Rita Burrell

Rita Burrell, Executive Director (2018–2021)
Executive Director, Engineering Professional Education
Purdue University
Rita is Executive Director the Engineering Professional Education (EPE) Division in the College of Engineering at Purdue University.  In this role she manages the academic graduate programs offered through EPE, as well as courses offered through the college in support of discipline specific programs in the college, certificates, and non-credit programs.   Rita previously served as Manager, Graduate and Distance Education, Bagley College of Engineering, at Mississippi State University.  She also served Mississippi State University as Associate Director of Graduate Studies and Site Coordinator for AGEM. Professional affiliates include ASEE (professional interest divisions include CPD, Ethics, Graduate, International, Minorities, and Women), the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA), and the National Association for Foreign Student Advisors (NAFSA). A graduate of Mississippi State University, Rita holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Science in Information Technology from Mississippi State University. She is a member of Sigma Tau Delta (English Honorary Society).  Rita served on the GEM Executive Committee, Standing Chair, University Committee from 2007 -2016.  She received the GEM Standing Chair of the Year Award in 2012 in honor of her commitment to the GEM mission and exceptional volunteerism.  In 2011 she received the Irvin Atly Jefcoat Excellence in Advising Award (Staff) for Mississippi State University. In her current role at Purdue, she leads her staff in the support of the Purdue College of Engineering in delivering and developing world class academic and non-credit programs both at a distance and in face-to-face settings.