Purdue University Northwest officially becomes a reality Friday (7/1), headed by a team of senior leaders Chancellor Thomas L. Keon believes positions Indiana’s fifth largest university well for realizing its vision and effectively impacting northern Indiana.
Comprised of the former Purdue University Calumet in Hammond and Purdue University North Central in Westville, Purdue Northwest will operate as a single Northwest Indiana university of two campuses 35 miles apart. July 1 marks the start of Purdue Northwest’s first operating and fiscal year. When the new academic year begins this fall, PNW will welcome some 15,000 students pursuing degrees in nearly 70 undergraduate and graduate study programs.
Keon, who served the past five years as chancellor of Purdue Calumet, has assembled a senior leadership team he believes is capable and committed to guiding Purdue Northwest down a visionary path of becoming the university of choice in Northwest Indiana and beyond, as well as a center for education, innovation, economic development and culture.
Comprising Keon’s senior team are Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost Ralph Mueller, Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs Carmen Panlilio, Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration Stephen Turner, Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement Regina Biddings-Muro, Vice Chancellor for Information Services Timothy Winders and Athletic Director Rick Costello.
“We have a mix of talented, knowledgeable and experienced individuals who provide, not only a sense of regional, institutional and historical perspective, but also global, cutting edge vision about how to move our new university forward in a changing society,” Keon said. “It is a team that will be unafraid to develop its own road map for success, which is absolutely vital for PNW to become the Purdue University and regional leader we aspire to be.”
VC for Academic Affairs and Provost
Mueller is the newest member of the team, appointed this spring and arriving on campus July 15 from the University of Hartford (Conn.), where he has served as Dean of the College of Education, Nursing and Health Professions. As PNW’s chief academic officer, he will oversee six colleges and the academic programs they offer, ensure educational excellence and further distinctive, cutting edge learning opportunities, such as the university’s signature experiential learning initiative.
He will bring to Purdue Northwest a background of diverse success that has contributed to increased student retention; effective faculty mentoring; new market-responsive academic programs; formal research and experiential learning opportunities; strong visioning and strategic planning; and effective financial management, fundraising and partnership development.
VC for Enrollment Management and Student Affairs
Soon after arriving at the Calumet Campus in 2013 Panlilio implemented strategies and processes that reversed declining enrollment, increased student admissions and improved student retention. Enrollment of full time freshmen has grown each of the past three years.
She also has been effective nurturing a campus environment of student success and student-centeredness through stronger, more consistent student-campus connections and strategic outreach, while effectively collaborating with staff to consolidate two campus student records systems.
VC for Finance and Administration
Turner, an 18-year Purdue veteran, served as chief financial and administrative officer at North Central before also assuming the same responsibilities at the Calumet campus during the early stages of the Calumet-North Central unification process nearly two years ago. Financially, he has provided a transparent approach of sharing and enlightening PNW’s campus communities about campus budgets and higher education funding.
In overseeing facilities, he has advanced numerous improvements on both campuses, including cafeteria and student lounge renovations at Calumet and construction of the recently-opened James B. Dworkin Student Services and Activities Complex at North Central. He also holds two Purdue degrees.
VC for Institutional Advancement
Biddings-Muro, a Purdue Calumet alumna, is charged with applying her extensive background in communications and higher education leadership to lead a strategically-integrated effort of marketing, brand-building and communicating the messages of the new Purdue Northwest, as well as directing fundraising, alumni initiatives and event planning. Since she was appointed Vice Chancellor at the Calumet Campus in 2013, her unit has raised more than $10 million.
Previously, she served Purdue Calumet as Executive Assistant to the Chancellor for Engagement, a position in which she was responsible for building and strengthening relationships with federal, state, regional and local officials, as well as businesses and other organizations interested in partnering to enhance Northwest Indiana economic development.
VC for Information Services
Winders arrived at Purdue Calumet last fall with a primary responsibility of mixing, matching and merging technology delivery and other activities and resources related to the unification of North Central and Calumet.
His 20-plus years of versatile, proven experience in information technology within the post-secondary education environment have equipped him to provide leadership in development of effective governance and policies related to access and use of PNW information services and technology systems, strategic goals, strategies, policies and procedures, and new and developing technologies. He effectively has led efforts to evaluate and invest in emerging technologies while leveraging limited budget and resources.
Athletic Director
In addition to administering 13 sports teams, Costello is applying his vast and varied National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) administrative experience in navigating the waters of PNW’s desired move to NCAA Division II from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). A decision is expected in mid-July.
As Calumet athletic director since 2012, he has emphasized both academic and athletic success, resulting in four Academic All-American student-athlete honorees the past two years and several, recent national NAIA competition qualifiers. He also has played an active role in establishing the PNW nickname and mascot, The Pride, as well as logistics relating to the unification of Calumet and North Central athletics programs.
“Purdue Northwest can and will make a difference,” Keon said. “Across our campuses, we have the right people in place to help facilitate an unparalleled student learning experience and to expand opportunities for economic growth and development in Northwest Indiana.”