Executives visit with students during Coffee and Consulting sessions.

University Residences recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of its unique Executive in Residence (EiR) program, with more than 20 executives visiting campus for four days to connect with students, faculty and staff. 

EiR was born out of the idea to connect alumni and students in University Residences in a new way. The program brings successful alumni back to campus where they live among students for one week. Each executive’s visit provides students with opportunities to interact with executives around their areas of expertise and interests in formal and informal settings – from lecture halls to residence halls and dining courts to basketball courts. The hallmarks of the program are small group and one-on-one interactions.  

From its first participating executive, Rusty Rueff, in the fall of 2014, EiR has grown tremendously. The program hosted 15 executives during the 2023-24 school year in addition to those returning to celebrate its first decade of impact. EiR also now includes a learning community, student ambassador program, live-in Executive in Residence and spring break trip, where students travel to visit executives in their homes and workplaces.  

During the anniversary celebration, Beth McCuskey, vice provost for Student Life, announced the creation of a newly named endowment for EiR that ensures a strong future for the program and honors the work of Barb Frazee, assistant vice provost for Student Life, who spearheaded the founding of EiR. The Barbara Jean Frazee Endowment for Executive in Residence was made possible through the generous contributions of David and Joan Clifton, and Emily and David Liggett. The funds contributed to the endowment will support all aspects of the program including the learning community, annual spring break trip and other EiR events and progams. 

Bayeté Ross Smith delivers keynote address.

The celebration of EiR’s 10th anniversary kicked off with a Diversity Summit. Candice Nash, a 2023 participant in Executive in Residence, was joined by Bayeté Ross Smith, an African American multimedia artist, filmmaker and educator, for an impactful presentation. The summit also included breakout sessions on topics such as pathfinding, gender dynamics, inclusive leadership styles and more, as well as networking with executives and a fireside chat on the state of diversity, inclusion and belonging.  

Like individual EiR visits, executives also connected with groups of students around their interests and areas of expertise. Groups included Women in Engineering, the Black Cultural Center, first-generation students, student employees, the Latino Cultural Center, University Residences Multicultural Connections and UR Global, LGBTQ+ students and more. EiRs also shared Executive Epochs, small-group settings where they shared stories such as “Discovering Superpowers in College,” “My Life as a Dangerous Woman,” “Learning to Succeed after Failing,” and “Coram Deo Leadership.”

Another key aspect of the program is Coffee and Consulting, where students meet one-on-one with executives. Students often use this time to discuss their career paths and learn about executives’ Purdue experiences and career journeys. Executives hosted approximately 65 Coffee and Consulting appointments during the anniversary celebration.  

Students converse with executive during speed networking event.

Executives also had the opportunity to learn from students who participated in the 2024 EiR spring break trip to San Francisco. Students shared a video they produced on the trip, their ideas on ways to grow the program and further connect with current students, and ways the trip has impacted their time at Purdue. A common theme reflected in students’ answers was the value of connection among peers and in their interactions with executives.  

Anthony Petrescu, a first-year student studying finance and computer science on a pre-law track, also shared that meeting executives has helped open his eyes to the multitude of paths he can take to reach his goals.   

“It makes me question so many things I never thought I would question,” Petrescu said. “For the longest time, I thought I was going into law and there was nothing to ask about it – but the more I explore different things Purdue has to offer and the more I talk with and learn about incredible opportunities inside and outside of Purdue while talking with executives, I’ve realized my life doesn’t have to be so one-dimensional and focused on this. I can continue to ask myself what I want to do and where I see myself in 10 years. I think exploring the story I want to create with executives and learning how they were able to find their own story or, to borrow Rusty’s [Rueff] analogy of finding their lighthouse, has been really impactful for me.”  

The 10th-anniversary celebration was held concurrently with several significant campus events, including the inaugural Spring Family Weekend. Several executives attended events hosted by Purdue Parent & Family Connections to share information about the program.  

University Residences would like to thank the following executives for sharing their time and talents during the 10th-anniversary celebration:  

• Marcy Alstott, managing director, On Tap Consulting 
• Beth Bostwick, founding member of the International Council of Purdue Women 
• Peter Bostwick, director of Alpha Net 
• Darlene Brajer, former assistant director of analyst recruiting, Merrill Lynch 
• Rick Brajer, healthcare CEO and former secretary of Health and Human Services (NC) 
• Mark Ferrara, executive coaching practice leader, The Walt Disney Company 
• Gary Hobbs, president and CEO of BWI Real Estate 
• Krystie Jezierski, senior human resources consulting program manager, Microsoft 
• Chris Jones, director of robotic tools, Stryker 
• David Liggett, retired veterinarian and STEM educator 
• Drew Mattison, chief digital advisor at Worldwide Technology 
• Patrick Mosher, executive coach and business advisor 
• Candice Nash, diversity and inclusion manager, Toyota Motor North America 
• David Omholt, franchise consultant and investor 
• Joseph Pabst, vice president US commercial charge risk strategy, American Express 
• Kim Riddle, retired global vice president of supply chain innovation engineering, Procter & Gamble
• Teresa Roche, chief human resources officer, City of Fort Collins 
• Bruce Schechter, advisor, consultant and investor 
• Hemmie Schechter, pharmacist 
• Roger C. Stewart, retired vice president of global treasury, Procter & Gamble, and executive director, Krannert Graduate and Undergraduate Center 
• Danny Varghese, president, Formitize