About us

Briggitta August

Director of Student Excellence and Community

Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, she has spent the past 16 years calling South Korea, Vietnam and Michigan home. After graduating from Stellenbosch University (South Africa) with her Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, she moved to South Korea to teach English as a Second Language. Discovering a love for teaching and life-long learning, she turned her “gap year” into a career. She continued her studies and obtained a post graduate certification in international education from the University of Nottingham, UK. She continued teaching in Hanoi, Vietnam and ultimately returned to South Korea, a place she describes as her “second home”. Briggitta immigrated to the USA In first serving as an AmeriCorps member and then working for the Kent intermediate School district as a Career Coach and Case worker, assisting 16–24-year-olds with College and Career pathways. Briggitta arrived at Purdue University in January 2019 as the Program Coordinator for the Emerging Leader Scholars. In 2021 she joined the College of Liberal Arts. In this role she found the perfect place for her skills and past experiences. She enjoys continuing educating through her Black History Walking Tour. Working with first-generation students and doing outreach with high school students, has enabled her to continue college access work. Briggitta completed her Masters in Higher Education Administration in 2023, and is the 2023 recipient of the Carolyn E. Johnson Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Staff Excellence Award. Briggitta and her family enjoys traveling and good food. Most recently they visited Egypt, Greece and Mexico. Stop by to say hello at her new office in Stone Hall 348!

Stone Hall 348, 700 W. State St.
baaugust@purdue.edu
765-496-0891

Candace Tulacz

Academic Advisor and Retention Specialist

They grew up in Metro Detroit (Taylor, Michigan to be exact) and spent their formative years playing sports and attending Detroit Sports games! (Go Pistons/Lions/Tigers!) After graduating as a first-gen student from Purdue College of Liberal Arts with their Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Women’s Studies in 2012, they moved to Los Angeles, California to complete time as a City Year AmeriCorps Member. During their time in LA, they worked with high school students and fifth grade students to holistically build academic and life skills. After this they continued working with high school students in their hometown back in Michigan as a College bound success coach. They attended Eastern Michigan University for graduate school where they received their Master of Arts degree in Educational Leadership – Higher Education Student Affairs in 2018. During their time at Eastern, they worked with Student Organizations and Leadership development programming as well as interning at the University of Michigan – Spectrum Center. Upon graduation, they worked at the University of Michigan Center for Campus Involvement, where they built and delivered leadership development workshops and curriculum for student organizations and their leaders. Candace found their way back to Purdue professionally and they have worked as an Academic Advisor since 2021. As of Fall 2025, they serve as a retention specialist in the Success Tracks program. When they aren’t working you can find them doing crafts, reading graphic novels or memoirs, listening to music/going to concerts, playing D&D, volunteering, watching Women’s basketball (and other sports), or hanging with their wife and two cats.

ctulacz@purdue.edu

Emily Wright

Senior Administrative Assistant

Before moving for college, she resided in Cayuga, IN, a small town one hour north of Terre Haute, IN. In Winona Lake, Indiana, Emily earned her Bachelor's Degree in Visual Communication Design with a minor in French from Grace College. During her time in Winona Lake she built experience working in various capacities in archival settings, including the Morgan Library, Winona Lake Historical Center, and the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum. As evident through her schooling, she enjoys learning about different time periods and cultures, their languages and art. Outside of work she enjoys her cats, memoirs, Stardew Valley, and milk tea lattes.