Purdue News
Purdue News
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March 11, 2004 Purdue receives $5 million gift for visual, performing artsWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A Purdue University liberal arts graduate who is part of the interactive entertainment industry is recognizing his alma mater with the largest single gift ever made to Purdue's School of Liberal Arts.
Purdue officials will announce today (Thursday, 3/11) that the university will name its Department of Visual and Performing Arts after Rusty Rueff (pronounced roof) and his wife, Patti, of Burlingame, Calif., in recognition of their $5 million deferred gift. The department, in Purdue's School of Liberal Arts, is composed of four divisions – art and design, music, dance and theater. The naming is subject to the approval of the Purdue Board of Trustees.
"Patti and Rusty Rueff understand the importance of the creative arts and how they enhance our technologically driven world," said President Martin C. Jischke. "We have a new state-of-the-art building, and this gift will enhance the quality of the visual and performing arts program we offer students through the Patti and Rusty Rueff Department of Visual and Performing Arts. Not only will Purdue and its students benefit from this gift, but so will the art patrons in the community who visit the theater productions, dance performances and gallery exhibits." The Rueffs also have pledged $200,000 to name the Patti and Rusty Rueff Gallery in the new Visual and Performing Arts Building. That gift will be matched by a fund set up this fall by an anonymous donor, doubling its value. Previously, a classroom was named after the Rueffs' godson, Noah B. Putnam, in honor of a $50,000 gift. "I am proud to be a graduate of Purdue – one of the premier academic institutions in the world," said Rusty Rueff, executive vice president of human resources at the Redwood City, California-based game developer and publisher Electronic Arts. "Patti and I believe the creative leaders of tomorrow can be empowered by offering them state-of-the-art facilities and teaching at the university level. We are committed to advancing education of the arts through our philanthropic commitments. We feel Purdue is the ideal location for our personal gift because this program highlights the power of technical and creative convergence that will be a part of shaping the future of visual arts and new entertainment media." The gift will make a significant difference for Purdue, said Toby Parcel, dean of the School of Liberal Arts. "Thanks to the Rueffs' support, the department will be able to pursue discovery and learning opportunities that will accelerate its rise to preeminence," Parcel said. "Such an endowment will allow flexible use of funds to support the creative endeavors of the faculty, enhance learning experiences for students and strengthen engagement with arts communities in central Indiana. This is an opportunity that very few comparable departments will have, thus giving Purdue a clear competitive advantage in recruiting the best faculty and students." Rueff, from Jeffersonville, Ind., earned a bachelor's degree in radio and television in 1984 and a master's degree in counseling in 1986 from Purdue. Following a career in radio, Rueff held human resources positions in companies such as PepsiCo and United Technologies. Rueff is a member of Purdue's campaign committee for the Visual and Performing Arts Building and the School of Liberal Arts Dean's Advisory Council. He also is a trustee of the American Conservatory Theatre and a member of the Academy of Television and Radio Sciences. Patti Rueff is an event planning consultant in California. A graduate of Wood Business School in Manhattan, she worked for 24 years for PepsiCo Inc., including 20 years as executive assistant to the CEO and chairman of the board of directors. She currently serves on the board of the Women's Health Council for San Mateo County and the Hillsborough Auxiliary to Family Services of the Peninsula. She also is active in organizing the corporate team competition for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in San Francisco. The Department of Visual and Performing Arts, which is home to Theatre@Purdue and the Purdue Repertory Dance Company, was created in 1966. There are more than 900 undergraduates in the department, 60 graduate students and 40 faculty members. The most popular areas of study are visual communications design, interior design, industrial design and photography, said David Sigman, head of the department. "The Rueffs' support for our department and new building is very inspiring," Sigman said. "Just as Rusty has made great contributions to interactive entertainment, our department will strive to be a leader in art and technology in evolving areas driven by art and design research." This fall, the 166,700-square-foot Visual and Performing Arts Building, at Marsteller and Wood streets, opened for classes in art and design and dance. The divisions of theater, music and art education will move in after the second phase of construction, which is scheduled to begin this summer. The second phase includes two theaters and space for costume design and storage, dressing rooms, prop storage and scenery construction, as well as studios and workshop space for theater, music classes and art education. The Nancy T. Hansen Theatre, a 300-seat proscenium, will take the place of the Experimental Theatre in Stewart Center. The second, the Carole and Gordon Mallett Theatre, will seat 138-170 people, depending upon its configuration, and will replace an existing, smaller black box theater. Fund raising for the building is nearing completion. An anonymous donor gave $2 million for the building this fall and will match another $2 million to be raised by the School of Liberal Arts, completing the $41 million facility. Writer: Amy Patterson-Neubert, (765) 494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu Sources: Martin C. Jischke, (765) 494-9708 Toby Parcel, (765) 494-3661, tlparcel@purdue.edu Tammy Schachter, contact for Rusty and Patti Rueff, (650) 628-7223, tschachter@ea.com David Sigman, (765) 494-3058, sigman@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu Previous news releases: $30 million in gifts usher in week of celebrations at Purdue 4 Purdue alumni donate funds for engineering, bands, arts Former Purdue president stages gift for wife Couple's $770,000 gift sets stage for new theater at Purdue PHOTO CAPTION:
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