Dear Colleagues,

It is with both sadness and joy that I announce there are four staff members in our School who have participated in the Retirement Incentive Program and will leave our School in the near future, as follows:

· Carolyn Blue - retiring December 31, 2010, after 29 years of service with Purdue, all in Chemical Engineering.

· Larry Campbell - retiring January 31, 2011, after 41 years with Purdue, 28 in Chemical Engineering.

· Marcella Maynard - retiring December 31, 2010, after 12 years at Purdue, all in Chemical Engineering

· David Taylor - retiring January 31, 2011, after 31 years at Purdue, all in Chemical Engineering

In addition, Prof. Nick Delgass has also participated in the retirement incentive program, but will retire on May 13, 2012. Owing to his unique expertise and skills, I requested that he continue for another year, until May 2012, and he kindly agreed.  Prof. Delgass joined our School in 1974.

Overall, our soon-to-retire four staff members have a total of 113 years of combined service to Purdue and exactly 100 years of service to our School! This is an amazing accomplishment – it is a testimony to the high quality of these individuals and also of our School, as being their choice of employer for so many decades. They made many significant contributions to our School, from delivering mail to building and repairing electronic equipment, from clerical service to serving as Assistant to the Head.

We will celebrate these valued members of our School on December 15, 2010, during the end-of-the semester appreciation reception. I am grateful for their contributions towards making our program a premier Chemical Engineering program in the world. Please join me in thanking them for their service and wishing them a long, peaceful and thriving retirement!

Sincerely,

Arvind

Arvind Varma
R. Games Slayter Distinguished Professor
Head, School of Chemical Engineering
Purdue University