Purdue University Northwest has appointed two, key academic administrators. Anne Gregory, professor and chair of the Department of Literacy and Elementary Education at Northern Illinois University, has been named director of PNW’s School of Education and Counseling within the College of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences.
Additionally, Dietmar Rempfer, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and professor of applied mathematics at Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT), has accepted the position of director of the School of Engineering within PNW’s College of Engineering and Sciences.
Both appointments become effective July 1.
“Dr. Gregory and Dr. Rempfer are outstanding academicians who offer impressive backgrounds and leadership experience,” Purdue Northwest Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs and Provost Ralph O. Mueller said. “Their wide-ranging track records of success will be extremely valuable in response to PNW’s ongoing, strategic commitment of providing academic excellence and being responsive to the needs of our Northwest Indiana communities.”
School of Education and Counseling Director Gregory Gregory has more than 25 years of experience as a professional educator. During the past 15 years she has held various faculty and leadership positions in higher education. In addition to her current position at Northern Illinois, she has served as chair and professor of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Western Illinois University. She also has been president of the Faculty Senate at Boise State (Idaho) University.
She has received numerous grants, has made extensive national presentations and is highly published in topics related to literacy, teaching, learning and comprehension. She is a former elementary school teacher who has advanced literacy among elementary students as part of Purdue University’s highly-regarded Reading Recovery program.
“I am impressed by the enthusiasm, dedication and commitment of the Purdue Northwest faculty, staff and students to academic excellence and equity,” Gregory said. “I bring with me a passion for innovation and development and look forward to working creatively and strategically with others in the school, college and university to promote critical inquiry, faculty scholarship and engagement in our community.”
School of Engineering Director Rempfer In his new appointment, Rempfer will provide oversight responsibility to PNW’s Department of Mechanical and Civil Engineering and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Offering a distinguished background in higher education at IIT, Rempfer has served administratively as interim chair of the Department of Mechanical, Materials and Aerospace Engineering and as Associate Dean of IIT’s Armour College of Engineering.
He also has been campus lead of the National Science Foundation’s National Center for Engineering Pathways to Innovation at IIT. What’s more, he has generated more than $2.7 million in external funding as a principal investigator and is widely published in refereed journals.
“Among the core beliefs of my leadership philosophy is the tenet that the power of a shared vision and purpose is among the most potent forces to drive progress in any organization,” Rempfer said. “Our existing departments already have great faculty and staff, as well as excellent facilities. What matters now is to shape the existing units into a coherent whole and to present ourselves and what we have to offer to our stakeholders in a way that lets us elevate our stature.”
Purdue University Northwest Purdue University Northwest (PNW), a comprehensive regional university within the Purdue University system, has two Northwest Indiana campuses in Hammond and Westville. With more than 15,000 students enrolled last fall and nearly 70 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, Purdue Northwest is Indiana’s fifth largest public university.
