May 12, 2008

New director named at Purdue College of Technology at South Bend

Michael D. Sanders
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Sanders started as director in April. His duties include overseeing degree programs, increasing internship programs for students, strengthening partnerships with area industries and using students to help solve problems in industry.

"I'm a College of Technology alumnus, and I've worked for the college for 13 of the 18 years I worked at Purdue, so this is a homecoming for me," Sanders said. "I'm a strong believer in the College of Technology and of Purdue's Statewide Technology system, and I'm eager to be in a leadership role and will work to grow the South Bend location so it can continue to meet the needs of both students and the community."

Sanders served as director of Indiana Careers at Saint Mary's College from 2004-07, and from 2002-07 was assistant professor in the department of business administration and economics.

Sanders previously worked at Purdue from 1984-2002, where he was director of undergraduate programs at the Krannert School of Management, assistant director of undergraduate programs at Krannert and head academic adviser in the Department of Electrical Engineering Technology.

"Michael's long relationship with Purdue and the College of Technology, both as a student and as an employee, makes him especially right for this position," said Duane Dunlap, Purdue's associate dean for Statewide Technology. "He has a real passion for Statewide Technology, and I'm confident his knowledge and enthusiasm will result in great things for the South Bend location."

Previously, Sanders held positions with Oxford Development Corp. in Indianapolis and Logansport Community School Corp.

Sanders received an associate degree in architectural technology from Purdue University-Hammond in 1972, a bachelor's degree in industrial education from Purdue in 1975 and a master's degree in industrial education from Purdue in 1980.

The College of Technology at South Bend has an enrollment of about 175 students and serves four counties: St. Joseph, Elkhart, Marshall and Kosciusko. It offers degree programs in electrical and computer engineering technology, industrial technology, organizational leadership and supervision, computer graphics technology and mechanical engineering technology.

Purdue's College of Technology educates more than 5,400 undergraduate students each year at its 11 locations throughout Indiana: West Lafayette, Anderson, Muncie, Columbus, Greensburg, Indianapolis, Kokomo, Lafayette, New Albany, Richmond and South Bend. Positioned to address the work force and educational needs of local citizens and corporate entities, each location's programs and degree options are dependent on regional needs.

Writer:     Kim Medaris, (765) 494-6998, kmedaris@purdue.edu

Sources: Michael D. Sanders, (574) 520-5560, mdsanders@purdue.edu

Duane Dunlap, (765) 496-9468, ddunlap@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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