Purdue News
Purdue News
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August 19, 2004 N. Michigan administrator at helm of School of Technology South Bend/Elkhart
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A former dean and assistant provost with a long history in technology education, Mark A. Curtis, has been named director of the Purdue University School of Technology's campus in South Bend, Ind. Curtis brings more than 20 years of experience as a technology educator and administrator, and School of Technology Dean Dennis R. Depew said that experience will allow him to maximize the potential of the location. "Professor Curtis' accomplishments in technology education make him an important addition to the School of Technology," Depew said. "We expect him to continue the success at the South Bend campus while growing both the academic programs and the school's role in the community." Before coming to Purdue last month, Curtis had served as dean of Northern Michigan University's College of Technology and Applied Sciences since 1999 and as assistant provost of community college programs since 2000. From 1981 to 1999, he served as a professor at Ferris State University, including three years as interim dean of the College of Technology. While a professor at Ferris State, he was named both a distinguished faculty member and distinguished teacher of the year. Curtis said his experience working with regional campuses will be a great asset as he grows programs and community collaborations at the South Bend/Elkhart campus. While at Ferris State, he began an outreach program in Grand Rapids, Mich., located an hour from the main campus in Big Rapids, Mich. "I started out teaching classes in rental space in a high school, and we eventually were able to build a $23 million facility in downtown Grand Rapids," Curtis said. "I understand the potential of a statewide system and the benefits that it can bring to communities throughout Indiana. I intend to work closely with community leaders to find the way we can bring more of those benefits to South Bend and Elkhart." In addition to educating students, the School of Technology works with local businesses to help them tap into Purdue's expertise and resources to address their unique challenges. For example, a certificate program in organizational leadership and supervision is currently being delivered in-plant to a group of employees at Cequent Towing Products of Goshen, Ind. Curtis said that besides the opportunity to stay near his family in southern Michigan, he also was drawn to Purdue because of the university's reputation in technology education. "In my field, Purdue's School of Technology is the biggest and most respected," he said. "To be able to take on a position here that is a perfect fit for me is a great personal and career move. I look forward to moving the campus in a direction to make a bigger impact on the students and citizens of Indiana." Curtis received an associate's degree in drafting and design technology from Kellogg Community College in Battle Creek, Mich., in 1971. He then earned a bachelor's degree in vocational technical education, a master's degree in industrial education and a doctoral degree in education leadership, all from Western Michigan University, in 1977, 1982 and 1992, respectively. He also completed the management development program at Harvard University in 1997. In addition to the West Lafayette campus, Purdue's School of Technology has seven other locations throughout Indiana: Anderson/Muncie, Columbus/SE Indiana, Indianapolis, Kokomo/Lafayette, New Albany, Richmond and South Bend/Elkhart. The South Bend/Elkhart location offers bachelor's and associate's degrees in electrical engineering technology and organizational leadership and supervision, as well as associate's degrees in computer graphics technology, computer technology and mechanical engineering technology, and a certificate program on organizational leadership and supervision. The School of Technology South Bend/Elkhart location, which is headquartered on Indiana University's South Bend campus, began offering classes in 1984. Last year it served almost 250 students, about 60 percent of whom were working adults. The location is the third largest outside of West Lafayette for the School of Technology, and as the number of students has decreased slightly since 1998, the average number of credit hours for students has increased, leading to fuller classes and more students progressing toward degrees. Writer: Matt Holsapple, (765) 494-2073, mholsapple@purdue.edu Sources: Dennis R. Depew, (876) 494-2552, drdepew@purdue.edu Mark A. Curtis, (574) 520-5560, macurtis@pusb.iusb.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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