ASK THE PRESIDENTS

We asked Purdue alumni who are now presidents of their institutions
the following question:
"What is the most important thing that you learned in college
(academically, socially, spiritually or otherwise)?"

Merlyn Albright: president of Albright Investment Corp.
"There is only one way to fail, and that’s to quit."

Betsy Wiersma: president of Wiersma Experience Marketing
"Love all of life; It is the journey that is the adventure.
Build relationships; Friends and family are more valuable than anything.
Work within your passion; Leave a mark on the Earth with your gifts.
Thank everyone; No one makes it alone."

Susan Mitchell: president of Curtis-Mitchell Associates
"The single most important thing that I learned at college is a model of what life is all about — having to make choices, determine priorities, set goals and work toward those goals. Self discipline is part of the equation — do I go to the party or study for the exam?"

Dan Angel: president of Marshall University
"How to organize my time, focus and the value of networking."

Gerry Goldhaber: president of Goldhaber Research Associates
"Charles Redding taught me how to be a good consultant to business and industry, and how to maintain a high ethical standard as a consultant… Ray Nadeau (as chair in 1967) taught me to stand up for my principles (as he backed me when I flunked a star football player and got pressure ... to change the grade)."

James Scott: president of Elkay Manufacturing Co.
"I believe that the college experience is a unique time for a person to develop a passion for something or someone that lasts the rest of your life. I am not sure you realize that until years later."

Carol Albright: president of Albright Investment Corp.
"In hindsight, the wonderful friendships that started at Purdue University that I have continues to maintain… but I would love to have the recipe for Texas Straw Hat from the dorms."

Emilie Copeland D’Agostino: president of EM&M Marketing Communication
"At Purdue, by choosing my coursework, attending classes, studying independently and in teams, going to church, living and working in the residence halls, and dating my now husband, I honed my personal life-skills, such as setting and conquering goals, organizing my daily commitments as I worked toward my future ones, remaining flexible and open to change and ideas, working autonomously, and making friends. Doing so enabled me to become a good Christian, wife, mother of two, and sole proprietor. I can’t wait to see where my life-skills take me next!"

John M. Ripley: president of Ripley Association Inc.
"The single most important thing I leaned at Purdue — and it took four-plus years to realize it — was that Purdue and its culture would probably be integral parts of the rest of my life. And this notion has rung true for me, not just because my life-long career as a technical marketing communications specialist started Day One after my graduation. But to a larger degree because the diversity of the university’s people — students I met, lived with, and studied with, and those in the faculty and administration — exposed me to such a fascinating and vastly disparate "university" thinking. Each year at homecoming, strong memories are strong reminders of just how deep and rich the influence of Purdue has been, and continues to be."

Compiled by: Katherine Peters, Telecommunication Senior