Our 2025 Distinguished Alumni
Ms. Claire Lee
Claire graduated with honors from The University of Chicago Law School, where she was a Tony Patiño Fellow. She holds a B.A. (2018) in Political Science and Economics with highest distinction from Purdue University, where she was also a Stamps Scholar.
Claire is currently a Managing Associate at Sidley Austin, where she focuses her practice on a wide range of litigation matters, including complex securities issues, contract disputes, consumer class actions, and appeals.
Before joining Sidley, Claire clerked for the Honorable Joel M. Flaum of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and for the Honorable Steven C. Seeger of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Additionally, she externed at the United States Attorney’s Office in the Northern District of Illinois and was a Public Interest Law Initiative Fellow at Legal Aid Chicago.
Mr. Hoyt D. Jones III
Hoyt holds a B.A. in Economics from Ursinus College, as well as a Master’s in Hospitality and Tourism and a Ph.D. in Education from Purdue University. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees at Ursinus College.
Hoyt has held a variety of leadership roles in the hospitality industry, primarily working at two companies since graduating from Purdue: Domino’s Pizza and Jersey Mike’s Subs. He spent over 20 years at Domino’s, beginning in 1985, ultimately serving as Executive Vice President of Franchise Operations for the U.S. He was also a multi-unit franchisee with the brand.
In 2007, Hoyt became President of Jersey Mike’s Subs. During his tenure, the company expanded from 340 stores to over 3,000 across the U.S. and Canada.
Major General Theresa Carter
Theresa holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Purdue, an M.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Oklahoma, a Doctorate in Business Administration from Drexel University, and an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters from Oklahoma.
Theresa retired in 2016 as an Air Force Major General. She is now an independent consultant and one of ten Purdue University Trustees. She commanded five units, was the first female civil engineer officer promoted to general officer, and led the largest Air Force reorganization since 1992, creating the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center and serving as its first commander.
Mr. Darius Elliott
Darius graduated from Purdue University in 2016 with a B.S. in Computer Engineering. He currently serves as a Senior Enterprise Data & AI Solution Specialist at Microsoft, where he drives digital transformation for Fortune 500 companies through Azure’s cloud and AI capabilities.
A recognized leader in data strategy, Darius has helped enterprises scale operations, optimize cloud infrastructure, and unlock new business opportunities. A top performer, he was awarded Microsoft’s prestigious Platinum Club Award—an honor reserved for the top 1% of employees—and holds eight Azure certifications.
His expertise is rooted not only in his certifications but also in years of hands-on experience as a Cloud Solution Architect, partnering with customers to solve complex challenges and fuel innovation.
Beyond the tech world, Darius is a sought-after speaker, mentor, and jazz musician. He is deeply committed to fostering diversity in STEM and empowering the next generation of innovators.
Ms. Mary Caltrider
Mary graduated from Purdue in 2020 with a B.A. in Mass Communications.
She is an award-winning journalist and currently the host of Show Me St. Louis on the NBC affiliate KSDK. During her time hosting, Mary has interviewed cultural icons such as comedians Nikki Glaser and George Wallace. Before joining KSDK, she worked at ABC57 in South Bend, Indiana.
Mary is a 2022 Regional Edward R. Murrow Award winner. Mary grew up with a microphone in her hand. At age 16, she was the in-game host for the Indianapolis Indians. She graduated from Purdue’s Honors College, where she was the in-game host for men's basketball, and was also the Program Director for the Old Masters program.
Mr. John Peirce
John earned his B.S. in Economics from Purdue in 1980, followed by a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law in 1984.
He is currently a white-collar criminal defense attorney at Liles Parker in Washington, D.C. John began his career in federal criminal law as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, serving for fourteen years across three offices: San Diego, Washington, D.C., and Alexandria, Virginia. For the first eleven years, he primarily prosecuted violent and organized crime, later shifting his focus to health care fraud during his final three years in public service.
In private practice for the last 25 years, John’s focus is on defending doctors and other professionals in fraud investigations and prosecutions, although he occasionally represents those being prosecuted for violent or organized crimes.
Mr. Cameron O’Connor
He graduated in 2017 from Purdue University with a B.S. in Construction Management.
Cam O’Connor is a project manager at Shiel Sexton, leading high-profile construction projects, including hotel, retail, and sports venue developments. With a degree in building construction management from Purdue University, he has overseen multimillion-dollar projects such as the Gainbridge Fieldhouse renovation and Purdue University facility upgrades.
In addition to his construction career, Cameron is an experienced real estate investor and capital manager, overseeing acquisitions and operations of commercial investment properties. Passionate about mentorship and community involvement, he serves as an assistant lacrosse coach and holds leadership roles in various philanthropic organizations, supporting youth development, the arts, and local business initiatives in Indianapolis.
Ms. Audrey Powers
Audrey holds a B.S. in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering from Purdue University and a J.D. from Santa Clara University.
Audrey leads flight operations for Blue Origin’s New Shepard human spaceflight program, including launch operations, training, and MRO of flight vehicles and launch and landing complexes. Audrey is also an astronaut, having flown on the second human flight of New Shepard.
Previously, Audrey served as Blue Origin's VP of Legal & Compliance, overseeing a wide variety of legal matters. She was previously a guidance and navigation flight controller on the International Space Station program and national security satellite programs.
Ms. Jessica Traver Ingram
Jessica is the Co-founder and CEO of IntuiTap Medical, a medtech company revolutionizing spinal access with a first-in-class bedside imaging device.
She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University and has led IntuiTap from concept through FDA clearance and early commercialization.
Jessica has been named to Forbes 30 Under 30 for her innovative work in healthcare and recognized by Glamour magazine, among others. She is the recipient of the Purdue Engineering Young Alumni Award (2020) and the Purdue 38×38 Award (2024), honoring trailblazing graduates shaping the future of engineering innovation.
Mr. Nathan Gabhart
Nathan is the Founder of TrueScripts, a transparent-model PBM. He saw firsthand the flaws in the traditional PBM model through his work as a pharmacist. Nathan was a partner in a chain of independent pharmacies in Indiana and Illinois and also served as President of the Indiana Pharmacists Association and the Community Pharmacies of Indiana.
As a leader in the pharmacy industry, Nathan set out to bring much-needed change to the pharmacy benefit management (PBM) space. Early on, he made a pledge that he would never own any pharmacies while owning a PBM, and that his company would always be an agent of change. Philanthropy is a core part of TrueScripts’ mission, and the company has tithed from day one.
Nathan holds a B.S. in Pharmacy from Purdue University. He has also served as a county commissioner in Daviess County for the past 11 years and held the role of President of the Indiana Association of County Commissioners. A recently retired IronMan competitor, Nathan has completed 10 IronMan triathlons. He and his wife, Beth, have four children: Kaitlyn, Ashley, Thaniel, and Ethan.