June 16, 2008
Lechtenberg named Purdue's interim VP for government relations
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - |
Lechtenberg will serve while the university conducts a national search for a successor to Terry D. Strueh, who has retired. Strueh had led Purdue's governmental initiatives for nine years. Rabindra N. Mukerjea, director of strategic planning and assessment, is chairing the university's search committee.
As interim vice president for government relations, Lechtenberg will coordinate relationships and communication with the Indiana congressional delegation and the legislative and executive branches of Indiana state government. He also will be the university's chief liaison with state and federal officials.
Named vice provost for engagement in 2004, Lechtenberg has led Purdue's effort to use university resources to address economic development and other issues affecting the state's prosperity and quality of life. He worked directly with Indiana's leaders, the business community and citizens to find ways for Purdue to advance that mission.
Lechtenberg helped communities around the state develop technology parks and promote the growth of high-paying jobs. He also advanced initiatives such as the Technical Assistance Program.
Other programs under Lechtenberg's supervision include the Office for Continuing Education and Conferences; Opportunity for Indiana, a statewide initiative to fight brain drain; and Science Bound, which assists Indianapolis Public Schools students in preparing for a science-related degree at Purdue.
Lechtenberg, who most recently also served as the university's interim provost, served as Dean of Purdue Agriculture from 1994 until 2004. The dean of agriculture administers the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service and the Office of Academic Programs, Office of Agricultural Research Programs and International Programs in Agriculture.
Lechtenberg joined the Purdue faculty in 1971 and became a professor of agronomy in 1979. He then served as associate director of the Indiana Agriculture Experiment Station (now the Office of Agricultural Research Programs) from 1982-89.
He was named executive associate dean of agriculture in 1989. In that position, he made recommendations to the dean about research, teaching and Cooperative Extension Service programs, and he assisted in facilities planning as well as budget and personnel decisions.
Lechtenberg is a member of several academic, professional and scholarly societies. He served as chair of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's national Agricultural Research, Extension, Education and Economics Advisory Board from 1996 through 2002.
A native of Butte, Neb., Lechtenberg grew up on a general livestock farm. He received his bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska in 1967 and earned a doctorate in agronomy from Purdue in 1971.
Writer: Greg McClure, (765) 494-9394, gmcclure@purdue.edu
Sources: Joseph L. Bennett, (765) 494-2082, jlbennett@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
Note to Journalists: Terry Strueh's name is pronounced STREE.
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