Claire Liu and Ramon Peña 

Valentine’s Day holds a unique significance for people worldwide, but for Claire and Ramon Peña-Liu, it carries an extra touch of magic. Ramon was a third-year Ph.D. student when Claire joined the same research group as a first-year. As the research group studied crystallization, Claire and Ramon’s personal sentiments towards each other also 'crystalized,’ creating the potential to be more than colleagues and friends.

Claire and Ramon had their first date on February 13^th, 2016, specifically choosing the day before Valentine’s Day to avoid any awkward feelings. After a successful first date, the pair began dating, holding a two-day celebration each year in honor of Valentine’s Day and their first date.

Like the rest of the world, 2020 marked a turning point for Ramon and Claire. Both were granted the opportunity to work remotely, so they decided to move in together. In the beginning, Claire’s cat, Benji, wasn’t too sure about his new roommate; however, Claire claims that Ramon and Benji are now best friends. 

Navigating the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and the adjustments of living together, Claire and Ramon’s relationship and came out stronger and sillier. Ramon soon began planning the big ask, inviting his family to join in on the exciting event. He kept the proposal a secret from Claire by asking her to join him at a work event in Brooklyn, New York. While there, the couple traveled to nearby Pebble Beach, where Ramon created the perfect distraction by asking Claire to take his picture. As she looked away, Ramon’s family emerged with “Will You Marry Me?” signs. Ramon got down on one knee, and Claire tearfully said yes. 

Ramon and Claire Pena-Liu tied the knot on August 31, 2023, in New Jersey, with a reception following in Pennsylvania. Today, they are both engineers with Johnson & Johnson and call New Jersey home with their cat (Ramon’s best friend) Benji.

Spice and Ken Krozel 

Giovanna, AKA Spice, Krozel met her husband of 24 years – Ken Krozel -- in a case of love at first “sine.” After being married for 24 years, the couple has created a life full of chinchillas, cheering on the Boilermakers, and chemical engineering. Both Purdue University Chemical Engineering alums, Spice and Ken’s story began in an unconventional place: calculus class. 

Ken and Spice met on the third day of MA165 classes in August 1994, where Spice was sitting in the fifth row – the second seat from the aisle, to be exact. The aisle seat was broken. Ken came into class five minutes late, spotting the broken chair beside Spice. She told him that the seat was broken. He thought she simply didn’t want to sit next to him. He sat down and, of course, the seat was broken. Spice says that they have been friends ever since. Four years later, he proposed in the same math classroom.

They live in Gurnee, IL and Cambridge, MA and claim themselves to be “mid-coastal.” As far as their professional lives go, Ken recently launched Lake County Golf Academy, and Spice is the US GREFP Strategic Initiative Lead, Chief of Staff for Takeda Pharmaceuticals. The Krozels share their Chicagoland home with their eight chinchillas. 

Spice and Ken are proud Purdue alumni, serving on the President’s Council Advisory Board. Spice also serves as the President of the NNW Suburbs of Chicago Alumni Club. When they can, they make their way to West Lafayette to cheer on the Boilermakers at basketball and football games. Both are participating in the upcoming The Challenge 5K on April 13. Their team is named #SpiceSTRONG, honoring Spice’s fight against breast cancer in 2023. The Krozels are running to represent survivors, those currently fighting, and those who are no longer with us. They encourage others to join them in honoring those who breast cancer has affected.    

Joseph and Marti Alford

Joseph Alford, a distinguished Purdue alumnus, has woven a remarkable journey through the realms of chemical engineering, automation consulting, and a 35-year career at Eli Lilly and Company. Supporting Joseph throughout his career has been Marti Alford, a graduate of Purdue in Food and Nutrition. The heart of their story lies in the unexpected and enduring romance that blossomed from the 1964 Purdue Computer Match Dance—a chance encounter that would lead to 55 years of marital bliss.

Reflecting on his Purdue days, Alford fondly recalls the pivotal role a Chemical Engineering Senior Design course and capstone project played in his life. Capstone projects required teams to use their strong foundation in engineering basics and logical and analytical thinking to program the University's IBM 360 computer, with computer programs coded onto IBM punch cards. The challenges and triumphs of coding programs left an indelible mark on Joseph, beginning the enduring imprint Purdue computer technology would have on the rest of his life.

Joseph revealed that computer technology played a significant role in selecting his life partner. “In 1964, Purdue University hosted the first computer match dance in the Midwest. At the time, Purdue’s student population was predominantly male, with six males enrolled for every female. The computer match dance was sponsored by the Junior Class Council. Event organizers could only accept the same number of men as women who signed up, leaving many frustrated males who were not able to attend. To register, students were required to answer 20 multiple choice questions, with answers entered on IBM punch cards.”

That Nov. Friday evening, 1,252 singles walked into the Memorial Union ready to be paired up. In front of ABC and CBS television cameras, Alford would meet his future wife, Marti. “I was a senior at the time, and she was a freshman. We dated for 14 months, getting lavaliered and pinned, and she then waited for me while continuing her education while I served for two years in the US Navy as an Engineering Officer on an aircraft carrier in the Vietnam War,” remembers Alford. “We married after she graduated, and we have since been together for over 55 years. I believe we are one of two couples who met at the computer match dance and got married. We now have three sons and five grandchildren.”

^{The photo above is the Alford’s famous Christmas card, taken several years ago at a Purdue special banquet in the Memorial Union, recognizing its most famous alumni. From the left, Neil Armstrong (the first man on the moon), Joseph Alford, Marti Alford, Eugene Cernan (last man on the moon), and Jerry Ross (astronaut with the most missions to the space station). Photo provided by Joseph Alford.}

To learn more about Joe Alford’s exciting chemical, computer, and electrical engineering career, visit  https://engineering.purdue.edu/ChE/news/2024/meet-our-che-alumnus-joseph-alford-