OUR TEAM

Abby Eddy

Assistant Director, Social Media

If you see something on Purdue’s social channels, Abby likely had a hand in getting it there. She leads the team that devises a content plan to engage Purdue’s audience. 

Her road to professional marketer started with a dream of becoming a professional cellist. As a teen, she created marketing plans to promote her cello recitals and performances, which led her to study marketing in college. She earned a master’s in strategic communication from Purdue. 

She’s a former member of the No. 1 Billy Joel cover band in Central Illinois — Silly Joel — and now plays cello with the local Tom Petty cover band Eddy Petty.   

Katie Ellis

Assistant Director, Marketing Strategy

As “the calm within the storm,” Katie thinks fast, keeps cool and draws on her marketing experience from a tech startup to a Fortune 500 company. Even at a mile-a-minute pace, she focuses on strategic objectives and goals.

She comes from a long line of Boilermakers and is herself a double Boiler with an undergraduate degree from the Lamb School of Communication and an MBA from the Krannert School of Management. 

Katie enjoys reading and dreaming of owning a bookstore. She also fancies baking, inspired by “The Great British Bake Off,” and she’s been perfecting her French patisserie skills.   

Ali McNichols

Assistant Director, Brand Content

A wellspring of enthusiasm and energy for telling the story, Ali has worked for some of the top creative agencies in Indianapolis. She excels at inspiring teams to build unique and compelling storytelling content. Her work gets noticed, too. In 2020, she was named a finalist for Indy’s Best and Brightest in the media and entertainment division. 

Supportive of animal rescue agencies, Ali also has served in the Junior League of Indianapolis for nearly a decade.  

As a Purdue student, Ali performed and soloed with the Purduettes, learning to value the saying “Leave it better than you found it.” 

Shelby Barrett

Senior Marketing Strategist

Using a strategic lens to advance Purdue’s brand with prospective students is a passion for Shelby. So is empowering her team to introduce innovative ideas and rise above a project’s complexities or deadlines. And she makes sure praise follows such efforts.

This all befits a Boilermaker grad like Shelby — she majored in public relations and rhetorical advocacy. 

She would love to backpack through Europe’s wine country, but a back porch, cup of coffee and loyal pup are pretty satisfying, too.

Shelby believes that every day presents a new opportunity for the taking. And that everything tastes better with hot sauce.

Kolby Hagmaier

Social Media Specialist

A talent for targeting the heart of the story helps Kolby curate, create and promote the Purdue brand for the world to see across all social media platforms. 
 
 
Kolby has a bachelor of arts in strategic communication and advertising with a minor in global studies from Purdue. Her passion for international travel led to two study-abroad experiences as an undergrad: once to Cuba and the Dominican Republic, and later to study fashion in Japan. 
 
 
She loves animals, especially her cats that are black and gold, of course. She also enjoys playing the video game Animal Crossing and watching scary movies. 

Melissa Hammond

Brand Identity Manager

Efficiency is Melissa’s middle name. It shows in the results of when — as a born doer — she jumps in, sizes up the task, solves problems and finds a way.

After other Purdue roles, she helped Purdue’s 150 Years of Giant Leaps campaign soar. Now, as steward of the Purdue brand, she ensures its integrity as used across campus and with external partners. 

At home, she’s a whiz in the kitchen, where she cooks up feasts for family and friends. Besides of course trying new recipes, she is gravitating toward Asian and sushi. She also supports the community food bank.

Megan Hoskins

Senior Marketing Strategist

Though she grew up in Bloomington, Indiana, Megan always knew she belonged at Purdue. A graduate of the Brian Lamb School of Communication, she tried Chicago but her heart chose West Lafayette. 

Her passion for brand affinity and an outgoing personality are well-suited to her role and approach — strategic, collaborative and positive. Her team knows it can and knows why.

A coffee fiend, Megan whips up barista-worthy drinks with her fancy home machine. She’s also a whiz with a needle and thread, making gifts for friends and family and sewing blankets for children in the foster system.

Neal Johnson

Digital Campaign Manager

Extensive experience leading digital marketing campaigns taught Neal how to achieve big marketing wins through engrossing content and compelling strategy. He pushes the team to ramp up digital literacy and outreach to remain relevant to the right audiences.

A fine arts major in college, Neal enjoys painting and drawing and is always on the lookout for projects that challenge him to develop new skills. He adores exploring new places and trying different foods. He also loves ice skating.

Neal draws inspiration from Aristotle: “It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it.”

Bailey Leffler

Lead Brand Manager

With a strong competitive drive and enthusiastic spirit — she was an NFL cheerleader, after all — Bailey believes a bit of hard work means a spot on the leaderboard.

Her collaborative launch of the brand-focused Boiler Ambassador program has drawn hundreds of student volunteers. She also supports marketers and communicators across campus as the engine behind the Purdue Communicators Council. 

Once a Purdue Golduster dancer as a student, Bailey now choreographs for that team. She’s also a Level 2 CrossFit Coach who converted her garage into a fully outfitted home gym. And there’s Olympic lifting — she can squat clean 215 pounds. 

Lauren Motuliak

Senior Marketing Strategist

Work hard, play hard. That’s Lauren, a graduate of the Brian Lamb School of Communication who navigates a wide range of projects. Her interpersonal skills naturally build rapport with campus partners and colleagues alike, empowering them to excel in presenting the brand and all it represents.

Her knack for connecting with others and drive for personal improvement have influenced the community, too. Lauren founded the Tippy Connect Young Professionals group, and she’s a certified Les Mills Body Attack instructor.

After her morning workout, Lauren likes to head outdoors with her family and rescue dog, often to her kids’ sporting events.

Ashlee Shroyer

Lead Digital Community Manager

As the one who holds the key to the University’s social content calendar, Ashlee’s strategy-first mentality ensures the right message is posted on the right channel and geared toward the right audience. She’s energized by the impact of social in spreading the good news about Purdue, particularly when prominent Boilermakers amplify content she’s shared.  

When she wants to unplug, Ashlee strolls to a downtown coffee shop for an iced latte and then pauses outside the Lazy Cat Lounge to observe feline antics through the window. She’s an avid concertgoer — country music is her favorite. She also appreciates rising acts before they make it big.

Kate Young

Producer and Host of “This is Purdue” Podcast

When she was a student in Purdue’s Brian Lamb School of Communication, Kate envisioned a career in broadcasting. She spent a few years as news reporter before she fell in love with podcasting. Her optimism, enthusiasm and natural curiosity pervades every part of “This is Purdue,” the official University podcast she writes, hosts and produces. 

Kate listens to podcasts whenever she can while running, cooking, driving or even folding laundry. Her favorites dive into investigative journalism and tease out detailed narratives over an entire season. 

She balances her serious side with a penchant for soapy reality TV. Kate would dominate a Bachelor/Bachelorette-themed trivia night.

Emily Richwine

Assistant Director, Creative Services

With Lois Lane as her muse since childhood, Emily Richwine completed her degree at Purdue in Communication with a concentration in Journalism. Although she can’t mark the Daily Planet down on her resumé, she brings experience from an array of publications and brands like Lafayette’s own Journal & Courier, Minority Business Entrepreneur magazine, Matilda Jane and Vera Bradley. Ever an optimist, her skills in copywriting, creative concepting, video storytelling and campaign planning inspire her team to connect the dots between strategy and emotive storytelling. In her free time, she enjoys teaching and practicing yoga, spending time with her family and traveling.

Olivia Sarault

Assistant Director, Design

As a designer, Olivia is detail-oriented to a T. As a leader, she is passionate about mentoring new designers and watching them grow in their careers. In addition to leading a team of multimedia designers and photographers, she also oversees creative direction for all print and digital projects. 

A proud boy mom with two sons, she spends a lot of her time near the water. She and her husband volunteered to run the north division of the Indiana Bass Federation Youth Program. 

She’s a Purdue graduate with a degree in visual communication design.  

Tammy Weaver-Stoike

Assistant Director, Marketing Operations

As a farm kid, Tammy didn’t enjoy the opportunity to experience her undergrad years at Purdue like most students because she often had to head home on weekends to help on the farm. 

How much of a farm girl was she? She was crowned Indiana Angus Queen in 1981. But her bachelor’s degree in agricultural communication prepared her for a career in marketing and communication, starting in the department as a writer in 1999. 

Tammy enjoys bringing order to chaos, which dovetails into her role leading the team that manages operations and ensures creative projects are delivered on time and on budget. 

David Allen

Workfront Program Manager

The man behind the marketing machine, David provides resources and support for the team’s work management system. His keen organization skills help streamline processes and increase efficiencies across the division. 

Driven by a strong desire to learn new skills, David’s career has morphed several times since he joined Purdue’s staff 30 years ago. 

He spends evenings creating artwork (he holds a bachelor’s in fine art and design and a master’s in fine art and animation, both from Purdue). Several of his pieces were selected for the 2005 International Digital Art Awards traveling exhibition. Additionally, he has shown work in several exhibitions within the U.S. 

Thad Boone

Multimedia Producer

With a keen eye for cinematography and a passion for storytelling, Thad’s visual artistry elevates every project he touches. 

He flexed his leadership skills as founding father of the Alpha Psi chapter of Beta Theta Pi fraternity at Butler University and also edited two short films while in college. 

A thrill-seeker, he’s gone skydiving and been on an African safari. At one point, he could use a salmon ladder (think “American Ninja Warrior”) but now prefers to relax in front of the big screen, catching the latest movie releases, or spend a weekend afternoon idly browsing through a used bookstore. 

Paige Brown

Marketing Copywriter

A dedicated and eager scholar, Paige is an eternal student who loves to learn. In addition to mapping out her next move in academia (she’s planning on grad school at Purdue) she’s also teaching herself to play the ukulele. 

She’s a hybrid creative who studied communications and graphic design, which enables her to cohesively approach a project when shaping its copy. 

On a typical weekend morning, Paige is kicking back with a book, Diet Coke in hand. Her personal reading tastes skew toward horror and true crime, so she’s always up for swapping chilling tales.

David Ching

Senior Content Writer

After attending a journalism workshop at summer camp, David started a school paper in fourth grade. At the time, he covered school skits and kickball games but he eventually fulfilled his dream as a professional sportswriter covering college sports for ESPN. Now, he leverages his storytelling skills to share compelling narratives from across campus. 

Some have tried to convert him — and he did earn an MBA from Purdue University Global — but he remains a staunch Auburn fan. As a kid, he fantasized about playing centerfield for the Atlanta Braves and he still follows their season.

Emily Disinger

Graphic Designer

Emily started out as an intern at Purdue Marketing and Communications while she earned her bachelor’s in visual communication design and minored in dance and philosophy. As a student, she was active in the Purdue Contemporary Dance Company and Purdue Grand Prix. 

She learned about the graphic design career path as a high school freshman and instinctively knew that was what she was meant to do. Now she executes creative work that perpetuates the University brand and advances the Purdue story.

Her idea of a relaxing weekend is spending time with her family and pets at their country home.

Caitlyn Freville

Associate Graphic Designer

As a Boiler Ambassador design team member, Caitlyn began working with the Purdue brand as an undergrad majoring in visual communication design. Her collaborative skills and tendency to serve as a group harmonizer enable Caitlyn to artfully encompass a variety of perspectives without losing sight of the end goal.  

She’s performed in choirs and musicals since she was young — her favorite role was playing Ariel in a production of “The Little Mermaid” — and was a member of the Purduettes. 

An advocate for mental health awareness, Caitlyn fundraises for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s campus walk. 

Jon Garcia

Senior Multimedia Producer

As a teenager, Jon found his dad’s old 35-mm film camera and quickly developed a love of photography. He has been telling visual stories ever since. Once he was old enough to drive, Jon started his own business as a wedding photographer. He continued to shoot still images as a student photographer at Indiana State University, where he majored in English and minored in communications and creative writing. ISU hired Jon as a staff photographer after graduation, and his role quickly evolved to include videography. Now he’s a pro at both, and he puts those multimedia skills to use while telling the stories of Purdue. When he’s not shooting and editing videos, Jon loves playing video games. He even has a podcast where he talks gaming, technology and sometimes movies. And he still shoots the occasional wedding, using his creative eye to capture images the participants might otherwise miss while he documents their big day.

Cheryl Glotzbach

Senior Graphic Designer

A passion for art and drawing led Cheryl to major in visual communication design at Purdue. As senior graphic designer, she collaborates with the creative team to strategically solve marketing challenges and elevate the Purdue brand through print, digital marketing and social media. 

Her approach of examining every project through creative and logical lenses allows her to analyze how the target audience might interpret the message. 

Cheryl engages her creativity off the clock, too, taking arts and crafts classes and completing her own artistic projects at home. She’s also a fitness enthusiast who loves Zumba and other forms of dancing. 

Lima Gray

Project Manager

Armed with her Agile Project Management certification, Lima’s detailed approach to managing workflow keeps projects on task, in brand and within budget. Lima is a Purdue graduate who majored in communication with a concentration in advertising. 

Her knowledge and expertise create an environment in which the team can deliver high-impact projects while engaging in professional growth.     

Lima’s sharp-witted observations keep everyone on their toes. She’s a “Shark Week” aficionado, a hot tea connoisseur and a Clue enthusiast.   

She loves immersing herself in a book  and also cultivates a garden where she plants the birth-month flower for everyone in her family. 

Rain Gu

Senior Digital Project Manager

Endlessly adaptable, Rain’s go-with-the-flow personality is well-suited to managing a variety of tasks and scopes of responsibility across different teams and project requirements. She is a gatekeeper, keeping communication channels open and encouraging interaction between all members of the digital marketing group.

Rain’s strong work ethic enables the delivery of high-volume and high-visibility projects. She also develops production schedules for creative and technical projects and collaborates with the technical teams to navigate around any roadblocks.  

She enjoys drawing, mostly with colored pencil, and writing in Chinese. An early riser, she relishes the half-hour in the morning before the rest of the household awakens. 

Sabrina Hamblin

Marketing Production Associate

Sabrina is the glue that holds the department together. There’s hardly a project that she doesn’t touch. From setting up job folders to issuing invoices to closing out projects, she’s a supportive force throughout the project cycle. 

With decades of print experience, Sabrina still gets excited to hold a final printed piece in her hands. 

Admired for her supreme crafting skills, family and friends often draft Sabrina to help with event planning for weddings and baby showers. 

She and her husband have become permanent campers, spending most summer weekends at Broadview Acres Campground and have built a community with their fellow campers. 

Emily Jesulaitis

Senior Project Manager

As the master of tasks for her team’s projects, Emily helps transform ideas and concepts into final deliverables. Encouraging, organized and patient, her efficiency aids her proficient management of timelines, budgets and resources. 

Emily earned a bachelor’s in financial counseling and planning from Purdue. She facilitates communications between contributors and stakeholders. 

No one questions whether Emily will follow through with what she says she’s going to do. She’s motivated by checking things off the list.

Handy with power tools, Emily always has a home DIY project in the works. She relishes time spent with family (preferably outside) and enjoys travel, cooking and reading. 

Matt Kerkhoff

Digital Media Producer

Matt’s experience producing content for Purdue goes back to his student days as a film studies and telecommunications major. He worked for the campus television station, Boiler TV, when it first launched in the late 1990s. As a senior, he created BTV’s first student-produced show. 

Now, he shoots and edits videos that share the stories of Purdue’s students, faculty and alumni. 

A huge movie buff, he’s always up for chatting about plotlines, character development and iconic scripts. At work, Matt is quiet and reserved, which is why people are often surprised to learn he’s performed improv comedy for 20 years.  

Rebecca McElhoe

Senior Photographer

Rebecca interned with the photo team while earning her Bachelor of Arts in photography from Purdue. Her internship experience confirmed her passion for the medium and launched her photo career. She became a full-time team member after graduation. 

An ardent collaborator, Rebecca enjoys conceptualizing shoots with other team members to deliver evocative images. 

In addition to the portraiture and event photography she captures for the University, she’s also a fine art photographer. Her other creative pursuits include painting and crocheting scarves and blankets. 

Always endeavoring to advance her skills, Rebecca looks for ways to challenge herself and experiment behind the lens. 

Joel Meredith

Marketing Copywriter

Ever see a French major and a banjo player in the same room together? Joel is both. Currently pursuing a Ph.D. in French at Purdue, his love of language led to a career in writing — at least until the banjo gigs pan out. 

His keen observation skills empower him to acknowledge others’ contributions — especially when it comes to recognizing teammates who work in the background. His iterative approach to the creative process results in engrossing, strategic copy that propels the Purdue brand. 

Happiest when puttering in his garden, this nature lover is passionate about protecting the planet and fosters recycling.

Maura Oprisko

Content Writer

As a writer who consistently works to be a more effective ally to marginalized groups, Maura is passionate about creating inclusive messaging that resonates with a diverse audience. 

The positivity she brings to her work and talent for writing in a conversational tone make her an indispensable resource for campus departments desiring to tell their unique stories with authenticity. 

By age 5, Maura knew she wanted to be a storyteller. A mom to three kids, she’s probably the proudest mom on the planet — when they’re not rolling their eyes or cracking bathroom jokes.

Maura also loves spending time outside and watching the wildlife.

Christi Perry

Senior Marketing Production Manager

With natural problem-solving abilities and unbridled optimism, Christi’s positive attitude and forward thinking propels projects from ideation through execution. 

Growing up, Christi dreamt of becoming an astronaut or an Avon lady. She likes to explore new places and managed aerospace programs for the likes of Lockheed Martin, Bell Helicopter and Boeing. Christi has decades of experience in sales and marketing and desire to connect with people. 

A childhood spent on the family farm stoked her lifelong passion for agricultural and historical preservation. As a board member of the Indiana Barn Foundation, Christi works to preserve Indiana’s heritage barns. 

Kristy Reese

Senior Project Manager

Top-notch organizational skills are essential in a project manager role, and no one is more organized than Kristy. She keeps projects on time and within budget while documenting metrics that can improve team efficiency.

Endlessly energetic, Kristy has always had trouble sitting still. Whether cleaning the house, doing yardwork, reading a book or going on a walk, she feels happiest when she has accomplished something. 

Losing both parents to cancer turned Kristy into an advocate for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She’s participated in several events, such as Light The Night and Team In Training, raising more than $20,000 for the organization. 

Julie Sadler

Senior Graphic Designer

Creative and diligent with a keen eye for details, Julie has an uncanny ability to turn straw into (Purdue) gold when it comes to transforming a design. Proficient in both digital and print, she flexes her artistry across mediums and communication channels.  

She and her husband live on a golf course where they can be found battling to collect the most birdies every weeknight. A consummate designer, she dabbles in house decor and is a voracious viewer of HGTV. She even designed her own labels for uniform glass containers that hold household cleaners, spices, baking ingredients and other pantry items. 

Ted Schellenberger

Broadcast Media Senior Producer

Ted would say he’s a gaffer, grip and clamp aficionado. That’s just another way of describing his unfaltering energy and resolute dedication to doing whatever needs doing to get the job done. 

If there’s an important event happening on campus, Ted will be there to cover it. 

His childhood dream was to become a drummer in a rock band. Although that didn’t happen, he does play guitar and owns entirely too much music gear, including 15 guitars, 10 amps and more than 100 effects pedals.  

A vegan and animal lover, Ted’s cats are the absolute best.

Greg Simmons

Lead Graphic Designer

Known in the office as the “fixer,” Greg is the workhorse of the design team, willingly taking on yearly churn projects such as updating the campus map or formatting awards certificates. But don’t think that means he settles for the status quo. 

Results-driven by nature, Greg always pushes for the strongest design, writing and strategy, and he’s not afraid to ask tough questions to galvanize the team. 

Deeply entrenched in the local arts community — he volunteers at Civic Theatre of Greater Lafayette and the Lafayette Ballet Company — Greg frequently attends art and music events. He’s also an avid tabletop gamer.

John Underwood

Photographer

Trained in the U.S. Navy School of Photography, John has held many creative leadership positions during his storied Purdue career. A keen observer with an artistic eye for composition, he enjoys how the creative process unfolds and aims to capture images that support the concept. 

John was part of the first Big Ten university photo team to transition entirely to digital. He continues to find innovative ways to support the University’s visual brand. 

When he’s not shooting, John likes to take rides on his Harley. He enjoys traveling and would love to drive the Italian countryside in a sports car one day.

Justine Vogie

Senior UX/Conversion Specialist

With a comprehensive background in web design and web development, Justine understands how both specialties work in tandem, which allows her to communicate effectively across the web team.

She majored in computer graphics technology at Purdue and says that working for her alma mater is a dream job. Justine works to ensure that everything going online is user-friendly and in continuity with future projects.

She’s a fairly good juggler. Really. That aptitude extends to multiple project components. She’s also a habitual DIYer who expresses her creativity through a multitude of media including drawing, painting, crocheting and building things.

Mike Willis

Marketing Technology Process Manager

A desire for discovery and knowledge led to a minor in biology, but Mike turned to a newer path and in the mid-‘90s began his Purdue career as the news service’s web and technology manager. 

In his current role, he serves as a crucial link between marketing and IT, implementing new technologies to achieve marketing goals. His vast institutional knowledge casts him as the de facto archivist for the department. 

As a reasonably skilled photographer, Mike would love to hit the road and take up travel photography. He also attends pop culture conventions in costume. 

Jesse Young

Senior Front-End Developer

Jesse works to increase collaboration within the office and enable developers across campus to deliver an engaging Purdue web.

A Purdue alumnus, Jesse earned his Bachelor of Science degree in computer graphics technology. He strives to build sites that incorporate modern practices and creative solutions.

Jesse creates art in his spare time, primarily working in dry media such as graphite and charcoal. He also participates in Child’s Play, an organization providing video games to children in hospitals. He once was one of those kids.

When he must rise early, he heads for a caffeine jolt and sings in the car. 

Yanhua Zong

Web Developer

A strong problem solver and team player, Yanhua builds out Purdue’s web presence, often creating the first impression for incoming students. She also creates brand templates and tools in content management systems to enable campus partners. 

Her coding prowess coupled with her affinity for impactful design — she earned a master’s degree in computer graphics technology from Purdue — spurs her to achieve results that balance both form and function.

Yanhua also enjoys reading, watching movies and playing with her kids. She also logs time in the kitchen whipping up meals for her family. But she has no taste for procrastination.

Jim Bush

Senior Manager, Editorial Operations

Praised for his institutional knowledge and engaged mentorship, Jim is known for his nurturing leadership style and strong affinity for developing writers’ versatility and storytelling. Whether he’s handing out assignments, developing a news angle or editing copy, he tries to lead by example through his tremendous work ethic and caring attitude — not just about the projects, but also the people.

His two decades of experience in journalism prior to making the switch to academia trained him to deftly manage high-pressure situations with short deadlines and multiple stakeholders. He prides himself in building trust with his colleagues.

Tim Doty

Director of Media and Public Relations

After 23 years in TV news, Tim has a sound perspective on delivering information to the media clearly and concisely. He acts as both filter and funnel for the team — filtering information and funneling the salient points into digestible bits. 

His childhood ambition was to become a racecar driver, and with the flow of information moving a mile a minute, his ability to multitask and remain calm under pressure provides stability for the team. 

When he’s not serving as the university’s spokesperson, Tim attends his kids’ sporting events. He’s a member of the Screen Actors Guild and also holds a second-degree black belt in karate. 

Valerie O’Brien

Assistant Director of Constituent Communications

As the point person for Purdue Today, Valerie keeps a pulse on campus happenings and leads the team that informs faculty and staff of employment-related news. She stewards communications that build affinity, community, morale and investment in the university among Purdue employees. She’s a Purdue graduate herself with a bachelor’s in professional writing. 

A music lover, Valerie likes to curate her own playlists for whatever she’s doing — working, walking, cooking or holding a dance party with her kids. She also enjoys travel and dreams of taking a long summer road trip out west with her family to camp, hike and visit national parks. 

Amy Patterson Neubert

Senior Manager, Media Strategy

A focus on strategic media relations and developing purposeful content empowers Amy to help others — specifically earned media — tell Purdue’s best stories. 

A two-time Purdue graduate, Amy earned her bachelor’s in English and her master’s in health communication with a concentration in public relations and social marketing. She uses that PR prowess to train top University faculty on media relations, helping them contextualize the significance of their complex research for a general audience. 

Amy is fascinated by the natural beauty found outdoors. She also enjoys gardening, especially vegetables, herbs and Indiana wildflowers.

 
Her mantra is simple: Work hard, play hard. Life is short. 

Spencer Deery

Deputy Chief of Staff, Lead Communications Strategist and Public Policy Analyst

Nothing fuels Spencer more than championing a good cause, especially one that others may hide from because of perceived internal barriers or the risk of controversy. If pressed, he will even admit to loving the adrenaline rush that accompanies high-pressure, short-deadline projects. 
 
He has an ability to examine opportunities and challenges from multiple angles, understanding not only news value and storytelling, but also data and public policy. This enables him to magnify the contributions of colleagues from different backgrounds.  

Spencer speaks fluent Spanish and has traveled extensively across Central and South America. He and his wife are active in their church. 

Larry Farr

Administrative Assistant

If there is a better, simpler, more efficient way to do something, Larry will find it. As the department’s Sherpa, he consistently focuses on the next step to move forward and accomplish objectives.

An aspiring novelist, Larry writes fiction in his spare time. On the job, he spends a lot of time working with other people’s text, in addition to managing data, calendars and files. Although he’d love to become a full-time author, with his obliging nature, he’d probably still end up assisting people with projects in Excel. 

Adaptable, responsible and innovative, Larry is always willing to lend a helping hand.

Phillip Fiorini

Lead Project Editor

When Phillip joined Purdue in 2005, he brought nearly 25 years of experience as an editor, reporter and manager at newspapers from Texas and Florida to Indiana and Washington, D.C. Now fully immersed in digital marketing, his highly developed insights and instincts enable him to promote the exciting things underway at the university.

A fervent champion of the power of words, Phillip’s role as editor calls on him to help others fine-tune their writing to effectively tell an emotional, powerful story.

Phillip has long supported local music organizations and served on multiple boards, including the Lafayette Symphony Orchestra, Long Center and Tippecanoe Chamber Music Society. 

Kim Held

Clerk

Everyone knows that if you are meeting with Kim, she’ll always arrive early. Unfailingly dependable and exceedingly efficient, she’s the secret weapon that helps the news team function like a well-oiled machine. Always willing to help where needed, she’s frequently accepted roles that transcended her job description. 

Away from the office, Kim volunteers with her church, impresses with her fancily decorated cakes and rocks her role as grandma. 

Her permanently cheery outlook brightens even the dreariest of days. She’s a true believer that “Not every day is good, but there is something good in every day.”  

Brian Huchel

Senior writer/communication specialist

With his acute observation skills, there’s almost nothing Brian doesn’t notice. After earning his stripes as a newspaper reporter, he transitioned to his current role writing on a variety of topics from space to education. 

Unfailingly dependable, Brian is always ready to pitch in whenever anyone on the team needs help. When he was younger, he wanted to be a police officer. Although he doesn’t have a badge, he does stand up for people who are being pushed around. 

Brian loves to experiment in the kitchen. He occasionally writes poetry and once took a stab at writing short stories. 

Chris June

Communication Specialist and Media Analyst

A true team player with an innovative approach to problem-solving, Chris adeptly identifies patterns and develops systems to increase workflow efficiency and accuracy. A linchpin for the department, he acts as gatekeeper, taskmaster and harmonizer, often simultaneously. And he takes “all other duties as assigned” to the next level. 

As media analyst for the news team, he’s charged with tracking Purdue’s media coverage across various channels and compiling the data to ensure efforts align with objectives. 

A lifelong musician, Chris is one half of the power duo behind June IND, an independent rootsy rock band based in Lafayette. 

Christy McCarter

Emerging Media Specialist

With both a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in medieval literature and archival studies, plus almost a decade of experience teaching at a college level, Christy McCarter provides a fresh perspective on traditional and emerging methods of communication. This extensive study of the past with an eye toward the future has equipped her with a unique set of skills to discover what makes Purdue audiences tick, where they get their news and how we can leverage that information to provide the best experience possible.

A leader by nature, Christy takes on the role of coach in many capacities, including as captain of her local roller derby team.

Abbey Nickel

Senior writer/communication specialist

Passionate about science, health and research, Abbey brings a deep love for storytelling and unbridled enthusiasm to every project. A major multi-tasker, she handles internal and executive communications and also covers research writing. She shares stories about the College of Veterinary Medicine, as well as the College of Health and Human Sciences and helps connect media with their experts.

A former journalist, she has learned that being quiet and observant allows her to soak in all the details and nuances of her story subjects.

Obsessed with music, Abbey loves going to concerts and always has headphones close at hand.

Matthew Oates

Senior Writer/Editor, Communication Specialist

A third-generation Boilermaker with a passion for Purdue, Matthew started writing for his church newspaper as an undergrad, earning a bachelor’s in journalistic communication from the Brian Lamb School of Communication. 

Now, Matthew writes stories about the people of Purdue and connects media to faculty, staff and students to share their innovations and achievements. An Indianapolis native, he’s particularly grateful to work in support of the Purdue Polytechnic High Schools.  

Happiest while hiking with his family, this dedicated gardener and nature lover cannot abide people who litter in parks. And while he’s nice enough not to comment, he definitely notices poorly planned landscaping. 

Michael Robb

Video News Content Producer

Michael Robb has a motto: “if you’re not prepared to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original.” The quote, originally from a TED Talk, hangs on his wall to remind Michael never to second-guess himself. And when working in his chosen field, he rarely has the luxury of time to do that.

When the moment comes, Michael is always ready to grab his equipment and be the first man filming the action. Even if the action is as unassuming as a Purdue professor’s analysis of the most recent worldwide Netflix hit.

When Michael isn’t behind the camera, he prefers to absorb other people’s creative work to relax and inspire him for future projects. His favorite type of media is animation, listing “How to Train Your Dragon,” “Coco,” “The Incredibles” and “The Emperor’s New Groove” as need-to-watch titles for any animation lover.

Tom Schott

Senior Director of Strategic Communications

At age 12, Tom started his own baseball magazine. Years later, he’s still energized by the process of storytelling. What started as a 10-month internship blossomed into a career at Purdue that included nearly 30 years in Purdue Athletics communications. Now, Tom focuses on sharing stories about the Board of Trustees and Purdue Global.

A prolific writer, Tom authored/co-authored four books on Purdue sports, and his bylines have graced dozens of magazines, newspapers and other publications. A strong proponent of public education, he’s served on the West Lafayette Community Schools board of trustees and the West Lafayette Schools Education Foundation board of directors.  

Brittany Steff

Senior Science Writer/Communications Specialist

One of those kids who scored really well in English, but actually liked science better, Brittany found a way to merge both her passion and her skills as a science writer. She majored in biology at Purdue, so she understands the scientific stuff and knows how to interpret cool discoveries and innovations for a general audience, whether the revelation is among the stars, lurking inside the human body or in the quantum depths of matter itself. 

She spent nearly a decade writing for the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. Also a hobby photographer, animals are, naturally, among her favorite subjects.

Steve Tally

Senior Strategist for STEM

From Park Avenue to Purdue, Steve has pretty much done it all. He landed his first science writing gig at Esquire shortly after college. His experience working at multiple national publications enables him to understand the perspectives of journalists in national media. 

As the university’s go-to STEM strategist, he applies his background in science and medical journalism to advance Purdue’s national media relations effort.  

A two-time author, his first book went through five reprints in three months. “Bland Ambition: The Cranks, Criminals, Tax Cheats and Golfers Who Made It to Vice President” was written about in most national news publications.

Kayla Wiles

Senior Science Writer/Communication Specialist

Growing up, Kayla thought she’d become a novelist. Now, she writes news stories for a living and reads a lot of fiction on the side. 

As senior science writer, Kayla’s charged with conveying research discoveries and inventions in science and engineering. As communications specialist, she serves as a liaison for reporters around the globe, connecting them with engineering experts who can comment on major events and trends, ranging from natural disasters and disease to autonomous vehicles and space missions. 

Kayla enjoys order and is really bothered by pictures that hang askew. One of her favorite thrills is checking something off her to-do list.