Laura De Leon (Civil Engineering, 2010) is an outstanding and tireless leader. Laura has spent the past year as President of the Purdue University Campus Chapter of Habitat for Humanity (PUHFH). PUHFH is one of the larger dues-paying student organizations on campus, was recently recognized as one of the top five campus chapters in the country, and regularly funds and constructs a house for and with the Lafayette affiliate of Habitat for Humanity, as well as sending out about six Spring Break trips to work with Habitat affiliates throughout the U.S.. 

In the past year or so it was clear that the scope of PUHFH’s operations were getting so large that the board structure needed modifying. Laura became President in January 2009 as a new six-person Executive Board was created, guiding a further twelve Administrative Board members. By August 2009, the activities of PUHFH were exploding. At very short notice, the campus chapter was asked to play a key role in mobilizing student organizations for one of three “Purdue houses” built as part of Hammering with Hope – a project endorsed by Coach Danny Hope and the Purdue Intercollegiate Athletics Department, and also (for 2009) honoring ex-Coach Joe Tiller. In addition, plans came to fruition to organize the first-ever PUHFH Spring Break trip abroad, to El Salvador, in Spring 2010, as well as the usual six trips within the United States.

All this has gone extremely well. Executive Director of Lafayette HFH, Doug Taylor, characterized Hammering with Hope as an unqualified success in 2009, and something that he expects to pursue each fall for the foreseeable future. The planned trip to El Salvador is being put in place. Other fundraisers and other Spring Break trips continue as before. In this explosive burst of additional activity, Laura has been tireless and effective. She has led by creating much-needed organizational structure, as well as by her own willingness to go the extra mile to see that nothing falls between the cracks. Laura has also led by her positive, realistic and unflappable approach to rapidly-evolving challenges, and by her encouragement of both board members and the general chapter membership. In addition, she has found time to mentor officers organizing important fundraisers, including a Cover Indiana bike ride in May and the Bucket 100 bike ride, between Purdue and IU campuses in November.

John Pomery, associate professor of economics and a faculty advisor with PUHFH for over twenty years, describes Laura as having outstanding skills in terms of effective leadership. “Laura achieves all this while being a model of service to others and to the mission of the campus chapter, and while exhibiting incredible time management, complete integrity, and a modesty and imperturbability that is exemplary.” Not only is Laura in the process of applying for graduate school, but she also spent the summer of 2009 as a volunteer with Bike and Build, traveling by bicycle from the Atlantic coast of the U.S. to the Pacific Ocean, and building at numerous stops along the route.