{"id":14926,"date":"2025-04-30T08:36:37","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T12:36:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/?p=14926"},"modified":"2025-05-02T09:11:09","modified_gmt":"2025-05-02T13:11:09","slug":"university-receives-8-million-commitment-from-alumni-couple-in-support-of-daniels-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/2025\/Q2\/university-receives-8-million-commitment-from-alumni-couple-in-support-of-daniels-school","title":{"rendered":"Purdue receives $8 million commitment from alumni couple in support of Daniels School"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. \u2014 Purdue University has received an $8 million commitment from longtime benefactors Sam (BS management \u201975, HDR management \u201917) and Marsha (BS health and human sciences \u201975) Allen in support of the Mitch Daniels School of Business<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The gift includes $5 million to name a new laboratory within the school, called the Allen Family Innovation and Integration Business & Engineering Lab, and $3 million to name the directorship of the Brock-Wilson Center for Women in Business. Current director Cara Putman and all future directors will now be named the Marsha Allen Director of the center.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPurdue is deeply grateful to have dedicated Boilermakers like Sam and Marsha Allen, who have enthusiastically embraced our vision for the future of the Daniels School of Business and the university as a whole,\u201d said Purdue President Mung Chiang. \u201cThis generous contribution strengthens the foundation of a world-class business school on the rise, one that will educate many future trailblazers in a technology-driven, free-market economy \u2014 and advances Purdue\u2019s excellence at scale.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Daniels School represents a key focus of \u201cVictories & Heroes: Your Campaign for Purdue,\u201d<\/a> the $4 billion comprehensive fundraising campaign the university launched in February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With plans for the reimagined school approved in early 2023, demand has never been higher for a Purdue business education. Recently ranked among the world\u2019s best business schools<\/a>, the school prepares tomorrow\u2019s leaders and entrepreneurs, grounding them in the hallmarks of a Purdue education, including STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and business analytics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The new lab represents a revolution in interdisciplinary education, where the fusion of business acumen, engineering insight and technological proficiency forms the cornerstone of learning. Covering more than 3,000 square feet, the space will be equipped with cutting-edge technologies designed to address current and future societal problems in areas such as health care, manufacturing, semiconductors, microelectronics and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are honored and inspired by this extraordinary gift, which advances the core mission of our new school as we position ourselves as a beacon of excellence,\u201d said Jim Bullard, the Dr. Samuel R. Allen Dean of the Daniels School. \u201cThe lab will stand as a premier space within the school, symbolizing the future of business education and serving as a benchmark for what higher education should aspire to be as the world evolves. Naming the directorship empowers us to recruit top talent for a critical leadership role.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sam Allen worked at John Deere for 45 years, retiring in 2021 after serving as CEO for 11 years. Previously, the Allens made major commitments in support of the Purdue business school, the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex and the Ackerman Hills Course \u2014 which is now named the Ackerman-Allen Course in recognition of their contribution. They intentionally aligned their latest gift with Purdue Day of Giving<\/a>, the university\u2019s annual social media-driven fundraising effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMarsha and I are proud to give back to Purdue, which has been so instrumental in our success, and we\u2019re particularly happy to support the Daniels School at this crucial time,\u201d Sam Allen said. \u201cWe love Purdue and fully believe in its mission and its bold vision for the future. Making our contribution during the campaign \u2014 and on Purdue Day of Giving, which we\u2019ve followed enthusiastically for years \u2014 adds a layer of impact we hope will inspire others to give back as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The naming of the women\u2019s center directorship carries special meaning for the Allens. Marsha Allen and Jane Brock-Wilson (BS management \u201978), whose gift led to the naming of the center, were both members of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority while they were undergraduates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat was such a meaningful and joyful part of my life, so supporting something founded by a Purdue sorority sister feels like a true full-circle moment,\u201d Marsha Allen said. \u201cPurdue is clearly committed to an exciting new approach to educating tomorrow\u2019s business leaders \u2014 many of whom will be women \u2014 and I\u2019m honored to have my legacy linked to hers through this important center.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Purdue University<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 107,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 58,000 at our main campus in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue\u2019s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap \u2014 including its comprehensive urban expansion, the Mitch Daniels School of Business, Purdue Computes and the One Health initiative \u2014 at https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/president\/strategic-initiatives<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About the Purdue for Life Foundation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Purdue for Life Foundation helps friends and alumni of Purdue University stay connected, get involved and give back. Created on March 11, 2020, the foundation deepens alumni ties to Purdue, drives and coordinates all alumni-related activities across the Purdue family\u2019s postgraduation lives and works with alumni and friends to garner support for the university. Our organization combines the alumni engagement function of the Purdue Alumni Association and the University Development Office, and it includes President\u2019s Council and the John Purdue Club, as well as alumni lifelong learning programs and on-campus residential opportunities. Learn more at  https:\/\/purdueforlife.org\/<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\n Media contact:<\/strong> Trevor Peters, peter237@purdue.edu<\/a> <\/p>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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