Jill Churchill and students during Professor Hua's program in Sweden

Jill Churchill, associate program administration specialist with Global Engineering Programs and Partnerships (GEPP), has been selected as the 2020 Outstanding Leadership Globalization staff award recipient.

She was chosen in recognition of her impact on Purdue’s academic mission categories of learning, discovery, and engagement.

Since 2008, Churchill has worked in GEPP where she has promoted, facilitated, supported and expanded participation in study abroad (SA) programs for College of Engineering students. Due to her work, the program has grown from 200 students in 2008 to more than 645 students per academic year.

In their nomination letter, GEPP’s Rhonda Haan, program assistant, Tami Sells, administrative assistant, and George Chiu, assistant dean of Global Programs and Partnerships and professor of Mechanical Engineering, commended Churchill for her efforts at the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic.

“The dedication, commitment, calm and resourcefulness Jill demonstrated when she secured flights for students and staff member in Shanghai to return home during a difficult and ever-changing situation was not a singular act. She puts in the same effort and care to every program and every student and faculty member she works with.”

The depth of Churchill’s accomplishments and contributions is vast:

• She has participated in The Center for Intercultural Learning, Mentorship, Assessment and Research (CILMAR)’s Intercultural Pedagogy Grant (IPG) workshop to support faculty as they include appropriate intercultural intervention into SA programs.
• She serves as the key academic advisor for the Global Engineering Study (GES) minor, which she was instrumental in developing and implementing.
• She helped introduce core curriculum within the College’s SA programs to provide more incentive for students to combine international experience with taking a core course. “This year, she expanded the program to four core courses across two schools with two new faculty members and more than 81 students registered,” her nomination stated.
• Since August 2017, she has personally planned and supported more than 40 programs. “Her success in expanding CoE SA participation was a key factor to justify another position to support the increased demand,” her nominators said.

• She was instrumental in working with faculty to create the pre-freshman study abroad trip to China, a two-week program that provides newly admitted future Boilermakers their first global experience. The program was implemented in 2017 and has benefited 59 undergraduates. The students work with Purdue professors, experience international travel  (many for the first time), earn college credit, meet peers, make friends and transition from high school to college.

  “We have noticed that these students come back to campus more engaged in their studies. They often volunteer for the Global Engineering Ambassadors Program, and they usually end up taking another study abroad trip or a semester-long SA program,” wrote her nominators.

• Embracing the College’s efforts to broaden the student global experience, she trained and is certified as a Qualified Administrator (QA) for the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI).

Jill Churchill and students in Sweden with Professor Hua.

“As an IDI QA for engineering, she has personally provided feedback and support for more than 200 students,” according to her nomination.

Churchill’s nomination included letters and/or statements of support from seven faculty members, including John Lumkes, assistant dean and associate director for the Office of Academic Programs and professor of Agricultural and Biological Engineering.

“Since 2009 I have traveled with students to various countries in Africa, not an easy place to plan a trip for students, especially when combined with project-based learning, but Jill not only made it possible, she made it enjoyable because of her passion to make these types of opportunities available for students. She has a positive attitude and a desire to make it as easy as possible for program leaders. She has the ability to manage all of the details.”