Purdue to bestow 2 honorary doctorates during spring commencement

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue alumni Greg Hayes, chief executive officer of Raytheon Technologies Corp., and Jack Calhoun, senior advisor at McKinsey & Co., will receive honorary doctorates during this year’s spring commencement ceremony May 15 at Ross-Ade Stadium.

Greg Hayes

Hayes will receive his honorary degree from the Krannert School of Management. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in management from the School of Management in 1982. He is chief executive officer of Raytheon Technologies, an aerospace and defense company, and is a member of its board of directors.

Raytheon Technologies was formed in April 2020 when United Technologies Corp.’s aerospace businesses, Pratt & Whitney and Collins Aerospace Systems, merged with Raytheon Co. Before the merger, Hayes had a nearly 21-year career at United Technologies, holding several senior leadership roles across finance, corporate strategy and business development. These positions led to his appointment as chief financial officer in 2008, CEO in 2014 and chairman in 2016.

Hayes is a board member of the Business Roundtable, a national association of CEOs that works to promote the U.S. economy. He also serves on the board of the National Academy Foundation, a national network focused on solving challenges related to education and the economy, and as a board member of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, which maintains the world’s largest collection of aviation and space artifacts. He is a former member of the Krannert School of Management’s Dean’s Advisory Council.

In addition to his many business and technology endeavors, Hayes works to be a provider during times of need. During the current global pandemic, he has worked on engineering solutions to help reduce viral spread in airports and aircraft and overseen production of 3D-printed masks for health care workers.

Jack Calhoun

Calhoun will receive his honorary from the College of Health and Human Sciences. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in technology from Purdue in 1987. He serves as senior advisor at McKinsey & Co., a global management consulting firm, where he advises clients in various areas, including consumer products, retail, beauty, fashion and luxury products.

While at Purdue, he was president of the Purdue Student Union Board, chair of Iron Key, member of Varsity Glee Club and received the G.A. Ross Award as an outstanding senior male graduate.

Calhoun began his career at Procter & Gamble and then worked for Levi Strauss & Co. and Charles Schwab Corp. Later, he became global president of Banana Republic.

As a pioneer of multiple complex partnerships, Calhoun was responsible for developing the first fashion brand integration with the reality TV show “Project Runway.” He also developed successful product lines with costume designers Colleen Atwood, “Memoirs of a Geisha,” and Jacqueline Durran, “Anna Karenina,” for their Academy Award-winning movies. Additionally, Calhoun led the prosperous brand partnership with the Golden Globe-winning TV series “Mad Men” and spearheaded numerous other substantial fashion, designer and branded partnerships.

Calhoun serves as chair of the Student Life Advisory Council at Purdue. He is an executive board member of the San Francisco Opera, vice chair of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco and chairman of the Australian fashion brand Lack of Color. He also previously sat on the board of directors of the Kimpton Group Holding Co., the board of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Inc. furniture company and the national board of GLAAD (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation).

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 5 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at https://purdue.edu/.

Writer: Bella Vina, ivina@purdue.edu

Media contact: Matthew Oates, 765-586-7496 (cell), oatesw@purdue.edu, @mo_oates

Source: Chris Pass, dehahn@purdue.edu 

Journalists visiting campus: Journalists should follow Protect Purdue protocols and the following guidelines:

• Campus is open, but the number of people in spaces may be limited. We will be as accommodating as possible, but you may be asked to step out or report from another location.
• To enable access, particularly to campus buildings, we recommend you contact the Purdue News Service media contact listed on the release to let them know the nature of the visit and where you will be visiting. A News Service representative can facilitate safe access and may escort you on campus.
• Correctly wear face masks inside any campus building, and correctly wear face masks outdoors when social distancing of at least six feet is not possible.