It is an exciting time to live and work in Northwest Indiana. My wife and I have been residents for more than two decades, raising our children in the public school systems, benefiting from access to excellent health care, and enjoying the many cultural and entertainment options offered in the region. Now, as the new chancellor of Purdue University Northwest (PNW), I am thrilled to lead the institution that is making the most significant impact in the transformational changes and initiatives of national importance happening right in our own backyards.
PNW is on the cutting edge of innovations that are shaping the Region’s future in the key sectors of technology, engineering, physical and mental health, and so much more. As a biologist, I understand how species adapt and evolve when stimulated by changes in their environment. Northwest Indiana cannot be stagnant nor look backwards as we meet new challenges. A spirit of adaptation is imperative, and PNW is redefining how a premier metropolitan university can serve as a nexus for linking young minds with inventive professionals to enhance the Region's quality of life.
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PNW's mission to deliver transformational change is rooted in strong, reciprocating relationships with the communities neighboring our campuses in Hammond and Westville, as well as the Gabis Arboretum at Purdue Northwest in Porter County. In 2023, PNW was named as Indiana’s third Innovation and Economic Prosperity University (IEP), a designation also held by the flagship institutions of Purdue West Lafayette and Indiana University Bloomington. Furthermore, a third-party study has found that PNW adds nearly $746 million in local income to the regional economy, the most significant rate among local public universities. Whether in the classroom, the lab or in regional industries, PNW is the local leader in advancing impactful differences in education and economic development, two components that go hand-in-hand to catalyze innovation. PNW, and Northwest Indiana, are no longer a “hidden gem.” We consistently attract the attention of local and national leaders who view PNW as a resource and partner for taking the next step.
With nearly 20 research and specialty centers, PNW faculty members and students put theory into action by applying knowledge to advise on community solutions. More than $30 million in federal and state-sponsored research grants have been awarded to PNW researchers just during the past three years. This number is comparable to other larger and mid-size institutions in our state. It is a testament to the demonstrated academic excellence provided by forward-thinking PNW researchers.
As an example, PNW’s Center for Innovation through Visualization and Simulation (CIVS) is a longtime partner to regional steelmakers for implementing solutions for energy efficiency. Within the last six months, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded more than $24 million in grants to CIVS and regional partners for cutting-edge steel decarbonization research. As steelmakers look to the future with their environmental impact, CIVS researchers are unparalleled leaders in this field, intricately assessing carbon emissions through multiple stages of the steelmaking process to discover new ways of reducing carbon emissions.
CIVS is also integrally involved with the MachH2 Hydrogen Hub. In fall 2023, the DOE awarded $1 billion to the Midwest Alliance for Clean Hydrogen, a coalition that will research and create sources of clean hydrogen production to further reduce industrial sector emissions. The hub was one of seven around the U.S. awarded funding by the DOE, and PNW is proud to be a partner in this initiative.
Accentuating many of these initiatives is PNW’s commitment to providing high quality academics to its students that lead to pragmatic post-graduate careers and outcomes. Our institution is home to nationally ranked and peer-recognized programs in Engineering, Nursing, Computer Science, Cybersecurity and Psychology, just to name a few. We are incredibly proud of the recent affirmation by PNW’s institutional accreditor, the Higher Learning Commission, that the university is a doctoral-granting institution. We have purposely pursued an expansion of doctoral degrees to support pressing needs in Northwest Indiana as well as respond to the academic goals of today’s students.
PNW now offers three applied doctoral programs that are preparing advanced professionals to meet crucial areas of need in the region. Since 2015, nursing students and professionals have leveraged our Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program to research and learn transformative health care solutions. Health care is one of the largest sectors PNW graduates impact locally. With the numerous inpatient and outpatient facilities in Northwest Indiana, chances are great that a PNW-trained nurse has cared for you or a loved one. Addressing mental health needs is also within our scope. The first cohort of Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) students will be welcomed in fall 2024. Offering the only PsyD program in northern Indiana, PNW will prepare candidates who are credentialed and clinically trained to treat mental health needs.
The first doctoral students in PNW’s Doctor of Technology (DTech) began in fall 2022. A unique and innovative applied doctoral path of study, DTech candidates build on master’s level engineering and technology knowledge to apply theory for problem-solving in industrial and technology-related fields. The applied research and practice-based problems will ready graduates with an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset that can impact start-ups and industries. These doctoral candidates and their faculty advisors will have direct connections and collaborative partnerships with innovators that use PNW’s future Roberts Impact Lab. Although the Impact Lab will support new entrepreneurs in commercializing their concepts, the lab will go beyond that by providing “intrapreneurship” that helps scale existing businesses and assists with cross-functional development and testing.
Northwest Indiana’s future depends on inspiration and innovation from leading-edge researchers and determined community members collaborating on the continually evolving issues that face us. Purdue Northwest is reimagining how a regional public university drives change in its communities. I look forward with enthusiasm to the many ways we will work together to lead the transformational change that makes a positive impact for our families and neighbors in the region.