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January 27th, 2025
In honor of Black History Month, Purdue Libraries and the Black Cultural Center invites you to attend a lecture by Sheryll Cashin titled, “Residential caste: How West Lafayette can transcend segregation and opportunity hoarding” on Wednesday, February 19, 10:30–11:30 AM in STEW 202.
About the lecture
How does a community with a history of segregation and disenfranchisement move forward to heal, repair, and transform?
West Lafayette is not different from other cities where Black migrants landed. As a professor of law at Georgetown University, Cashin has experience applying her theories to the particulars of multiple communities, with examples of hope, transformation, and repair from other cities. Repair requires building a multiracial coalition that supports policies that include and lift up vulnerable people. Dismantling and repairing residential caste requires perfecting local mulitracial democracy, or what W. E. B. DuBois called abolition democracy.
About Sheryll Cashin
Author of works centered around race relations and inequality in America, Sheryll Cashin is a professor of law at Georgetown University. Her latest book “White Space, Black Hood: Opportunity Hoarding and Segregation in the Age of Inequality” published in September 2021 shows how the government created “ghettos” and affluent white space and entrenched a system of American residential caste that is the linchpin of U.S. inequality, while issuing a call for abolition.
Cashin is an active member of the Poverty and Race Research Action Council; worked in the Clinton White House as an advisor on urban and economic policy, particularly concerning community development in inner-city neighborhoods; and served as a law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. She was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama, where her parents were political activists, and currently resides in Washington, D.C., with her husband and two sons.
View her website to learn more about Cashin and her work.
Filed under: general, News and AnnouncementsSeptember 27th, 2024
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.—Purdue University Archives and Special Collections (ASC) is pleased to announce the digitization of paper transcripts used by Neil Armstrong for his public addresses and select speeches. The nearly 500 transcripts—totaling 7,700 pages—were generously donated by his wife, Carol Armstrong, in 2011. The speeches are available for public viewing, text-searchable, and accessible on Purdue’s online archives platform, e-Archives.
The speeches are annotated by Armstrong with comments, quips, and jokes, or with arrows in the margins suggesting changes to word or phrase order. Jo Otremba, Barron Hilton Archivist for Flight and Space Exploration and clinical assistant professor at Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies, said Armstrong frequently added information that provides readers with additional context of the speech.
“He often added notes on the speeches sharing the date and location the speech was given, which is an interesting feature for the readers to consider,” Otremba said.
Some of the most notable speeches were given at Purdue University events such as the dedication of Grissom and Chaffee Halls and Armstrong’s acceptance of an honorary doctorate degree in 1970. The halls are named after two Purdue astronauts who both lost their lives in a NASA pre-launch fire at Cape Kennedy in 1967—the late Virgil I. “Gus” Grissom, one of the original NASA Project Mercury astronauts and the second American to fly in space, and Roger B. Chaffee, a Navy pilot and NASA astronaut.
The Neil Armstrong papers continue to be one of the most accessed collections for research requests and instructional usage through ASC. Increasing ease of access to the archival collection through digitization has been a goal since the acquisition of the speeches in 2011. Work to digitize the speeches, funded by the Purdue Research Foundation and Carol Armstrong, began in 2022. The digitization process itself is lengthy and requires that each speech be described, vetted for third-party copyright, and uploaded to e-Archives.
“This project highlights the continuous effort required to make these resources accessible, and it’s wonderful to celebrate the speeches’ public availability through our e-Archives,” said Otremba.
Building this digital collection would not have been achieved without the detailed and steady collaboration between ASC’s Otremba; graduate assistant Camryn Beeman; Neal Harmeyer, Archivist for Digital Collections and Initiatives, Interim Head of Archives and Special Collections, and clinical associate professor; Sammie Morris, former Head of Archives and Special Collections and former director of the Virginia Kelly Karnes Archives and Special Collections Research Center; and members of Purdue Libraries’ Digital Programs team—Cliff Harrison, operations manager; M Lewis, digital collections photography assistant; and Samuel Wilson, digitization project assistant.
Purdue University Archives and Special Collections
Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, housed within Purdue University Libraries and School of Information Studies, aims to support the discovery, learning, and engagement goals of Purdue University by identifying, collecting, preserving, and making available research records and papers of enduring value created or received by the university and its employees.
To learn more, visit lib.purdue.edu/spcol.
Filed under: Archives and Special Collections, general, News and AnnouncementsNovember 6th, 2026
Railway enthusiasts, photography lovers, and history buffs can explore the rich history of steam locomotives through an upcoming exhibition at Purdue University Archives and Special Collections. This spring, “Steam, Steel, and Snapshots: The William A. Swartz Collection of Locomotive Photographs, Publications and Records,” will be on display from January 19 to May 27, 2027, in Archives and Special Collections on the fourth floor of the Humanities, Social Sciences and Education (HSSE) Library in Stewart Center.
Curated by Richard Bernier, processing and public services archivist, and Elijah Patton, student assistant, the exhibition will highlight the extensive collection of William A. Swartz, a former Purdue student and lifelong photographer and collector of steam locomotive images from around the world. Dedicated to documenting railway history, Swartz assembled an extraordinary collection of more than 40,000 photographs representing 2,642 railway companies across 69 countries.
Beyond photographs, the collection includes locomotive construction records, rosters, publications, newsletters, correspondence, and other materials that provide insight into the history of railways and the people who documented them. Together, these resources offer a comprehensive look at steam locomotives and their role in transportation history.
The exhibition will also highlight Purdue’s connection to locomotive history, with a dedicated section that will explore the university’s history of locomotive testing and boiler research, connecting Swartz’s collection to Purdue’s engineering legacy and Boilermaker identity. Visitors will explore the collection’s breadth, including photographs of railways in Indiana and the surrounding region, images from countries around the world, and materials illustrating Swartz’s network of collaborators. A reception celebrating the exhibition is planned for February 18, 2027.
Learn more about the William A. Swartz collection in the collections resource record, or explore the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections website for more information.
Filed under: Archives and Special Collections, general, News and AnnouncementsOctober 28th, 2026
The Open Journal Finder, a new tool from Purdue Libraries, simplifies the search for library-supported open access publishing opportunities. It allows Purdue researchers to easily identify journals with waived or reduced article processing charges (APCs) through a single search. Researchers can explore open access publishing options, including article processing charges, library-supported discounts and agreements, and journal metrics and rankings.
Purdue Libraries is committed to creating more accessible and sustainable publishing options for Purdue authors and, in turn, expanding access to their research. Open access publishing supports faster scientific discovery, encourages greater public engagement, increases usage and citations, and helps fulfill funder public access mandates. While the benefits of open access are significant, the costs of open access article processing charges (APCs) can be prohibitive for authors. Through a variety of Open Access publishing agreements, Purdue Libraries helps authors publish open access at no cost.
Questions can be directed to Nina Collins, scholarly publishing librarian, or openaccess@purdue.edu.
Filed under: general, News and AnnouncementsOctober 27th, 2026
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.—Purdue University Libraries and School of Information Studies is pleased to recognize Dr. Nicole Olynk Widmar as the 2026 Leadership in Open Access Award recipient. Presented annually, the award recognizes members of the Purdue community who demonstrate leadership in advancing open access and expanding the reach of scholarly research.
Widmar was nominated for her efforts to encourage faculty in Purdue’s Department of Agricultural Economics to make their research more widely accessible through green open access, which allows researchers to share approved versions of their published work freely through online repositories such as Purdue e-Pubs, Purdue University’s institutional repository. Purdue Libraries supports this practice by helping researchers navigate publishers’ sharing policies and depositing eligible works on their behalf. Through Widmar’s leadership, 17 faculty members connected with Purdue Libraries to use repository services, increasing the department’s collection in Purdue e-Pubs from seven publications to 126. Downloads of the department’s publications increased from 1,407 to 5,609, demonstrating the growing reach of its scholarship and illustrating how making research freely available can connect it with a wider audience.
By encouraging faculty to share their work openly, Widmar has helped advance Purdue Libraries’ mission to broaden access to research and increase the visibility and impact of Purdue scholarship.
Open Access Week
October 19–25, 2026, was International Open Access Week. This year’s theme, The Cost of Knowledge, examined the financial, human, and environmental costs of creating, sharing, and sustaining knowledge. It also challenged communities to consider how increasing commercial control over knowledge affects access and how these systems can be reclaimed to better serve the public interest.
Open Access publishing provides free, immediate access to scholarly literature, removing paywalls and reuse restrictions. For more than 20 years, Open Access has advanced transparency in scientific research and helped pave the way for broader open scholarship initiatives, including open data, open peer review, and open science.
Purdue Libraries and Open Access
Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies advocates for Open Access publishing in support of the university’s land-grant mission of learning, discovery, and engagement. Purdue’s commitment began with Open Access Day in 2008, followed by participation in International Open Access Week since 2009. In 2020, an endowment established with support from the Dean’s Advisory Council and generous donors strengthened Libraries’ efforts to advance sustainable, transparent scholarly publishing.
Purdue Libraries negotiates publishing agreements that allow Purdue authors to publish Open Access at no cost through participating journals. Authors can also share their scholarship through Purdue e-Pubs, the university’s institutional repository, making their work freely available to a global audience.
Libraries also offers a free curriculum vitae (CV) review service to help authors identify publications that can be shared openly. Authors can submit a publication list or ORCID iD for staff to review publisher sharing policies and identify opportunities to make their work available at no cost.
For more information, contact openaccess@purdue.edu or explore Open Access Publishing Partnerships.
About Purdue University Libraries and School of Information Studies
Purdue University Libraries and School of Information Studies, a unit of Purdue University, aims to create and provide equitable access to diverse resources, outstanding services, and innovative spaces by pioneering new methods in information science and advancing knowledge to meet the evolving information needs of the future. To learn more, visit the Libraries website.
Filed under: general, News and AnnouncementsOctober 27th, 2026
Purdue Libraries welcomed a strong turnout of students to the Student Center Library Open House on October 15, introducing attendees to the resources, services and spaces available to support their academic success.
Held at the Student Center Library in Indianapolis, the event offered a relaxed, engaging atmosphere for students to explore the library. Attendees enjoyed handcrafted coffee from the Bedrock Coffee cart, received Purdue Libraries T-shirts, participated in games and activities, and had opportunities to win Amazon gift cards. The open house highlighted the many ways Purdue Libraries supports students through research resources, library services, and welcoming spaces for learning and study. It also gave students an opportunity to connect with Libraries staff and learn more about what Libraries has to offer.
Ann O’Donnell, assistant operations manager of Purdue Libraries in Indianapolis, said, “We were pleased to see such a great turnout at the open house. It is always wonderful to see members of the Purdue in Indianapolis community and to share Purdue Libraries resources with them.”
The strong turnout and enthusiastic participation made the open house a success, helping introduce students to Purdue Libraries and encouraging them to make the Student Center Library part of their campus experience.
Filed under: general, News and AnnouncementsOctober 22nd, 2026
Choosing to publish research openly can lead to higher research impact. Studies have found that open access articles tend to receive more citations than articles available only through subscriptions. Open access research can attract citations from researchers across a broader range of institutions, countries, and disciplines. By removing barriers to access, open access publishing creates more opportunities for Purdue research to be discovered, cited, and used not only by scholars worldwide, but also by industry professionals, policymakers, educators and more.
Purdue Libraries has long supported open access and helped Purdue researchers make their scholarship publicly available. Through publisher agreements and other open access initiatives, Purdue authors have opportunities to publish their work openly without always having to pay an article processing charge (APC) themselves.
Federal public access requirements
Following the 2022 Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) Nelson Memo, federal research agencies have implemented policies requiring federally-funded research publications to be made publicly accessible immediately, without an embargo. Depending on the funder and the specific award, researchers may need to ensure that an accepted manuscript or published article is deposited in an appropriate repository and made publicly accessible without an embargo.
At the same time, a May 2026 proposal from the Office of Management and Budget would change how publication costs can be charged to federal awards. The proposal is not final, but it highlights an important challenge for researchers: how authors can make their federally-funded research publicly available when they may not have grant funds available to pay APCs.
Options for making your research openly available
Purdue Libraries can help you identify an open access option that fits your publication, funder requirements, and available resources.
Fortunately, making an article publicly available does not always require paying an APC.
Libraries can help
You do not have to navigate these changes alone. Before you submit a manuscript, or when your manuscript is accepted, contact Purdue Libraries to explore your options for open access publishing, repository deposit, and author rights. The Open Publishing Toolkit is available here.
Seeking feedback
Researchers are encouraged to complete a brief survey to help Libraries better understand how publication costs and federal public access requirements are affecting their research and publishing decisions.
Please complete the survey below by Friday, December 4, 2026.
Filed under: general, News and AnnouncementsOctober 15th, 2026
Parrish Library’s Get Started series will give you a brief introduction to the basic features of one of Purdue Libraries’ subscription resources. In this edition, we’re featuring Checkpoint Edge.
Checkpoint Edge provides primary tax documents and secondary analysis for federal, state, and local taxation, estate planning, pensions and benefits, international taxation, and payroll taxation.
To access Checkpoint Edge, visit the Libraries’ A-Z List of Databases.
For a brief demo of this database, check out the Checkpoint Edge Get Started video.
If you have a specific database you would like to see promoted in an upcoming edition of Get Started, send an email to parrlib@purdue.edu.
Filed under: database, general, MGMTOctober 8th, 2026
Purdue Libraries provides The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) subscription access to students, faculty, and staff at Purdue University, Purdue University Fort Wayne, and Purdue University Northwest. Through your Purdue subscription, you can access WSJ’s award-winning journalism on WSJ.com and through the WSJ app, along with podcasts, newsletters, career resources, personal finance insights, and more.
How to Activate Your WSJ Subscription
Select your Purdue campus below to activate your subscription:
Once your account is activated, you can access WSJ from your computer or mobile device.
Already Have a WSJ Subscription?
If you currently pay for an individual WSJ subscription, you can switch to your Purdue-sponsored subscription. Call 1-800-JOURNAL and let WSJ know that you are switching to your school-sponsored access. Partial refunds may be available for your existing subscription.
Why Access WSJ?
Stay informed with trusted reporting and analysis on the issues shaping business, finance, politics, technology, and world news. WSJ also offers content focused on career development, personal finance, health, arts, and culture.
Whether you’re keeping up with current events, researching an industry, preparing for a career, or exploring topics beyond the classroom, WSJ provides insights and resources to help you stay informed and engaged.
About The Wall Street Journal
Published by Dow Jones, The Wall Street Journal is a global news organization providing news, information, commentary, and analysis across digital, mobile, print, social, and video platforms. WSJ is recognized for its award-winning journalism and has received numerous Pulitzer Prizes.
Filed under: general, News and AnnouncementsOctober 1st, 2026
What does it mean to build a meaningful career in a world of rapid technological change and uncertainty?
That question was at the center of a recent event featuring Arun Gupta, CEO of the NobleReach Foundation and co-author of “The Mission Generation: Reclaim Your Purpose, Rewrite Success, Rebuild Our Future.” Gupta joined Purdue students on September 24 for a reading, conversation, and book signing in the Humanities, Social Science and Education Library.
Gupta challenged students to rethink the traditional idea of a linear career. With artificial intelligence, longer working lives, and rapid changes across industries, he encouraged students to focus less on titles and institutions and more on the problems they care about solving.
“You can’t just wait for clarity and then go act on it. You’ve got to put yourself out there and be acting and getting feedback.”
His emphasis on experimentation, curiosity, and continuous learning has strong ties to the values of Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies. In a world where information and technology are changing rapidly, information literacy is not simply a skill students develop for a particular course or assignment. It is a foundation for lifelong learning—helping people ask meaningful questions, evaluate information, adapt to new circumstances, and make informed decisions throughout their careers.
As Gupta put it, “You’re learning for the rest of your life.”
From Purdue to public service
Purdue alumnus Tarun Prakash joined Gupta for the conversation and provided a firsthand example of these ideas in practice. After graduating from Purdue with a degree in mechanical engineering, Prakash became part of NobleReach’s inaugural cohort and spent a year working with the U.S. Space Force in El Segundo, CA.
He described the experience as a “force multiplier” for his career. Working in government gave him an understanding of public-sector priorities and relationships that later became valuable when he moved into the private sector.
Prakash’s experience illustrated Gupta’s argument that an unconventional career experience can become an important source of learning, relationships, and perspective rather than a detour from a traditional career path.
Connecting NobleReach and Purdue
Prakash’s experience also reflects the growing connections among NobleReach, Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies, and the Purdue University College of Engineering.
The College of Engineering’s Innovation for Public Service Certificate, developed in collaboration with NobleReach, gives students opportunities to explore how technology, innovation, and public service intersect. Libraries courses ILS 230, ILS 300, and ILS 301 are selective courses in the certificate program.
These connections reflect a shared interest in preparing students to navigate complex problems that cross disciplinary and institutional boundaries. For Libraries and School of Information Studies, that work includes helping students develop the information-literacy skills and habits of lifelong learning needed to remain adaptable in a rapidly changing world.
The Mission Generation ultimately asks students to think differently about both careers and learning. Rather than waiting for certainty, Gupta encourages people to experiment, learn from experience, build trusted relationships, and continually reassess where they can contribute.
That message aligns closely with the role of Purdue Libraries: supporting students not only in finding information today, but in developing the curiosity, critical thinking, and lifelong learning practices they will need for whatever comes next.
Filed under: general, News and AnnouncementsSeptember 30th, 2026
At Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies, with a joint appointment in the School of Applied and Creative Computing within the Purdue Polytechnic Institute, Dongfang Liu is helping build a new model for applied AI, bringing together advanced AI expertise, library and information science, research data, and disciplinary knowledge from across the university. Working with researchers, librarians, archivists, and information professionals across colleges and disciplines, he will explore how AI can support research, discovery, and learning while advancing responsible and effective uses of emerging technologies.
Dongfang joins Purdue sharing the vision for Libraries as a hub for AI learning, research, and innovation. His work will create new opportunities to connect Purdue Libraries’ strengths in information studies, research data management, archives and special collections, and research discovery with advances in artificial intelligence.
“AI is hungry for data, and libraries are where the knowledge of humanity lives,” Dongfang said. “For centuries, libraries have collected, curated, and safeguarded the record of what we know. Today, that record has become the most valuable resource of the AI era.”
Purdue Libraries has long played a central role in supporting research and scholarship through expertise in data stewardship, information discovery, archival collections, and knowledge organization. Dongfang’s work builds on these established strengths by exploring how artificial intelligence can enhance research data management, improve access to archival and cultural heritage materials, and support evidence synthesis and scholarly discovery. Through collaborations with faculty and staff across the Libraries and campus, he hopes to identify responsible and impactful applications of AI that advance research across disciplines.
Choosing Purdue
Dongfang’s interest in Purdue grew from the opportunity to work at the intersection of AI, information studies, research data, and interdisciplinary research at a major research university.
“I was fortunate to hold offers from several R1 universities across the United States and from globally ranked universities in Asia,” Dongfang said. “I chose Purdue because it offered what no one else could, the chance to lead an AI initiative from the very heart of a great university.”
At Purdue Libraries, Dongfang plans to work with the Purdue University Research Repository (PURR) team, a group of data management and data curation experts led by Dr. Reid Boehm who support researchers in sharing, publishing, and preserving research data. Dongfang will collaborate with the team to advance the management of research data and AI models while exploring new applications of AI with researchers across disciplines.
His research interests encompass three key areas where Purdue Libraries has established strengths and opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.
First, he sees opportunities to apply AI to research data management, helping researchers organize, curate, preserve, and responsibly use data throughout the research lifecycle.
Second, he is interested in exploring how AI can improve access to and engagement with archival and special collections materials, creating new ways to discover and analyze unique historical and cultural resources.
Third, he sees significant potential for AI to support evidence synthesis and research discovery, including systematic reviews and large-scale analyses of scholarly literature that help researchers navigate increasingly complex bodies of information.
The interdisciplinary nature of Purdue was a major attraction.
Purdue’s culture of collaboration and its breadth of disciplinary expertise create opportunities to explore how AI can be applied in different research contexts. Engineers, agricultural scientists, life scientists, humanists, and researchers in other disciplines generate unique data and confront different research challenges. Dongfang sees Purdue Libraries as a place where researchers can connect with the expertise, collections, data resources, and technological tools needed to explore new applications of AI.
From AI research to real-world problems
Dongfang’s approach is grounded in experience applying AI beyond the laboratory. His work with the Laboratory for Laser Energetics in Rochester, New York, a U.S. Department of Energy-supported national laser facility and major center for fusion energy research, has involved using AI to address challenges related to the development of clean energy.
“We apply AI to real challenges on the path toward clean and abundant energy, and the tools we built are in use there today,” Dongfang said.
Seeing research move into real-world applications changed how he thinks about impact.
“Watching research leave my lab and go to work on one of the hardest problems of our time changed how I measure success,” he said. “I no longer count only papers. I count problems solved.”
That perspective will inform his work at Purdue, where he hopes to help researchers in different disciplines move AI from an emerging technology into a practical research tool.
Shaping the future of AI learning and research
As AI becomes increasingly important to research and education, Dongfang sees Purdue Libraries playing a central role in helping the university prepare for what comes next.
“We will make Purdue’s data AI-ready, connect it with the models and the people who can learn from it, and let researchers in any field move faster and see further than they ever could alone,” he said.
For students, that vision creates opportunities to learn not only how to use AI, but how AI can be applied within their own disciplines. For researchers, it means making high-quality data more accessible and useful for new forms of analysis and collaboration. It also opens possibilities for new approaches to discovery within archival collections and for more efficient evidence synthesis across large bodies of scholarly literature.
By combining AI expertise with the Libraries’ established strengths in data stewardship, archives and special collections, and research support, Dongfang hopes to create new opportunities for collaboration across disciplines and advance Purdue’s leadership in both information science and artificial intelligence.
“When that happens, Purdue Libraries will stand as a national model for what a library can be in the age of AI,” Dongfang said.
Filed under: general, News and AnnouncementsSeptember 29th, 2026
On Thursday, September 24, Purdue University Archives and Special Collections welcomed members of the Purdue community to a reception celebrating the current exhibition, “The History of Home Economics at Purdue: How It Shaped Our Campus and Our Lives.” Marking 100 years since Purdue established the School of Home Economics, the evening offered guests an opportunity to explore the exhibition, connect with Purdue’s history, and hear firsthand reflections from professionals whose education and careers were shaped by home economics.
The evening began with exhibition viewing and a book sale and signing featuring authors Angie Klink, John Norberg, and Frederick Whitford. Presented with books from the Purdue University Press, the sale featured titles exploring Purdue and Indiana history, including works connected to the people and stories highlighted in the exhibition. Guests had the opportunity to meet the authors and have books signed.
Following remarks from Neal Harmeyer, assistant dean and head of Purdue University Archives and Special Collections, and Katey Watson, exhibition curator, France A. Córdova Archivist, and clinical assistant professor, guests heard from a panel of home economics professionals.
Celebrating a lasting legacy
Moderated by Klink, the panel featured home economics professionals Joyce Miles, Olivia Bennett Wood, and Mary Alice Nebold. The panelists shared memories of their time at Purdue, reflected on their experiences in home economics, and discussed how their education and careers shaped their lives.
For Wood, her path to Purdue began with an unexpected opportunity. She recalled that the position she ultimately accepted had mistakenly been advertised as requiring a Ph.D.—one she did not have and, as a result, would not have applied for. Purdue was looking for someone with recent clinical experience as it developed a new didactic dietetics program, and Wood’s background made her a strong fit.
“I was the one with the most clinical experience, and I also had a passion for dietetics.”
Hired as an instructor, Wood went on to help develop and secure accreditation for Purdue’s coordinated dietetics program. Her career at Purdue spanned 35 years and included teaching, research, leadership in dietetics, and retirement as a professor.
Miles reflected on how her connection to Purdue began long before her career. “My 4-H agent said, ‘You will come to Purdue,’” she recalled. That early connection grew into a lifelong relationship with the university, including leadership roles and continued involvement with Purdue and the field of family and consumer sciences.
Nebold likewise traced her career from teaching to Purdue faculty and administrative leadership. Reflecting on her decades in the field, she said, “Except for two years, my entire career was spent with home economics.”
Together, their stories illustrated the breadth of home economics and the lasting ways the discipline shaped their professional lives—and, in turn, the lives of the students and communities they served.
From the classroom to communities
The exhibition explores home economics’ lasting impact through photographs, documents, artifacts, and archival materials highlighting the people, programs, and innovations that shaped Purdue and communities beyond.
The panelists also discussed why the field remains relevant today, pointing to connections between home economics and issues such as health, nutrition, financial management, relationships, education, and family well-being.
As Miles reflected, “Our discipline touches education, research, and outreach. I can’t think of a discipline today more relevant.”
Wood highlighted the expanding role of registered dietitians, including opportunities in sports nutrition, while the panel reflected on the continued importance of applying research and education to the everyday lives of individuals, families, and communities.
A legacy that continues
Although Purdue’s School of Home Economics is no longer a standalone academic unit, its influence remains visible across the university. Programs that developed within the school continue through the College of Health and Human Sciences and the College of Liberal Arts, while organizations and initiatives with roots in home economics continue to serve students and communities.
“The History of Home Economics at Purdue: How It Shaped Our Campus and Our Lives” remains on view through December 11, 2026, Monday through Friday from 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM, at the Virginia Kelly Karnes Archives and Special Collections Research Center on the fourth floor of the HSSE Library in Stewart Center.
Filed under: Archives and Special Collections, general, News and Announcements