{"id":1697,"date":"2023-03-22T22:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-22T22:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/?p=1697"},"modified":"2024-06-05T22:34:09","modified_gmt":"2024-06-05T22:34:09","slug":"purdue-receives-20-million-commitment-from-alum-sassola-for-new-pharmacy-leadership-academy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/2023\/Q1\/purdue-receives-20-million-commitment-from-alum-sassola-for-new-pharmacy-leadership-academy","title":{"rendered":"Purdue receives $20 million commitment from alum Sassola for new pharmacy leadership academy"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"purdue-initial-words-wrap\"><p class=\"purdue-initial-words\">WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. &mdash;<\/p> \n<p>The&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Purdue University<\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pharmacy.purdue.edu\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">College of Pharmacy<\/a>&nbsp;has received a $20 million commitment from alumnus Marcel Sassola III to establish a new leadership academy that will expand the college\u2019s offerings and prepare a new pipeline of pharmacy graduates to innovate and lead in an ever-changing health care landscape.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/new.www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/sassola-mLO.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1698\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/sassola-mLO.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/sassola-mLO-240x300.jpeg 240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Marcel Sassola III (photo provided)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The Marcel Sassola III Leaders and Entrepreneurs Advancing Pharmacy (LEAP) Academy will be modeled after the successful Larsen Leaders Academy in the university\u2019s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/business.purdue.edu\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business<\/a>, and will focus on strengthening leadership and entrepreneurship among Purdue pharmacy students.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI felt now was the time to give back and, ultimately, pay my success forward by giving other people the same opportunities I had \u2013 or even better,\u201d Sassola (BS Pharm \u201983) said. \u201cPurdue and education have both always been passions of mine. I wanted to make sure my gifts would have the biggest possible impact on the university, and this was the right moment.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The LEAP Academy will feature a LEAP Scholars program for undergraduate, PharmD and PhD students. Students selected as LEAP Scholars will be chosen based on student leadership activities, academic record and a rigorous selection process. Scholars are responsible for:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Participating in the Pharmacy Leadership and Innovation Forum class.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Completing the Purdue Entrepreneurship and Innovation Certificate Program.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Executing special projects and challenges designed to contribute value to the College of Pharmacy\u2019s programs and services.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Maintaining good standing in both academic performance and professional conduct.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Attending two weekend events \u2013 including an off-campus leadership and entrepreneurship retreat during the fall and an on-campus retreat during the spring \u2013 that will feature \u201cShark Tank\u201d-like presentations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The LEAP Scholars Academy will be coordinated by the LEAP Academy program director, which is a new position, and counseled by an alumni entrepreneurship advisory board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe College of Pharmacy has a proven legacy of transforming the practice and science of pharmacy to lead advances in human health and of developing graduates who display a broad range of expertise that extends to areas such as management, economics and public health,\u201d said&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcmp.purdue.edu\/faculty\/barkerel?_ga=2.212079380.1691579485.1678721510-1965067714.1677855668\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Eric L. Barker<\/a>, the Jeannie and Jim Chaney Dean of the College of Pharmacy and professor of medicinal chemistry and molecular pharmacy. \u201cThrough Marcel Sassola\u2019s generosity, we will be able to build on that rich tradition and provide our students with all the tools they need to succeed as leaders and pioneers in the industry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sassola is the former CEO of Santa Barbara Specialty Pharmacy, which services California and five nearby states, and has more than 35 years of experience as a pharmacist and entrepreneur. He is a member of the Purdue Alumni Association and President\u2019s Council and also is active in the Santa Barbara and Los Angeles communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPurdue helped me build a foundation of education and simultaneously provided me the ability to learn more about who I was and what I wanted to do with my life. Giving back now makes me feel like I\u2019ve found a missing piece,\u201d Sassola said. \u201cI look forward to meeting the first LEAP Scholars, serving as a steward for this exciting new program and witnessing the evolution of the College of Pharmacy.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Matt Folk, president and CEO of the Purdue for Life Foundation and vice president for university advancement and alumni engagement, said, \u201cWith all the giant leaps occurring right now at Purdue, this is a critical time for the university and its future. This gift from Marcel Sassola is a shining example of how our alumni continue to step up in support of Purdue, its mission and its direction moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About Purdue University<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to today\u2019s toughest challenges. Ranked in each of the last five years as one of the 10 Most Innovative universities in the United States by U.S. News &amp; 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&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/stories.purdue.edu\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/stories.purdue.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Purdue for Life Foundation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>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\u00a0Purdue Alumni Association\u00a0and the University Development Office, and it includes President\u2019s Council, the\u00a0John Purdue Club and the Office of Industry Partnerships, as well as alumni lifelong learning programs and on-campus residential opportunities. Learn more at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.purdueforlife.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/purdueforlife.org\/<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"note\" class=\"post-content__attribution \">\n    <div class=\"columns\"> \n                    <div class=\"column\"> \n                <p class=\"post-content__source\">\n                    <strong>Writer:\u00a0<\/strong>Aaron Martin<br><strong>Media contact:\u00a0<\/strong>Derek Schultz,\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:dcschultz@purdue.edu\">dcschultz@purdue.edu<\/a>                <\/p>\n            <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. &mdash; The&nbsp;Purdue University&nbsp;College of Pharmacy&nbsp;has received a $20 million commitment from alumnus Marcel Sassola III to establish a new leadership academy that will expand the college\u2019s offerings and prepare a new pipeline of pharmacy graduates to innovate<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1699,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[54,19],"tags":[],"department":[98,118],"source":[29],"purdue_today_topic":[72],"coauthors":[117],"class_list":["post-1697","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-general","department-pharmacy","department-purdue-for-life","source-purdue-news","purdue_today_topic-general"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1697","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1697"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1697\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1701,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1697\/revisions\/1701"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1699"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1697"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1697"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1697"},{"taxonomy":"department","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/department?post=1697"},{"taxonomy":"source","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/source?post=1697"},{"taxonomy":"purdue_today_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/purdue_today_topic?post=1697"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=1697"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}