Community Vote
The Board of Trustees is inviting the Purdue community to weigh in on the finalists identified through the presidential search. Review each finalist's background and statement, then cast your ballot.
Meet the Finalists & Cast Your Vote
- Choose a Candidate
- Verify & Review
- Confirmation
Select one finalist, then continue to review your ballot before it's submitted. You can change your selection at any point before you submit.
Don't have a preference among these six? That's still useful for the board to know: it's different information than a vote you didn't cast.
Trouble with the ballot? See the FAQ.
Review and Verify
Confirm your selection, then verify your eligibility.
Thank You for Voting
Your ballot for has been submitted. Results will be shared with the Board of Trustees as it considers the finalists.
Save this confirmation code for your records. It confirms that your ballot was accepted but cannot be used to retrieve your selection.
One More Way to Be Heard in This Search
In July 2026, the board asked the Purdue community for input on the qualities and characteristics its next president should have, gathered through an anonymous survey. That input shaped the candidate profile the Presidential Search Committee used to recruit and vet applicants. This vote is the next step: a structured way for the board to understand where the community stands among the finalists who emerged from that process.
How Your Vote Is Used
Under the Trustees' bylaws, Purdue's president is elected by the Board of Trustees, requiring the affirmative vote of at least six of its ten members. This community vote does not replace that process. Results will be compiled and shared with the full board as one input among several, alongside final interviews, reference and background reviews, and other information, ahead of its decision.
Protecting Your Ballot
Your name, PUID and photo are used to confirm your eligibility and prevent duplicate voting. The record that you voted is kept separate from your ballot, so your selection is not stored with your identity.
Who's Eligible
Students, faculty, staff and alumni from participating Purdue campuses may vote, as may Purdue Global faculty and staff. See the FAQ for the full eligibility details and exclusions. Alumni should enter the PUID assigned to them while at Purdue.
From Survey to Finalists to This Vote
- Jul 2026 Anonymous community survey. The board gathers input on desired leadership qualities and names to consider.
- Aug – Sep 2026 Recruitment & vetting. The Presidential Search Committee recruits candidates against the resulting profile and conducts confidential interviews and reference checks.
- Oct 2026 Finalists announced. Candidate-approved profile materials are made available to the Purdue community before voting begins.
- Oct 19 – Nov 2, 2026 Community vote is open, closing at 11:59 p.m. ET on Nov. 2.
- Dec 2026 Board of Trustees decision. The board reviews all input, including this vote's results, and votes to elect the 14th president per its bylaws.
- Jul 1, 2027 New president assumes office, succeeding interim president Mitch Daniels.
Hearing from as many people as possible has guided every step of this search, from our initial survey to this vote among our finalists. We're grateful to each candidate for engaging so openly with the community they hope to lead, and we look forward to hearing what Purdue has to say.
Gary Lehman
Board of Trustees chair