Loyal Purdue alumnus Jack Hockema (BSCE ’68, MS Management ’70) and his wife, Kay, want the University to hire and retain the best possible professors. To that end, Jack and Kay recently announced one named professorship and created another for the Lyles School of Civil Engineering.

The endowments double their support for high-quality researchers and educators.

“I feel strongly about the School of Civil Engineering and the education it gave me. Anything I can do to make sure it hires and retains the best professors available, I’ll do it,” Jack says. “I really feel strongly about this. In fact, I’m about to set up something similar to this at the Krannert School.”

Last year, Srinivas Peeta was named as the Jack and Kay Hockema Professor of Civil Engineering. Peeta oversees multidisciplinary research in many areas, from large-scale transportation systems to autonomous vehicles.

Through the Rising Star faculty endowments program, the Hockemas more recently established the Jack and Kay Hockema Assistant Professor/Associate Professor in Civil Engineering endowment. That position has yet to be filled. The couple has also agreed to provide matching funds for a future endowed professorship in Civil Engineering.

“Through the Hockema professorships, the Lyles School is better able to recognize and retain talented faculty in the early stages of their careers,” says Rao S. Govindaraju, the Bowen Engineering Head of Civil  Engineering and Christopher B. and Susan S. Burke Professor of Civil Engineering. “It further allows the school to pursue its strategic goals, and excel in our efforts at discovery, learning, and engagement.”

A Lasting Legacy

For Lafayette natives Jack and Kay, giving back to Purdue is an extension of a fruitful and ongoing relationship with the University. Jack’s great-uncle, Professor Frank C. Hockema (BSME ’18, MSME ’23), taught at Purdue beginning in 1920 and eventually served as both executive dean and vice president of the University from 1945-56. Jack’s sisters are Purdue graduates, as are Jack and Kay’s daughters, Meredith and Stephanie. Today, the Hockemas’ granddaughter, Cassie, is a management student at Purdue.

“Purdue has been instrumental in the lives of our family,” Kay says. “We are pleased to be able to give back to an institution that has been such a strong and positive influence on all of our lives.”

Prepared by Purdue

Hockema serves as the CEO and Chairman of the Board at Kaiser Aluminum Corp., a leading producer of high-strength, fabricated aluminum products for aerospace, automotive and custom industrial applications.

Jack and Kay, who now live in Orange County, California, are actively involved with the University. Jack has served on Purdue’s Civil Engineering Advisory Council; he and Kay currently serve on Purdue’s Champion’s Committee. Jack was honored with the Civil Engineering Alumni Achievement Award in 1996, the Distinguished Engineering Alumni Award in 2012 and a Krannert School of Management Distinguished Alumni Award in 2009.

“I can’t stress enough how important Purdue has been to my professional success. Being a local kid, Purdue really opened my eyes to the world and helped me compete on the larger stage,” says Jack. “My family’s history with Purdue certainly factors into my support now."