Leadership Conference 2012

The Mortar Board Leadership Conference is targeted towards current and developing leaders. It is the largest student leadership conference at Purdue University. We offer 6 breakout sessions by professionals that focus on all scopes of successful leadership. This year's conference theme is "Empowering Tomorrow's Leaders." Our goal for the 21st annual Mortar Board Leadership Conference is to provide students with the opportunity to engage with Purdue Leaders while also helping them to enrich their leadership journey by highlighting our participants' success stories.

Date: Saturday, January 28, 2012
Time: 9:00 - 3:30 pm
Place: Stewart Center
Price: $25

This Year's Speakers

Jane A. Hamblin, J.D., CAE

Jane Hamblin brings both higher education administration and non-profit association experience to her role as Mortar Board�s executive director. Her specialties include leadership program development, membership cultivation and service delivery, and development. Jane hails from Knox, Indiana, and holds a B. S. from Purdue and a J. D. from Indiana University. She has complemented her background in student affairs and leadership program development with experience in writing, editing, and publishing. Purdue University, Indiana University, the University of Maryland Baltimore County, and Trinity University (D.C.) are the higher education institutions where she has honed her expertise.

At the Council of Graduate Schools and the American Association for Higher Education, Jane developed systems for growing members and donors. At the American Dental Education Association, Jane led the team that managed conferences, membership operations, member services, media, marketing, and publications, including the highly regarded Journal of Dental Education. As fundraiser-in-chief for the Starke County Community Foundation, she further enhanced her skills in endowment building and grant-making.

A collegiate member of Mortar Board, Jane was also the senior advisor of the Barbara Cook Chapter of Mortar Board at Purdue for 13 years. She was part of the growth of the Mortar Board Leadership Conference, the beginnings of the Emily Mauzy Vogel Sophomore Leadership Development Conference, and the expansion of the Indiana Greek Leadership Conference.

Dr. Melissa Exum

Dr. Melissa Exum joined Purdue University as Vice President for the Division of Student Affairs in August 2010 after serving 12 years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While at Chapel Hill, Dr. Exum worked in various capacities with the most recent being Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students.

Dr. Exum was born and raised in Warrenton, North Carolina. She received her Bachelor's Degree in Sociology, from Wake Forest University, a Master's Degree in Medical Sociology from the University of Maryland-Baltimore County, and a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration from Ohio University.

As Vice President, Dr. Exum believes that one of the foremost goals of student affairs should be to assist students in a developmental process that is holistic and emphasizes learning. �Our training as student affairs professionals positions us to help students learn about themselves, others and the communities in which they will live, work and raise families.�

Encouraging and empowering students to strive for excellence in everything they do is a passion of Dr. Exum�s. �We must all believe in the power behind what is possible and commit ourselves to these young people and their success at Purdue and beyond. Through their Purdue experience, we want to not only help them achieve what they have imagined, but to help them imagine what they can achieve.

Dale Whittaker, PhD

A. Dale Whittaker, professor in Purdue's College of Agriculture, is vice provost for undergraduate academic affairs. He leads undergraduate education, admissions, enrollment management, academic planning, program evaluation, and general academic policy development and implementation. Among other duties, he helps guide student access, transition and success programs, academic program development, the Center for Instructional Excellence, the Oral English Proficiency Program, the University Honors Program, the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Certificate Program, and the Undergraduate Studies Program. He is also liaison for curricular changes affecting multiple colleges.

"Dale brings experience as both a scholar and administrator to this key position," Provost Tim Sands said. "He has worked on expansion of academic programs and student services in the College of Agriculture and will bring that experience to this job. And he's committed to helping Purdue strengthen its position as global leader going forward." Whittaker said, "This is a challenging and exciting time for Purdue. Capacity has been built, excellence is recognized, a can-do culture exists. It is imperative that we continue to enhance our reputation for quality academic programs. I'm honored to be part of that effort." Whittaker, who has master's and doctorate degrees in agricultural engineering from Purdue, has been with the university in his current roles since 2002. He came to Purdue after 15 years at Texas A&M University.

Dr. Evelyn Blackwood

Dr. Evelyn Blackwood is a socio-cultural anthropologist and professor in the Department of Anthropology at Purdue University. She is interested broadly in questions of gender, sexuality, identity and power in the context of a globalized world. She has published a number of works addressing topics such as Native American female two-spirits, tombois in Indonesia, gender and power, matrilineal kinship, and theories of sexualities.

Her first monograph, Webs of Power: Women, Kin and Community in a Sumatran Village, examined gender and kinship among the Minangkabau of West Sumatra. She has co-edited two award-winning anthologies, Female Desires: Same-sex Relations and Transgender Practices across Cultures and Women�s Sexualities and Masculinities in a Globalizing Asia. Her most recent book Falling into the Lesbi World: Desire and Difference in Indonesia (2010) explores same-sex sexualities and female-bodied trans-identities in Indonesia.

Dr. Christine Taylor

G. Christine Taylor became Purdue University's first vice provost for diversity and chief diversity officer in August 2009. Vice Provost Taylor oversees the Diversity Resource Office, the Women�s Resource Office, the Black Cultural Center, the Hispanic/Latino Cultural Center and the Native American Education and Cultural Center. With reporting lines to the provost and president, Dr. Taylor serves as a member of the president's cabinet. Taylor completed her master�s and doctorate degrees at Ohio University and her bachelor's degree from Middle Tennessee State University.

She also completed the Harvard University Management Development Program and was a 2002-2003 Fellow with the American Council for Education, the nation�s premiere higher education leadership development program. Prior to her career in higher education, Dr. Taylor enjoyed a successful career in public broadcasting. She is a trainer, facilitator and motivational speaker who has worked with organizations throughout on the country on leadership, communications, team building and diversity.

Nancy Madru

For thirteen years, Nancy has been a member of the Rotary Club of Kokomo, Indiana. Asking what she can do to make a difference in her club, in her community and around the world, Nancy feels that Rotary International provides the best opportunity to influence progress.

Serving as her club�s president in Rotary centennial year (2004-05), Nancy says her "hair caught on fire�� for Rotary at the Presidents Elect Training Seminar (PETS) and she, and her husband Tom, and daughter, Joey, attended the Rotary International Convention in Japan, later that year. Since that time, she has served three years as Assistant District Governor, three years as District Simplified Grants Chair and as District Secretary. Also having served in various capacities for PETS, the District Conference, District Assembly and seminars, Nancy feels each station has been a learning experience, enriching and expanding her understanding of Rotary�s impact. She was chosen as "Rotarian of the Year� for our district in 2006-07, under then governor, Bing Pratt.

Judge Loretta Rush

Loretta H. Rush serves as the judge with juvenile jurisdiction in Tippecanoe County, Indiana. She has held the office since 1999. She received her honors undergraduate degree in education from Purdue University in 1980 and her law degree with honors from Indiana University in 1983.

Judge Rush is the Chair of the Indiana Juvenile Justice Commission, Vice President of the Indiana Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges, Former Chair and current member Indiana Child Welfare Improvement Committee and Family Court Judges Board of Directors, and a current member of the Indiana and the Tippecanoe County Bar Associations, and the National Council of Juvenile Court Judges. She has received numerous awards for her work on behalf of youth and their families in Tippecanoe County, including the Juvenile Court Judge of the Year Award for the State of Indiana, the Tippecanoe County Fiscal Responsibility Award, the CASA Child Advocacy Award, the Salute to Women Award and the Lillian Kaplan Award for Human Services.

Susan Butler

Susan is CEO of The Susan Bulkeley Butler Institute for the Development of Women Leaders, and the author of Women Count: A Guide to Changing the World and Be the CEO of You, Inc.

Susan joined Arthur Andersen & Co. as its first professional female employee in 1965 and was ultimately named the firm�s first female partner of what is now Accenture. Before her retirement in 2002, Susan was the Managing Partner for Accenture�s Office of the CEO under Joe W. Forehand, and also served on Accenture�s Executive Committee and as President of the Accenture Foundation.

Susan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial management and an Honorary Doctorate in management from Purdue University where she was the past president of Purdue�s President�s Council and a former member of Purdue's Board of Trustees and Research Foundation. She is on the Dean's Advisory Council for the School of Management, the National Board of Advisors of Eller College of Management and the School of Science at the University of Arizona.

Fr. Patrick Baikauskas

I am the youngest of four boys having grown up in a small town in Illinois on the border with Indiana. After receiving my B.A. in political science from Bradley University, I entered banking, never thinking I would actually use my political science degree. But a couple years later, I was offered a summer internship with my local congressman in Washington, D.C. I went for the summer, but it was 17 years before I finally returned home to Illinois. I began my second job with an Illinois governor and ended my career in government in 2001 with a third governor. But in the interim, I ran for office twice � lost twice too, but they were both great experiences.

By 2001, God�s call to priestly life became irresistible. I had twice resisted � once as a teenager and again about 15 years ago. The third call was it for me, and I feel that while I have been given great experiences in life, nothing compares to this current journey. The Dominican life of prayer, active ministry, community life and study seems an ideal fit for me. My Dominican brothers have always told me that of our vows of obedience, chastity and poverty � obedience will prove the most difficult. Well maybe that will prove to be true, but for now, when I am given the opportunity to serve in places like St. Tom�s, I only feel very, very blessed.

Roger Stewart

Roger is passionate about helping graduate and undergraduate students develop career strategies and career management skills, both of which he believes will serve them for a lifetime. In addition to the typical career management skills of resume and interview preparation, he encourages and teaches students how to network, as a means to develop their personal and professional goals; i.e., career strategy. Using that career information, he coaches students to develop personal growth plans to achieve those goals. He strongly believes that beyond its terrific curriculum, Purdue provides a learning laboratory to develop top notch leaders, whether in business, academia, or personal life.

In addition to his role as the Director of Krannert�s Career Services organization, Roger has taught International Finance and Capital Markets courses in the MBA curriculum. His classes are designed to help students take the classroom to the business environment. In addition to his teaching, he is an advisor to Purdue�s Barbara Cook Chapter of Mortar Board.

He is the retired Vice President of Global Treasury for Procter & Gamble (P&G). P&G�s risk management program is considered among the very best of global firms. Risk is managed via Value-at-Risk software designed with RiskMetrics, Inc. P&G also is a leader in global cash management using software designed with Wall Street Systems and SAP.

Anthony Cawdron

Anthony Cawdron is the Events Coordinator and House Manager at �Westwood�, Purdue President France Cordova�s official residence, a position he held at Iowa State University before making the transition to Purdue with now President Emeritus, Martin Jischke, over ten years ago.

Anthony also teaches business etiquette and advanced service courses in the Hospitality and Tourism Management department at Purdue. He has a Masters degree in Hospitality and has held a variety of positions including banquet manager, restaurant manager, hospitality faculty in Switzerland and three years as a butler in two of England�s finest stately homes; Blenheim Palace and Sutton Place.

David Lewis

David G. Lewis understands firsthand about the topic of leadership. He started his career in law enforcement where he learned firsthand how leadership or the lack thereof can affect your personal/organizational bottom line. David uses his personal experience to teach people how to make sense in a senseless world.

After receiving his bachelor�s degree in Criminal Justice, he spent several years in Law Enforcement, before returning to Illinois State University and completing a Masters in Political Science. David then spent several years working as a higher education administrator at Purdue University in W. Lafayette, IN.

As a speaker he has spoken to numerous associations, corporate, and not-for-profit audiences such as The Ohio State University, The University of Notre Dame, The Dayton Bar Association, Ball State University, Southern Illinois University, East Carolina University, Eastern Illinois University, Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, McLean County Chamber of Commerce, Purdue University, and The Indiana Law Enforcement Academy. His presentations include motivational and educational topics, ranging from making empowering choices to cultural change and workplace communication.