Purdue names new director of University Residences
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Barbara Frazee has been named as Purdue University Residences' executive director.Frazee was selected after a nationwide search to succeed her predecessor, Ernest F. Poland, who is retiring at the end of this month.
Frazee, who previously served as operations director, began her career at University Residences almost 29 years ago as a student employee at Harrison Hall.
"There's not a job at University Residences I haven't done," Frazee said. "This is an opportunity to take all of my experience and use it to make a difference. I plan on building on our traditions of excellence without forgetting about the people who make us what we are."
Frazee heads the largest residence program of any university in the nation that does not require freshmen to live on campus. Eighty-seven percent of Purdue freshmen choose to live on campus, and 40 percent remain in the residence halls each subsequent year. Up to 1,200 Purdue students per class live in residence halls their entire undergraduate academic career.
John A. Sautter, vice president for housing and food services, said Frazee is a good choice to lead University Residences in a changing market in which students have higher expectations and more choices.
"We succeed because we provide convenience, community, excellence and affordability," Sautter said. "As we change to remain competitive in the market, we will stay true to those core principles."
Sautter said that formula is a recipe for academic success. Students who live in residence halls have higher grade-point averages and are more likely to graduate.
Frazee describes her position as being ripe with opportunities. One goal includes soliciting increased input from parents through the recently created parents' advisory council. She also plans to engage alumni who served as resident assistants to help fund scholarships for current resident assistants.
Writer: Jim Schenke, (765) 494-6262, jschenke@purdue.edu
Sources: John Sautter, (765) 494-1022, jasautter@purdue.edu
Barbara Frazee, (765) 494-1000, bjfrazee@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
To the News Service home page