “Dan’s contributions here have been truly unmatched, leading us to a position of literal world leadership in partnerships, patents, licenses and startup companies; overseeing a tremendous 150th anniversary year; and building greater global awareness of the great work of the people of Purdue. Most impressive to me, he brought to Purdue invaluable new perspectives from his earlier careers but quickly became a universally liked colleague of people all over campus.”

Hasler, who joined Purdue in 2013 as president and chief entrepreneurial officer for Purdue Research Foundation, took on leadership of Purdue’s 150th anniversary celebration initiative in January 2018 and was named executive vice president for communications in May 2018, where he has overseen marketing strategy, strategic communications, media relations, advertising, licensing, and digital marketing in collaboration with colleges and units across the Purdue system. 

“It’s been the high point of a 40-year work life to be a part of the Purdue team,” Hasler said. “I only wish everyone could see what I have seen: the never ending Giant Leaps of so many young “never-say-uncle” Boilermakers of all types, mentored and encouraged by a watchful world-class faculty, an amazingly loyal alumni base and a supportive West Lafayette community. It’s been nothing short of magical.”

During Hasler’s tenure with PRF, Purdue completely restructured its technology commercialization processes and reached record numbers of patents, licenses and technology commercialization based on ever-expanding Purdue research. 

Hasler established programs and policies to ease the commercialization and startup creation with a number of programs, including the Purdue Foundry, Purdue Startup Fund and an Express License for faculty and staff entrepreneurs with preset terms. Under his leadership, Purdue launched the Back a Boiler income share agreement program, making Purdue the first major U.S. university to offer such a plan. Since its inception in 2016, the fund has invested $13.8 million in Purdue students.

The results in technology commercialization and startup creation include six consecutive years of record-breaking growth and activities highlighted by:

• Nearly 2,000 invention disclosures.
• More than 1,150 issued patents.
• More than 250 Purdue-affiliated startups, about 150 with Purdue licensed technology.
• Nearly 350 new jobs generated.
• More than $390 million in startup funding.

As leader of the institution’s 150th anniversary celebration, Take Giant Leaps, and its corresponding Ideas Festival throughout 2018-19, Hasler helped show the world what it means to be a Boilermaker. Events during the year, including a concluding celebration with 13 of Purdue’s astronaut alumni, drew a total attendance of more than 45,000 people and attracted an additional 475,000 who watched events via livestream. As the celebration drew to a close in fall 2019, he continued the brand promise with a coordinated strategy to launch Purdue’s next giant leap, an evolved brand to further strengthen the university’s storytelling and visual identity.

Previously, Hasler served as secretary of commerce for the state of Indiana and chief executive officer of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. His 32-year career at Eli Lilly and Co. included serving as vice president for global marketing, where he was responsible for the commercial strategy and market performance of Lilly’s worldwide portfolio. He also was chief marketing officer for Eli Lilly USA, led the commercial operations of Eli Lilly’s largest European group and was general manager and president of Eli Lilly of Brazil.

In 2018, Hasler received the Robert C. McDermond Medal for Excellence in Entrepreneurship from his alma mater, DePauw University.

Media contact: Tim Doty, 765-494-2080, doty2@purdue.edu