Dr. Stephen Beaudoin, Professor in the Davidson School of Chemical Engineering, was elected Vice Chair of the Purdue University Senate on Monday, March 23 during the governing body’s first virtual meeting. Dr. Beaudoin will succeed current Chair Professor Deborah Nichols when officer terms conclude at the end of fiscal year 2021, and will serve as Chair through the end of FY 2022.

Four candidates for the position were allotted up to five minutes to introduce themselves and present their qualifications for the role. Dr. Beaudoin won the election by a simple majority, gathering fifty-eight of the eighty-seven University Senate members’ votes.

Dr. Beaudoin says the University Senate plays an important role working in partnership with the administration and Trustees to help Purdue advance its hard-earned reputation as one of the world’s leading universities.

“As we all have worked furiously to cope with this current pandemic, I believe that Purdue has taken timely and appropriate steps to protect its stakeholders while remaining true to its academic mission,” Dr. Beaudoin says. “I give great credit to the Senate Chair, Professor Cheryl Cooky, and the other members of the current Senate leadership for the guidance they have provided that has aided this effective response.”

In his role as vice-Chair and then as Chair, Dr. Beaudoin plans to focus on actions that can elevate our shared pursuit of academic excellence. “This involves a holistic view of campus, and will include topics like better support for faculty and staff delivering education; a continued strong voice for the academy in university decision-making; rich support for student learning, especially for students with disabilities; better mental health services campus-wide; and better services for survivors of sexual violence,” he explains. “It is an honor for me to represent so many distinguished colleagues and successful students, and I look forward to the chance to serve them well.”

The Purdue University Senate is the governing body of the Purdue faculty, exercising the legislative and policy-making powers assigned to the faculty. The University Senate is subject to the authority of the Board of Trustees, and in consultation with Purdue President Mitch Daniels, the Senate has the power and responsibility to propose or to adopt policies, regulations, and procedures which are intended to accomplish the educational objectives of Purdue and the general welfare of those involved in the educational processes.

Tenured, tenure-track, clinical and clinical-track are all voting faculty members and are eligible to serve on the Senate and its associated committees. Senate leaders serve three-year terms, with terms beginning June 1.

Learn more about Professor Stephen Beaudoin at https://engineering.purdue.edu/ChE/people/ptProfile?resource_id=11574.

Learn more about the Purdue University Senate at https://www.purdue.edu/senate/index.php.

Read the Recap of the University Senate's March 23 meeting: https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/purduetoday/releases/2020/Q2/recap-of-university-senates-march-23-meeting.html

Source: Dr. Stephen Beaudoin, sbeaudoi@purdue.edu, 765-494-7944