April 28, 2008

Purdue to award 12 honorary degrees during spring commencements

Ten honorees will be honored during four ceremonies May 9-11 at Purdue's Elliott Hall of Music on the West Lafayette campus. Two will be honored at the Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne commencement May 14 at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

The 2008 recipients at the West Lafayette campus are:

- D. Craig Brater, Indianapolis, who is dean and the Walter J. Daly Professor at the Indiana University School of Medicine, and the vice president responsible for life sciences at Indiana University. His doctor of science degree will be awarded at 9:30 a.m. May 11.

- William K. Cordier, Naples, Fla., and Hudson, Ohio, a mechanical engineer and entrepreneur who went on to hold leadership positions at a number of New York Stock Exchange corporations. His doctor of engineering degree will be awarded at 8 p.m. May 9.

- Carolyn Curiel, Weehawken, N.J., whose career has included positions as a U.S. ambassador, senior speechwriter and special assistant to President Clinton and a current post on The New York Times editorial board. Her doctor of letters degree will be awarded at 2:30 p.m. May 10.

- Ralph S. Johnson, Tempe, Ariz., who is responsible for several designs and innovations that have improved air safety throughout the world. He also served two terms in the Wyoming House of Representatives. His doctor of engineering degree will be awarded at 8 p.m. May 9.

- John B. Landis, Carmel, Ind., who has led the integration and globalization of preclinical drug development during three mergers of major pharmaceutical companies and now serves as senior vice president of pharmaceutical sciences for Schering-Plough Corp. His doctor of science degree will be awarded at 9:30 a.m. May 10.

- R. Preston McAfee, San Marino, Calif., who is vice president and research fellow at Yahoo! Research and known as an authority on industrial organization and microeconomics. His doctor of economics degree will be awarded at 9:30 a.m. May 10.

- Jane Blaffer Owen, New Harmony, Ind., Houston and Rhode Island, who has made many philanthropic contributions in the fields of art and architecture through her work to restore and preserve historic New Harmony in southwestern Indiana. Her doctor of letters degree will be awarded at 2:30 p.m. May 10.

- Morton Schindel, Weston, Conn., who has been a pioneer in the field of children's literature in the audiovisual media and is still active as the founder and president of Weston Woods Institute, a nonprofit organization for the development of innovative educational and cultural communications that enrich the lives of children. His doctor of education degree will be awarded at 8 p.m. May 9.

- Bradley T. Sheares, Lower Gwynedd, Pa., who serves as chief executive officer of Reliant Pharmaceuticals Inc., and has more than 25 years of experience in the biochemical research and pharmaceutical industry. His doctor of science degree will be awarded at 2:30 p.m. May 10.

- Thomas J. Sheehan, Kokomo, Ind., whose career has included more than 40 years with General Motors in a variety of leadership positions, including president of Delco Electronics/Asia Pacific in Singapore and senior vice president and chief operating officer of Delco in Kokomo. His doctor of technology degree will be awarded at 9:30 a.m. May 11.

The 2008 honorary degree recipients at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne are:

- Ruth Rhinehart, Fort Wayne, Ind., who has spent her life as dedicated teacher and supporter of music in Fort Wayne, including stints as a music teacher in the Fort Wayne Community School Corp., accompanist for the Canterbury School's Children's Choir and a long history of support of IPFW. Her doctor of humane letters degree will be awarded at 7 p.m. May 14 at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

- Alfred Stovall, Fort Wayne, Ind., who has spent his professional career as a physician meeting the needs of the underserved in the south side neighborhoods of Fort Wayne and has helped bring additional medical centers and services to people in the area in need. His doctor of science degree will be awarded at 7 p.m. May 14 at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.

Writer: Christy Jones, (765) 494-1089, christyjones@purdue.edu

Source: Jim Vruggink, director of special projects, (765) 494-2086, jvruggink@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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