Walk the Talk Award

The Office of the Vice President for Ethics and Compliance seeks to recognize Purdue faculty, staff, and students who “walk the talk” in their dedication to Purdue’s Statement of Integrity and Code of Conduct. Nominees for the Purdue University Walk the Talk Award should exemplify strong ethical character in their dealings with others, champion ethical practices or programs, or apply personal values in a way that demonstrates integrity and high standards of excellence. If you know a colleague or student who exemplifies these qualities, please nominate them using the form below. 

Please take a moment to review Purdue’s Statement of Integrity and Code of Conduct before completing the form. Eligible recipients must be an employee or student of Purdue University (which includes Fort Wayne, Northwest, West Lafayette, Extension, Polytechnic Statewide, and Indianapolis) in good standing.

These awards were started in 2014 and recipients are comprised of faculty, staff and student representatives. A description of the past Walk the Talk Award recipients and their accomplishments can be found below.

2025 Award Recipients

Voichita M. Dadarlat, Ph.D., Assistant Vice President for Research, Regulatory Affairs, Office of Research, Purdue University West Lafayette (2025).

Christina Egbert, Senior Business Manager, Financial and Administrative Affairs, Purdue Fort Wayne (2025).

Katharine May, Community Outreach and Engagement Lead, Department of Public Health, College of Health and Human Sciences, Purdue University West Lafayette (2025).

Jacob Pranger, Senior in History Honors and Political Science, Purdue University West Lafayette (2025).

Isaiah Robinson, Junior in Biomedical Health Sciences, Purdue University West Lafayette (2025).

Recipients of the Walk the Talk Award from 2025 (from left): Christina Egbert, Katherine May, Dr. Voichita Dadarlat, Jacob Pranger, Isaiah Robinson.

2024 Award Recipients

Kendra Coons-Oborne, Program Coordinator, College of Health & Human Sciences, Purdue University West Lafayette (2024).

Amanda Kratovil, Ph.D., RN, Assistant Professor, College of Nursing, Purdue University Northwestern (2024).

Laura Murray-Kolb, Ph.D., Professor and Department Head, College of Health & Human Sciences, Purdue University West Lafayette (2024).

Recipients of the Walk the Talk Award from 2024 (from left): Dr. Laura Murray-Kolb, Kendra Coons-Oborne (Not pictured: Dr. Amanda Kratovil)

2023 Award Recipients

Benjamin Mann, Student, College of Engineering, Purdue University West Lafayette (2023).

Ken Sandel, Senior Director, Sponsored Program Services, Purdue University West Lafayette (2023).

Stephanie Willis, Director, Sponsored Program Services, Purdue University West Lafayette (2023).

2022 Award Recipient

Dr. Chris Agnew, Professor, Psychological Sciences, Purdue University West Lafayette (2022).

2021 Award Recipients

Dr. Patricia Hart, Retired Professor, School of Languages and Cultures, Purdue University West Lafayette (2021).

Dr. Jessica Huber, Professor and Associate Dean of Research, College of Health and Human Services, Purdue University West Lafayette (2021).

Recipients of the Walk the Talk Award from 2021, 2022, & 2023 (from left): Benjamin Mann, Dr. Chris Agnew, Stephanie Willis, Dr. Patricia Hart, Ken Sandel. (Not pictured: Dr. Jessica Huber)
Recipients of the Walk the Talk Award from 2021, 2022, & 2023 (from left): Benjamin Mann, Dr. Chris Agnew, Stephanie Willis, Dr. Patricia Hart, Ken Sandel. (Not pictured: Dr. Jessica Huber)

2019 Award Recipients

Ianthe “Cookie” Bryant-Gawthrop, Director, Research Regulatory Affairs and Human Research Protection Program, Purdue University West Lafayette (2019).

Marsha Gordon, Director, Office of Immigration Services for International Students and Scholars, Purdue University Northwest (2019).

Dr. Megan Murphy, Associate Professor and Director, Marriage and Family Therapy Program, Purdue University Northwest (2019).

Stephen Schwartz, Agronomy and Agricultural Economics, Class of 2020, Purdue University West Lafayette (2019).

Dr. Cynthia Stauffacher, Professor and Associate Head, Biology Department, Purdue University West Lafayette (2019).

Walk the Talk, annual award from the Office of Ethics and Compliance. (PurdueUniversity/ Mark Simons)
Walk the Talk, annual award from the Office of Ethics and Compliance. (PurdueUniversity/ Mark Simons)

2018 Award Recipients

Richard J. Aleong, 3rd year PhD student in the School of Engineering Education, on the West Lafayette campus.

Stephen J. Elliott, Associate Professor of Computer and Information Technology, on the West Lafayette campus.

Seema Mattoo, Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences, on the West Lafayette campus.

Recipients of the 2018 Walk the Talk award: (from left) Stephen J. Elliott, Seema Mattoo, and Richard J. Aleong.
Recipients of the 2018 Walk the Talk award: (from left) Stephen J. Elliott, Seema Mattoo, and Richard J. Aleong.

2016 Award Recipients

William N. Crum, Continuing Lecturer, Department of Computer Science; IMPACT (Instruction Matters: Purdue Academic Course Transformation) Faculty Fellow, Purdue University West Lafayette campus (2016).

Omar Diaz, 21st Century Scholar Coordinator in the McNair Achievement Program at Purdue University Northwest-Calumet (2016).

Michael L. Mick, Associate Professor, Computer Information Systems, Purdue University Northwest-Calumet (2016).

Rachel L. Rayburn, Assistant Professor, Department of Public Policy, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (2016).

Barbara K. Romines, Business Manager, College of Visual and Performing Arts, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (2016).

Kailey G. Wieringa, Student, in visual and performing arts at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (2016).

Recipients of the 2016 Walk the Talk award: (from left) Barbara Romines, William Crum, Omar Diaz, Michael Mick and Rachel Rayburn. Not pictured: Kaliey Wieringa.
Recipients of the 2016 Walk the Talk award: (from left) Barbara Romines, William Crum, Omar Diaz, Michael Mick and Rachel Rayburn. Not pictured: Kaliey Wieringa.

2014 Award Recipients 

Christine Collins, Associate Director, Office of International Students and Scholars, Purdue University West Lafayette (2014).

Lorna L. Hecker,Professor and Director, Marriage and Family Therapy Center, Purdue University Calumet (2014).

Matthew Meier, Student, Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University Calumet (2014).

Jane E. Rose,Associate Professor, English,  Purdue North Central (2014).

Dimples Smith, Training and Employee Relations Administrator, Human Resources, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (2014).

Elizabeth Tobin, Student,Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (2014).

Pictured from left to right: Matthew Meier, Mechanical Engineering Major, Purdue University Calumet; Elizabeth Tobin, Psychology Major, Class of 2014, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne; Jane E. Rose, Associate Professor of English, Purdue North Central; Lorna L. Hecker, Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy and Director of the Marriage & Family Therapy Center, Purdue University Calumet; Christine K. Collins, Associate Director, Office of International Students and Scholars, Purdue University West Lafayette. Not pictured: Dimples Smith, Training and Employee Relations Administrator in Human Resources, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.
Pictured from left to right: Matthew Meier, Mechanical Engineering Major, Purdue University Calumet; Elizabeth Tobin, Psychology Major, Class of 2014, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne; Jane E. Rose, Associate Professor of English, Purdue North Central; Lorna L. Hecker, Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy and Director of the Marriage & Family Therapy Center, Purdue University Calumet; Christine K. Collins, Associate Director, Office of International Students and Scholars, Purdue University West Lafayette. Not pictured: Dimples Smith, Training and Employee Relations Administrator in Human Resources, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.
Pictured from left to right: Lorna L. Hecker, Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy and Director of the Marriage & Family Therapy Center, Purdue University Calumet; Peggy S. Gerard, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost, Purdue University Calumet
Pictured from left to right: Lorna L. Hecker, Professor of Marriage and Family Therapy and Director of the Marriage & Family Therapy Center, Purdue University Calumet; Peggy S. Gerard, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost, Purdue University Calumet

Pictured from left to right: Peggy S. Gerard, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost, Purdue University Calumet; Matthew Meier, Mechanical Engineering Major, Purdue University Calumet.

Pictured from left to right: James B. Dworkin, Chancellor, Purdue North Central; Jane E. Rose, Associate Professor of English, Purdue North Central

Pictured from left to right: Vicky L. Carwein, Chancellor, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne; Dimples Smith, Training and Employee Relations Administrator in Human Resources, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne