What motivates you to give back to the College of Pharmacy?
I believe the alumni have a responsibility to give back to the College of Pharmacy that defined and molded us into the people we are today. It provided me a solid foundation, built on rock, that will withstand many storms—a strong foundation that you can build and grow on. Therefore, I want to support the College so others may have the same opportunity.
Why did you decide to make a planned gift?
I believe planned giving is one of the many ways to give back to Purdue. I encourage all alumni to discuss these opportunities with John Dinkens or Dan Bolsen. They are great people and true advocates of Purdue and the College of Pharmacy.
What was your experience at Purdue as a student? Any particularly fond/humorous memories of your days at Purdue?
I am the youngest of four children in our family and the first to have an opportunity to go to college. It was a great experience and one I enjoyed. It was also a great feeling to have some of my professors as friends. Some that immediately come to mind are Drs. Spratto, Popovich, and Evanson. I've made many friends, but one person I sat next to in class from day one was Marvin Richardson (BS 1980). In those days, we were assigned seats in alphabetical order. To this day, we are very close friends and really more like brothers. So, when my daughter Brittni started school at Purdue, she thought I was going to give her a big, long lecture about college. But, I just said, "Be careful who you sit next to, because they could be your friend for life".
How has your pharmacy education shaped your life/career?
My pharmacy education is everything to me. It made me into the person I am today. I love pharmacy, and I'm very grateful and blessed to have had the opportunity to graduate from Purdue.
How do you hope your planned gift will impact the Purdue College of Pharmacy and its students in the future?
I want Purdue and the College of Pharmacy to remain the best college in the country. If there is anything I can do to help the College continue to be successful, I want to be a part of it. Also, I've truly found that once you give, you get so much back in return. It's a blessing to have Dean Craig and Sue Svensson, John Dinkens, Dan Bolsen, and Dean-elect Eric Barker as close friends. Honestly, it's priceless.