October 20, 2009

Mortar Board to unveil portraits of 3 deans

The portraits - of Beverley Stone, Barbara Cook and Betty Nelson - were commissioned by Mortar Board, a senior honor society, to commemorate the deans' achievements and their 50 years working with the chapter.

Beverley Stone
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Stone began her career at Purdue in 1956 in the dean of women's office and became dean of women in 1968. During a turbulent time on campus, she ensured that students' voices were heard, requiring that they be appointed to faculty committees and be given "speaking seats" at board of trustees meetings. When the dean of women's and dean of men's offices were combined in 1974, Stone was named Purdue's first dean of students, the first woman to hold such a position at a Big Ten university. She retired in 1980 and died in 2003.

Barbara Cook
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Cook succeeded Stone and was dean of students from 1980-1987. She also was adviser to Mortar Board for nearly 30 years, and the chapter is named for her. She was a professor of education from 1987 until her retirement in 1989 and has been nationally recognized for her efforts to promote career opportunities for women. Since her retirement, she has been involved in local organizations, including Salvation Army, Greater Lafayette YWCA, West Lafayette Redevelopment Commission, and the Indiana Governor's Commission for Women.

Betty Nelson
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Nelson succeeded Cook as dean in 1987, serving until 1996. She is now dean of students emerita. Nelson is an active member of many Greater Lafayette community organizations. She established the Dean Betty Nelson Service Award to honor Purdue students who have made remarkable contributions in community service but whose achievements often go unnoticed because of the humble nature of their work.

Mortar Board, whose members are chosen for leadership, scholarship and service, has been working on the portraits for almost four years with Indianapolis-based artist Mark Dillman. Mortar Board calendar sales and sponsorships by the Reamer Club, Purdue Student Government and Purdue Engineering Student Council helped fund the nearly $28,000 project.

Writer: Judith Barra Austin, 765-494-2432, jbaustin@purdue.edu  

Source: Lindsay Van Houten, Mortar Board, lvanhout@purdue.edu  

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

Note to Journalists: The unveiling will be at 9 a.m. Saturday (Oct. 24) in the Purdue Memorial Union North Ballroom.

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