January 22, 2008
Purdue president to host online chat, visit cities nationwide
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Gathering the family into one room to listen to the radio is an old tradition, but Purdue University President France A. Córdova would like the Internet to bring the Purdue family together in much the same way.Córdova will host an online chat at 8 p.m. EST Feb. 19 from her on-campus home, Westwood. Kirk Cerny, executive director and chief executive officer of the Purdue Alumni Association, will serve as moderator during the high-tech fireside chat. A group of Purdue alumni and students will be with Córdova and Cerny. The president will talk on camera with those present and will respond to questions she receives via e-mail.
"This is an opportunity for alumni from around the globe to visit with our new president," Cerny said. "It takes advantage of the technology at hand to allow alumni and friends to have a conversation or ask questions about their alma mater and the direction Dr. Córdova will be leading our institution."
Cerny said that while the association is calling the event an alumni party, anyone will be welcome to log on to https://www.purdue.edu/alumniparty to see the streaming video. Individuals will be able to send the president questions through a dedicated e-mail address, which will be available starting Jan. 31. While some of the questions will be addressed during the 15-minute chat, others will be answered following the event.
"It's really a get-to-know-her party," Cerny said.
In addition to the video chat, Córdova will meet alumni and friends of Purdue face-to-face in their hometowns across the country in the coming months as part of a series of Purdue On the Road visits.
"The On the Road events have opportunities not only for alumni to gather and to meet the president, but they also provide social occasions to learn about what's happening at Purdue," Cerny said.
Many of the events include golf or tennis outings or other group gatherings such as a brunch or luncheon. Members of Purdue's President's Council and others who are invited to private events will be informed of those dates in advance by Purdue staff.
"We let alumni know through mailings, e-mails and local club notices," Cerny said. "When Purdue comes to town, we want to be sure that alumni have a chance to be part of the fun."
Purdue on the Road events are scheduled for the following locations in spring 2008:
* Jan. 23-25, Palo Alto region and Orange County, Calif.
* Feb. 9-11, Naples, Fla.
* Feb. 15, Phoenix, Ariz.
* Feb. 16, Tucson, Ariz.
* March 31, Washington, D.C.
* April 1, New York
Córdova also plans to visit Purdue alumni in China later in the year.
Times and locations are subject to change. For more information, contact Purdue Special Events staff at (800) 213-3044 or (765) 494-0900 or go to https://www.purdue.edu/events.
Writer: Tanya Brown, (765) 494-2079, tanyabrown@purdue.edu
Source: Kirk Cerny, (765) 494-0764, kcerny@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
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