Collaboration between the Colleges of Engineering and Liberal Arts began with just one student* graduating with an interdisciplinary engineering degree in 1975. Over forty years later, hundreds of Purdue Engineering alumni have benefited from what began as an idea to provide better opportunities for students interested in sound and theatre.  This colloquium will celebrate the history, milestones, and those vested in the progress. Perspectives from faculty, alumni, industry leaders, and current students will all be incorporated in the hour-long program closing with a pair-and-share networking segment. 

 

Interim Head Audeen Fentiman will lead discussion with this year’s panelists:

 

Rich Dionne, Assistant Professor and Faculty Technical Director for the Department of Theatre in the Purdue Liberal Arts Patti & Rusty Rueff School of Visual Performing Arts 

 

Ian Boze, Technical Director for the Department of Performing Arts at the University of Florida. Ian is a 2011 graduate from the Purdue University Engineering Education’s undergraduate degree program with a degree in Multidisciplinary Engineering with a concentration in Technical Theatre Engineering.  

 

Rich and Ian will share their stories, including how the ABET-accredited program has provided opportunities for engaging liberal arts and engineering students in a classroom setting, early challenges, and beneficial outcomes. This meaningful discussion will offer helpful insight for other colleges and schools at Purdue University who plan to form similar collaborations. 

 

All are welcome and open to the public!

 

*More about our first acoustical engineering graduate, David Schwind, with areas of study that included Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Physics, and Design. David was also our 2002 Outstanding Alumni Honoree and a 2011 College of Engineering Distinguished Engineering Alumni.