Alumna Returns as Old Master

Priscilla Hill-Ardoin speaks with department faculty Steve Wilson, left, and Toby Arquette

_____ For more information:  _____ Old Masters Program Southwestern Bell

Priscilla Hill-Ardoin, an executive vice president with Southwestern Bell and department alumna, returned to campus as part of Purdue's Old Masters program this fall.

Hill-Ardoin, M.A 1974, met informally with Department of Communication faculty and graduate students. She also spoke to an Organizational Communication class.

During her talk, she stressed the knowledge and power that comes from understanding the impact of verbal and nonverbal communication. She told a story of how she once refused to take a piece of paper being offered by her boss. When the boss eventually laid the paper on her desk, he recognized her displeasure with the event without her having to say a word, she said.

Before joining Southwestern Bell, she helped form the Communication Department at Prairie View A&M University in Texas.

"I think overall she motivated many of my students to start taking action toward things they want to accomplish," said instructor Rebecca Meisenbach. "Two students stopped by my office right after her visit, one wanting to join a communication research team and another wanting to talk about graduate degrees in Organizational Communication."

Hill-Ardoin is a native of Houston and also holds degrees from Washington University, St. Louis University and Drury College.

Each year, Purdue brings back 10 alumni to share their experiences for two days as part of the Old Masters program.