The Purduette Mentors Program, established in 2005, consists of women leaders who help the Purduettes to develop leadership and camaraderie within the Purduettes and throughout the community. Each Mentor brings her own style of wisdom and experience to the group, along with several personal and professional accomplishments from which they can draw advice for the women of the Purduettes. As role models to the leaders of tomorrow, the Mentors are paired with one or a small group of Purduettes, giving the Mentors and the Purduettes the opportunity to get to know each other on a more personal level. The Mentors also participate in several activities that allow for the cultivation of friendships, life lessons, and, of course, music!
It's going to be another great year of mentorship and music!
Purduette Mentors
Cheryl Altinkemer
A resident of Lafayette for thirty-nine years, Cheryl Altinkemer has been to countless performances of the Purduettes and admired the group for many years. Cheryl attended Indiana State University for her Bachelor of Science degree and Purdue for her Master of Science degree. She now holds the title of Associate Vice President of Advancement for Purdue University. Cheryl and her husband Kemal, a professor at Purdue, have lived in Lafayette most of their lives but have also spent some time in Istanbul, Turkey where they continue to spend time with family and friends each year. Cheryl is a founding board member of the national Women’s Philanthropy Institute and has also held leadership positions in the Association of Fundraising Professionals, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, and the National Committee on Planned Giving.
Karin Brown
Purduette alumna Karin Brown presently works as an event planner for the Purdue University Development Office/College of Engineering. Karin graduated from Purdue in 2008 and received her Bachelor of Science degree from the school of Consumer and Family Sciences in Hotel and Tourism Management. Karin hails from Beavercreek, OH, but she also calls Lafayette home. Her family includes her mother Lynne and father Mark as well as her sister Kristin Vander Pyl and brother-in-law Tim Vander Pyl.
Kate Burke
When asked to be a mentor to the Purduettes, Kate Burke says she could not say no and that it has been a pleasure. A Purdue University graduate in Pharmacy, Kate works as a pharmacist with Walgreen’s. She and her husband Morgan, a Purdue alumnus himself and the current Athletic Director for Purdue, are residents of West Lafayette. They have three children Joyce, Morgan, and Patrick who have all followed in their parents footsteps by attending Purdue.
Nancy Cross
Nancy Cross is originally from
Walpole, Massachusetts, she received her undergraduate degree in French and physical education from Ashland College in Ashland, Ohio. Thereafter, she received her master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from Purdue. She currently resides in Lafayette, working for Purdue Athletics as Sr. Associate Athletics Director and has administrative oversight of 8 of the teams.
Cele Flanary
Cele Flanary is an employee of the Purdue University Development Office and is the Assistant Director of President’s Council, a council that recognizes distinguished alumni and friends of the University. Cele calls Texas, the Lone star state, home but graduated from Purdue in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Science. Cele’s family includes her husband Rod and her three sons Pat, Sean, and Matthew.
Carolyn Gery
In 1972, the Purdue University Development Department was established. The department turned to PMO to help attract alumni and to have the needs of Purdue heard. Carolyn Gery recently retired in 2008 from her position of Associate Vice President of Development, but she can recall the special element that PMO and its directors brought and continue to bring to their events. Carolyn also served as the President’s Council Director. Carolyn lives in West Lafayette with her husband Mike. They have three sons, Jeff, Doug, and Michael. Carolyn also has seven grandchildren.
Donna Goetz
Donna Goetz is no stranger to the Purdue Musical Organizations family. Her son, Aaron, was a member of the Purdue Varsity Glee Club from 2001 to 2005 and she has traveled various places with both the PVGC and the Purduettes. In 1995, Donna accompanied the Purduettes to San Francisco as a President’s Council employee and in 2002 she was fortunate to accompany her son and the Purdue Varsity Glee Club to China and the British Isles. She considers herself a true PVGC groupie! Donna resides in Lafayette with her husband J. Alan Goetz, and her two sons Ethan and Aaron, both Purdue graduates, live in Indianapolis. Donna is a graduate of Indiana Wesleyan and now serves as an Executive Assistant for Unity Healthcare.
Natalie Griffel
Natalie Griffel, wife of PMO director Bill Griffel, comes to the Lafayette area originally from Selma, Indiana. She graduated from Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana receiving Bachelor of Science degrees in Political Science and United States History. Natalie is a former Sales Specialist for Rivar’s, Inc. and now spends time at home with her two children, Josie, age two, and Will, age four and a half.
Stephanie Hainje
Stephanie Hainje is affiliated with PEFCU, Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union, where she is a card plan manager. She also works closely with the Purdue Alumni Association (PAA) as part of PEFCU’s partnership with the PAA affinity credit card. She attended Purdue University and holds a degree in Child Development and Family Studies. Stephanie, her husband Thad, their daughters, Lauren, Jordan, and Madison, and their dog Tootsie live in Lafayette.
Becky Hershey
Becky Hershey is affiliated with the Purdue School of Veterinary Medicine serving as the Donor Relations Manager. She attended Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Illinois and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Music Business. Becky calls Chicago home but currently resides in Lafayette, Indiana with her husband Aaron and two children, Will and Drew.
Jennie Jones
Jennie Jones graduated from Purdue University, receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in Consumer and Family Sciences. Today, Jennie is the assistant to Purdue University’s current President, Dr. France Córdova. Jennie does not live far from her alma mater, making her home in Lafayette, Indiana. Her family includes her mother and father, Hobart and Lois; her three brothers Tom, Doug, and Dan; and her cat, Jake.
Natalie Kubat
Natalie Kubat received her Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University-Bloomington and now holds the National Coordinator Position of EPICS or Engineering Projects In Community Service. She and her husband Mike, a Purdue graduate and teacher at Jefferson High school in Lafayette, have two sons, Nicklas, age eight, and Seeger, age five. Natalie and Mike will also be hosting an exchange student from Norway named Mia this upcoming school year. The Kubats call Lafayette home and despite being an Indiana University alumna, Natalie says she is definitely a fan of the Purduettes!
Linda Rohrman
Linda Rohrman became co-chair of the newly formed Purduette mentor program in 2005. She was first introduced to PMO and the Purduettes in 2003 while attending a Back to Class Session. There she learned that a travel and performance fund was needed to help the groups travel the world as ambassadors of the University. Linda helped to initiate this fund. Since then Linda has involved herself in Purdue Musical Organizations regularly and even traveled with the Glee Club in 2005. Linda graduated from Ball State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. She resides in Lafayette, Indiana and is highly involved in the community. A few organizations she is involved with include Mental Health America of Tippecanoe County, Purdue University Cancer Research Center, Ambassadors for Children, and Vision of Hope Residential Treatment Center.
Julie Schug
Julie attended Purdue from 1989-1992 studying Organized Leadership and Supervision. During her time at Purdue she was also a Purduette under the direction of Jae Kellogg. She continued at Purdue in1992 pursuing her Master’s degree in Industrial Technology. Julie currently works as a Supply Chain Black Belt for Caterpillar and has worked for them for fourteen years. She has several positions there including I.T Development Analyst, Manufacturing Engineer, Master Scheduling Supervisor, and Operations Black Belt. Julie was born in Lafayette to Pete and Sharon Schug, and she has brother named Brad. Julie, like her parents, still resides in Lafayette. Some of Julie’s hobbies include gardening, landscaping, planting flowers, water and snow skiing, karaoke parties, and volunteering.
Lisa Stanforth
Lisa Stanforth graduated from Purdue in 2007 receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication. During her four years at Purdue, 2003-2007, Lisa was a Purduette. She now makes her home in Lafayette where she is a news producer for WLFI-TV18. Lisa grew up in Kokomo, IN with her parents Mark and Madelyn, and her sisters Michelle and Maria. Lisa also has a dog named Lola. Lisa stays involved in the Arts by participating in community theatre productions as often as possible.
Beth Steurer
Being the Director of Donor Relations for the Purdue Cancer Center, Beth Steurer was first introduced to PMO in conjunction with the Cancer Benefit concert that the Purduettes help to put on each spring. Beth’s heart belongs to Purdue University. She graduated from Purdue receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in the College of Technology in Organized Leadership and Supervision, met her husband at Purdue, and has lived here in West Lafayette for eleven years. Beth and her husband Jeff also have three “kids”, Mulligan, Cassie, and Princess; their basset hound, boxer, and cat!
Debbie Tutak
A graduate from Purdue University, Debbie Tutak was also a Purduette in her days at Purdue! While there, she studied Industrial Management in the Krannert School of Management. Debbie now serves as the Office Manager in the Organized Leadership and Supervision Department of Purdue. She and her husband Leo reside in West Lafayette.
Sarah Vallier
Sarah Vallier is originally from Battle Creek, Michigan and moved to Lafayette, Indiana in 2001. She received her Bachelor of the Arts in Secondary Education, a Math degree and a minor in Geography, from Western Michigan University. For some time after, Sarah worked as a High school math teacher. Sarah and her husband Jeff, director of the Purduettes, have three children Adin, age seven, Riley, age six, and Julia, age three.
Emily M. Wadsworth
Emily (Emy) Wadsworth was formerly the Administrator for Women in Engineering Programs at Purdue. In her time in this position, she created three mentoring programs for both undergraduate and graduate students. Her work increased retention rates of female engineering students, and these programs were then used as model programs for many other engineering institutions across the United States. To document her knowledge and experience in this area, Emy has written the book, “Giving Much/Gaining More”. In summer of 2005, Emy was asked to assist in starting a Mentoring Program for the Purduettes. Prior to receiving her Ph.D. in Child Development and Family Studies from Purdue, Emy attended both Cornell University, where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, and Oregon State University, where she received a Master of Science degree. She and her husband Dr. Henry Wadsworth live in West Lafayette.
Susan Woodson
A resident of Lafayette, Susan Woodson has lived in Boilermaker Country for the last twenty-four years. In fact, Purdue is what brought Susan to Lafayette. Susan’s husband Randy came to Purdue to serve as a professor in the Horticulture department. He now serves as Provost of Purdue University. Susan is a very accomplished woman herself having attended the University of Arkansas for her undergraduate degree and Purdue University for her Master’s degree in Graphic Arts. She also taught Design courses at Purdue. She currently serves as co-publisher of Helen Magazine as well as the Art Director for the Magazine. Helen Magazine is a local publication for women of the community with the mission to support and educate women. Susan says that mentoring is also a part of Helen Magazine and that being a mentor to the Purduettes is a great opportunity for her to do so. Susan has three children. Samantha is a Purdue graduate, Chloe currently attends Purdue, and Patrick is an Indiana University graduate who is currently working on his Master’s at Purdue. They also have two dogs named Geargia and Oreo.
BeAnn Younker
BeAnn Younker is a former Purduette from 1987-1992, and graduated with her bachelor's in Education from Purdue University. Her master's in administration was completed in 2004. She has been a middle school principal for four years and loves the opportunity to work with adolescents. She and her husband of 14 years and are blessed with two children, Seth 7 and Kennedy, 5. She is active with many professional organizations and charitable organizations and has a love for water sports, reading, music, and art.