This Is Purdue

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Jennifer Pyrz, president and CEO of IndyGo.  A Purdue engineering alumna, Jennifer (BS civil engineering ’95, MS civil engineering ’97) was appointed president and CEO of Indiana’s largest public transit agency in May 2024.  In this episode you will:  Discover the advantages Purdue students in Indianapolis can gain from IndyGo buses and transit lines.   Learn more about Jennifer’s vision for the future of public transportation in Indianapolis, including the recent opening of IndyGo’s Purple Line and upcoming opening of the Blue Line.   Get to know the numerous ways the entire community of Indianapolis benefits from using IndyGo and the importance of having accessible and well-funded transportation in large cities.  Find out how Jennifer’s civil engineering degrees from Purdue prepared her to lead IndyGo.   Don’t miss this episode with a Boilermaker who is using her innovative spirit to advance public transit in a city that hundreds of thousands of people call home.   

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to former NASA astronaut and Purdue University Presidential Ambassador Drew Feustel (BS solid earth sciences ’89, MS geophysics ’91), Purdue professors and NASA contributors Briony Horgan and Marshall Porterfield, and SpaceKids Global founders Marc (BS electrical engineering ’71, MS business and industrial administration ’72) and Sharon Hagle.  These five Purdue space experts came together for a live panel after Purdue premiered a first-of-its-kind short film — “Boilers to Mars” — in front of a sold-out crowd in Fowler Hall.   “Boilers to Mars” is a 10-minute film designed to explore what it will take to go first — to take the small steps that lead to the next giant leap. Each character’s persistence in this short film was inspired by our very own Boilermaker students, faculty and alumni.  In this episode you will:  Discover the panelists’ emotional reactions to “Boilers to Mars” and how they saw their own unique experiences in space reflected in the short film.  Get to know their experiences traveling to, working in and researching space.  Get closer to answering the question “What will it take to go first?” as these panelists share how Boilermakers eventually could lead the way to humankind traveling to Mars.   Hear their advice for the next generation of Boilermakers who hope to travel to or work in space one day.  Learn more about the mission of “Boilers to Mars” supporting partner SpaceKids Global, which inspires and empowers young people by introducing them to the wide range of careers available in space exploration and technology.   You don’t want to miss this special live recording celebrating Purdue Brand Studio’s short film “Boilers to Mars” with insights from these Purdue space experts and leaders. 

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to George Karlaftis (BS selling and sales management ’21), Purdue football alum, current defensive end for the Kansas City Chiefs and two-time Super Bowl champion.  In this episode you will:  Follow George’s journey from playing water polo in Athens, Greece, to football at West Lafayette High School in Indiana.  Learn what drew George to Purdue football and how he balanced being an All-Big Ten first team athlete with earning a degree in selling and sales management.  Discover George’s favorite Purdue moments, including staying close to family and the memorable upset against Michigan State in 2021.   Hear about George’s rapid NFL success — from being drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs to winning two Super Bowls in his first two seasons.   Get behind-the-scenes insights into his NFL career, including his biggest mentors on the Chiefs and the toughest quarterback he’s faced.   Whether you’re a Purdue or NFL fan, you don’t want to miss this incredible episode with an alum whose Boilermaker persistence has helped shape him into the two-time Super Bowl champ he is today.  

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Jay Gephart, the Al G. Wright Chair of Purdue Bands & Orchestras, conductor of Purdue Wind Ensemble and director of the “All-American” Marching Band.  The prestigious marching band is known as the heartbeat of the university, with Jay serving as its fifth director. In this episode you will:  Hear about the legacy Jay hopes to leave as he steps down at the end of the 2024 season.  Journey around the world celebrating the incredible events where the “All-American” Marching Band has performed, such as the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics; the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Dublin; the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City; and the Indianapolis 500.  Discover some of Jay’s favorite band traditions — including the storied “Block P” formation, which has been used since 1907 when the band broke with the tradition of marching exclusively in military formations.  Look back on the marching band’s greatest performances from over the years, like the beloved halftime shows, one of which even included an homage to an iconic movie franchise. Hint: Stormtroopers took charge of the World’s Largest Drum, and Purdue Pete Skywalker had to battle Darth Hoosier.  Learn who makes the incredible alumni base of the marching band unique — from Neil Armstrong to Orville Redenbacher to the dedicated members who give back again and again and again.  Don’t miss this episode celebrating Jay Gephart’s leadership and impact on Purdue Bands & Orchestras. 

In this episode of “This Is Purdue,” we’re talking to Bob Mindrum, former director of the Purdue Memorial Union and author of “Purdue Memorial Union, The First 100 Years, 1924 to 2024.”  The Purdue Memorial Union — a longtime centerpiece of Purdue’s campus — is celebrating its 100th anniversary on Sept. 9, 2024.   In this episode you will:  Learn about the history of the iconic Purdue Memorial Union from its fundraising efforts in the early 1900s to the newest renovations, like the Purdue Union Club Hotel.  Explore the symbolic architecture by Pond & Pond architects, who also designed the unions at the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and the University of Kansas.  Discover why PMU became a memorial for the Boilermaker military community and the ways this military significance is represented throughout the Union.   Get to know how the Union has served students over the decades from socializing at events like Singleton Shuffles and junior proms to gathering for concerts by popular musicians like Frank Sinatra and Sonny & Cher to studying in the East and West Main lounges.  Find out how the PMU will continue to serve future generations of Boilermakers.  If you’re interested in history, you’re in for a treat with this episode, Boilermakers! Join us in celebrating 100 years of this beloved campus icon.