Nov. 10, 2026 
11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. 
Beck Agricultural Center, 4550 U.S. 52, West Lafayette, IN 47906

Schedule

11:30 a.m. — Catered lunch 
Participants are invited to visit with colleagues and enjoy a banquet-style lunch.  

12 p.m. — Opening session 
Cathy Wright-Eger, head swim coach at Purdue from 1987-2008, will deliver a keynote address: 

'Purdue Leadership: A Holistic Way To Keep Soft Skills Alive'

The more technology evolves, the less humans seem to use soft skills. And that doesn’t bode well for our younger generations. I am a firm believer that we need to have a growth mindset, understand change management and reintroduce soft skills into everyday life at Purdue. "Why is that my job?" you may ask. My reply is, "How isn’t it your job?" We are at Purdue to teach and prepare the students for the real world. The real world requires soft skills, soft skills build leaders and leaders change the world.

Wright-Eger received numerous awards over the course of her coaching career, including Big Ten Coach of the Year honors in 1990. In 2008, she founded the John. R. Wooden Leadership Institute.  

The opening session will also include welcoming remarks, a student panel and the recognition of award winners.  

1-1:45 p.m. — Breakout Session Block #1 
Information coming soon.

2-2:45 p.m. — Breakout Session Block #2 
Information coming soon. 

3 p.m. — Dessert break 

3:15-4 p.m. — Breakout Session Block #3 
Information coming soon.