The Martin C. Jischke era at Purdue will officially end on June 30, 2007. In August, Jischke put that date on what had been widely discussed and speculated about on the Purdue campus for some time: his retirement.

But his impact on Purdue Agriculture, the university and the state will continue for years to come, according to Randy Woodson, Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture.

Photo by Mark Simons

During his tenure as Purdue president, Martin C. Jischke (at right with Randy Woodson, Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture, at the Indiana State Fair) has overseen record growth in faculty and campus facilities.

Jischke, whose 65th birthday was Aug. 18, made the university a key player in the economic development of the state while moving Purdue Agriculture into new areas of research by securing funding for an additional 30 College of Agriculture faculty positions during his six-year tenure.

“Dr. Jischke brought a focus on Purdue and made us relevant in the state of Indiana by supporting the state’s economic development plans. With the establishment of the university’s engagement office, he encouraged us to get more involved in economic development issues across the state,” Woodson says.

Jischke regularly visited communities throughout the state to meet with business and government leaders in order to find ways to improve Purdue’s ability to cooperate with local and regional efforts.

And as the university was establishing new partnerships across the state, Purdue Agriculture was establishing new partnerships across campus.

“Dr. Jischke’s leadership in interdisciplinary research encouraged us to create great partnerships with researchers in engineering and the sciences and expand our research into new and exciting areas, such as genomics,” Woodson says.

Regarding the final year of his administration, Jischke says: “Completing the strategic plan goals and finishing the Campaign for Purdue will be my priorities in the year ahead, and I will devote all my energy to continuing the momentum we have established.”

Jischke launched the Campaign for Purdue in 2001 with an initial goal of $1.3 billion, making it the largest fund-raising effort ever by an Indiana university. The initial response to the campaign was so strong that the goal later was raised to $1.5 billion.

The Jischke presidency has seen an intense period of construction on the West Lafayette campus. Since August 2000, more than $780 million in new facilities have been completed, initiated or are being planned. The centerpiece of these efforts is Discovery Park, a $300 million research and teaching complex designed to focus on interdisciplinary projects and to bring new ideas to the marketplace as efficiently as possible.

Tim McGinley, chairman of the university’s board of trustees, said the timing of Jischke’s retirement is consistent with the schedule discussed when Jischke was hired in the summer of 2000, after 10 years as president of Iowa State University.

In a letter to faculty and staff dated Aug. 4, Jischke said: “Although the decision to leave office is a difficult one, I believe it is the right decision for Purdue and for me. During the months ahead, some hard work remains, and I ask that you stay the course with me. Together, we will complete the strategic plan we launched in 2001. We will also celebrate the success of the Campaign for Purdue, which will surpass its $1.5 billion goal very soon.

“I have led universities for 23 years, and I consider the Purdue presidency to be the highlight of my career.”

Purdue Agriculture has two representatives on the 14-member search committee appointed to select Jischke’s replacement. John Hardin Jr., BS ’67, of Danville, Ind., is committee co-chair, and Bernard Tao is a committee member. Hardin is owner and manager of Hardin Farms and vice chairman of Purdue’s board of trustees. Tao is Purdue University Senate chair and the Indiana Soybean Board Professor in Soybean Utilization Research.