First, as a college, we need to make sure our state and federal partners understand the value they get on their investment. While these sources may be under pressure, they will remain critically important and we must remain effective stewards of these funds — we cannot abandon our responsibilities as a Land Grant university in the search for new funding sources. That said, I think we have opportunities to expand private support, both corporate and individual. Our scientists also are already working to find funds from non-traditional (for agriculture) federal funding sources.

In addition, we are doing work that many foundations find attractive, and there are opportunities there. I think we also may have opportunities in some areas to either generate some user funds for specific programs or to find a more effective, efficient means of delivery.

Pretty straightforward for me — my faith, my family and my work. I am passionate about all three.

Looking back, I have to say my parents — Dean and Nona Akridge. My father was a college athlete, then taught for a while before spending his career as the owner/manager of a local agribusiness in Fredonia, Ky. My mother taught high school home economics for 25 years. I know I did not appreciate it at the time, but I learned some very important lessons from them about personal responsibility, delivering your best, the importance of education, and respect for others. Clearly, my passion for agriculture has its roots in a childhood spent “at the store” and on our small farm.

As for people who influenced my academic career, if I have to name one, I will name two. Bill Payne was a teacher and mentor in agribusiness at Murray State University. I am not sure I would have pursued graduate school without his encouragement. Somehow good fortune brought me into contact with Dave Downey at Purdue during the first week of my master’s program here. His passion for teaching and his enthusiasm for the role of a faculty member at a Land Grant university were truly infectious. I worked with Dave for 20-plus years, and it was an incredibly rewarding experience.

I have very old, very yellowed news clipping above my desk at home. It was reprinted from a United Technologies ad that originally appeared in the Wall Street Journal. It goes:

“Your true value to society comes when someone says ‘Let me see your work.’ Your glib tongue may open a door or two, and your artful use of the right fork may win an approving nod. But the real test of your worth can be measured by the care you give to the job in front of you: a budget to plan, a solo to play, a report to draft, a leaky sink that needs fixing.

“Next time you write a memo, make sure that you get the facts straight. Pay attention to those details. Sweat the small stuff. How we perform as individuals will determine how we perform as a nation.”

I have shared that passage with my students over time, and I think it says something about me.

Book: Tough! One of my favorites in recent memory was the story of the Enron collapse, The Smartest Guys in the Room. Amazing story of how NOT to lead and manage a large organization.

Movie: Tough again! I love movies and have a lot of favorites — suspense, science fiction, thrillers, I will watch them all! About anything with Humphrey Bogart I will watch again (and again). While they are dark (and funny!), I like most Coen Brothers films — Fargo, Raising Arizona, etc. And the first Terminator movie was a lot of fun.

TV show: I don’t watch a lot of TV (beyond Purdue sports and the Indiana Pacers), but my daughter has me watching House semi-regularly. I get caught up in the dynamics of a group of exceptionally bright people trying to solve really complex problems under severe time constraints.

My son, Sean, is a Purdue freshman (in the College of Technology). My daughter, Samantha, is a junior at West Lafayette High School — college choice to be determined. My wife, Michelle, has her BS and MS from Purdue in earth and atmospheric sciences — we met when were graduate students here. I have thoroughly enjoyed West Side soccer and track for several years as my son and daughter played soccer and ran the hurdles.

I enjoy photography, an interest probably kindled by my 4-H photography project years ago. I am a passionate Purdue sports and Indiana Pacers fan (sticking with them through hard times). Michelle and I have enjoyed Purdue Theatre for many years. Until my hip recently told me I am getting old, I played a lot of basketball — early mornings in the Co-Rec with the ag econ graduate students, and in Gus Macker three-on-three tournaments with my two brothers and a college friend. Now, my bike has to provide some physical activity. I was active in FFA and 4-H growing up, and earned the American FFA Degree in 1981.

Contact Akridge at akridge@purdue.edu