December 2, 2005
Purdue to partner with Plymouth in community visit
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University leaders, who travel the state to meet and learn from its residents, will be in Plymouth, Ind., on Dec. 13.
President Martin C. Jischke and other university officials will visit the Plymouth Foundry Inc., ACCESS Plant Technology Inc. and Valmont Industries Inc., as well as other locations.
Victor L. Lechtenberg, Purdue's vice provost for engagement, said Purdue welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with business and community leaders.
"These visits are quite valuable for both Purdue and the communities with which we connect," Lechtenberg said. "Purdue wants to enhance economic development and help companies gain a competitive advantage in the global marketplace. When we share ideas with people in communities like Plymouth, we can see how sharing our resources has made an impact and what additional goals can be set."
This is the fifth year Jischke and university leaders have conducted daylong visits to Indiana communities. More than 50 previous stops have ranged from Gary to Jasper and from South Bend to Lebanon. Future visits are planned for Columbus, Fort Wayne, Hamilton County, Hendricks County, Elkhart and New Albany.
Several activities are scheduled for the visit:
• 10:30 a.m. – Tour Plymouth Foundry Inc., 523 W. Harrison St. Established in 1928, the Plymouth Foundry performs casting and machining of gray, ductile and white iron parts. The company has worked with Purdue's Technical Assistance Program, which connects companies with Purdue resources and assists them in implementing state-of-the art technologies. Sam Schlosser III, Plymouth Foundry vice president, has served on the TAP advisory council. He received a bachelor's degree from Purdue in metallurgical engineering in 1971, after which he completed graduate work in engineering and industrial administration.
• 11:45 a.m. – Lunch with the Plymouth Kiwanis and Rotary clubs, Christo's Banquet Center, 830 E. Lincolnway. Jischke will speak about how Purdue can be a partner with the Plymouth community.
• 2:15 p.m. – Visit ACCESS Plant Technology Inc., 1550 Pidco Drive, Suite A. Founded in 1996, ACCESS Plant Technology is a technology-transfer company that specializes in agricultural technology and genetics. It serves as a bridge between companies that develop plant technology and companies that market it. ACCESS licensed Purdue's CystX soybean seed technology. Company president John Gerard is a past member of the Dean of College of Agriculture's Advisory Council.
• 3:30 p.m. – Visit Valmont Industries Inc., 1545 Pidco Drive. Valmont Industries designs and builds cell and communication towers featuring advanced product design systems. It employs 200 people, including many Purdue College of Engineering graduates. Company CEO Myron Noble graduated from Purdue in 1960 with a degree in mechanical engineering.
• 4:30 p.m. – Meet with representatives of the Marshall County Council and Commissioners, Mayor Gary Cook, the Plymouth City Council and the economic development board at the county office building, 112 W. Jefferson St. The group will discuss how Purdue can serve as a partner in economic development.
• 5:30 p.m. – Attend a reception at Christo's Banquet Center for Purdue alumni who live in Marshall County, 830 E. Lincolnway.
Jischke, who came to Purdue in August 2000, is the university's 10th president. He previously served for nine years as president of Iowa State University, another land-grant institution. His experience in higher education also includes 17 years as professor and dean at the University of Oklahoma and five years at the University of Missouri-Rolla.
Jischke was the founding president of the Global Consortium of Higher Education and Research for Agriculture. He served as chairman and board member of the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges and as a board member of the American Council on Education, National Merit Scholarship Corp., and the Kellogg Commission on the Future of State and Land-Grant Universities.
He currently serves as chairman of the Association of American Universities, which represents the top 62 research universities in North America, and also is the current chair of the Big Ten Council of Presidents and Chancellors. Jischke also is on the board of the American Council on Competitiveness and the national board of Campus Compact, an organization of university presidents and college deans that helps students learn about citizenship through community-service opportunities. The Indiana Chamber of Commerce honored Jischke in November with its Volunteer of the Year Award.
After receiving his doctorate in aeronautics and astronautics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1968, Jischke joined the faculty of the University of Oklahoma's School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering. During his 17 years at Oklahoma, he served in multiple capacities. He became director of the School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering in 1977. He served as dean of the College of Engineering from 1981 to 1986, and he was named the university's interim president in 1985.
Writer: Marydell Forbes, (765) 496-7704, mforbes@purdue.edu
Sources: Victor L. Lechtenberg, (765) 494-9095, vll@purdue.edu
David Petritz, Cooperative Extension Service director, (765) 494-8489, dpetritz@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
Note to Journalists: The media are invited to attend the luncheon. To make arrangements, contact Marydell Forbes, Purdue News Service, (765) 496-7704, mforbes@purdue.edu.
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