OEVPRP welcomes Denecke, Sampsell

September 1, 2022

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Theresa Mayer, executive vice president for research and partnerships, is welcoming Jake Denecke and Susan Sampsell to the Office of the Executive Vice President for Research and Partnerships (OEVPRP). They bring their extensive expertise in facilities operations and finance management, respectively, to the Purdue research enterprise.

Jake Denecke has been named director of facilities and space operations after serving in the role as interim. A licensed professional engineer with degrees in civil engineering, structural engineering and business administration, Denecke will provide strategic planning, direction and coordination of administrative operations to the Purdue research community.

Denecke also will work with campus partners, including the Office of the Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer, to drive continuous improvement efforts that enhance cross-functional effectiveness. He brings a great deal of expertise gained through previous Purdue roles, such as a recent role as lead project manager responsible for the successful delivery of the Purdue Global University Human Resource Transition Project. Before that, with Physical Facilities, he worked within Capital Asset Management to deliver complex and transformational projects such as Flex Lab, Meredith South and Frieda Parker Residence Halls and the addition to the Martin C. Jischke Hall of Biomedical Engineering.

Susan Sampsell has joined Purdue as the director of financial affairs, coming to campus from Penn State University. She most recently served there as director of finance and business operations for the College of Agricultural Sciences. She had earlier been the assistant dean for administrative operations for the College of Information Sciences and Technology and director of finance for the College of Engineering. She also served as the senior director of finance and administration for the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences at George Washington University, among other previous higher education finance leadership positions.

Sampsell brings a wealth of diverse finance experience, professional development and expertise to Purdue. She also is active in philanthropic causes in her community, having served as president of the board for the non-profit assistance organization, Centre Helps, in State College, Pennsylvania. She was treasurer for the Interfaith Human Services board, and a member of the State College Youth Aid Panel and the United Way funds allocation committee, among other community leadership roles.

Writer:     Amy Raley, araley@purdue.edu

Sources: Jake Denecke, jdenecke@purdue.edu

                 Susan Sampsell, ssampsel@purdue.edu