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Toni Munguia, affectionately known as "Miss Toni" to legions of current and past Purdue students, loves them like her own family. Toni tells us how she first came to Purdue, why working with students is so meaningful to her, and how her TECH 101 course makes a difference for students and the Polytechnic. See this episode's hotlinks at our website: polytechnic.purdue.edu/techiestoday

Abby Perez is a user experience engineer at Hewlett Packard Enterprise. In 2018, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Purdue Polytechnic’s UX Design program with a minor in psychology and a certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. This episode features interviews with Abby recorded several years apart. See this episode's hotlinks at our website: polytechnic.purdue.edu/techiestoday

Kathryn Seigfried-Spellar, associate professor of computer and information technology, fights crime using cyberforensics, a branch of digital forensic science pertaining to evidence found in computers and digital storage media. She has become a national leader in the field. See this episode's hotlinks at the Techies Today website: polytechnic.purdue.edu/techiestoday

Nadeem Ali, a mechanical engineering technology student, went on not just one, but three, internships! Getting real-world industry experience during college is how to "diversify your experience outside of your book-smarts," he says, to make you especially attractive to future employers. See this episode's hotlinks at the Techies Today website: polytechnic.purdue.edu/techiestoday

Rosemary Astheimer's students watch her pre-recorded video lectures before coming to class, so class sessions are used for active learning and problem-solving. Astheimer, assistant professor of practice in computer graphics technology, says the "flipped classroom" method better accommodates different learning styles. See this episode's hotlinks at the Techies Today website: polytechnic.purdue.edu/techiestoday

"The opportunities are almost limitless" for today's students in construction management, says Mark Zimpfer, assistant professor of construction management technology, because more workers are retiring than entering the industry. Graduates often find themselves leading big projects just two years after earning degrees. See this episode's hotlinks at the Techies Today website: polytechnic.purdue.edu/techiestoday

Purdue Provost Jay Akridge speaks with Polytechnic faculty and staff about the University's growth, its investments in faculty and facilities, and its future aspirations. The landscape for higher education will be very different in 2030, he says, and the time to start preparing is now. See this episode's hotlinks at the Techies Today website: polytechnic.purdue.edu/techiestoday

Renee Thomas, director of Purdue's Black Cultural Center, knows that being active in the campus community leads to academic success. With music, performing arts and cultural programs, the Black Cultural Center helps students get involved in “edutainment” — education through entertainment. See this episode's hotlinks at the Techies Today website: https://polytechnic.purdue.edu/techiestoday

Lindsay Drake and Carson Deal, Purdue Polytechnic students, went on a two-week Study Abroad trip to Europe before their first semester at Purdue. The experience was more than just an amazing cultural immersion; they each earned 3 credit hours. See this episode's hotlinks at the Techies Today website: https://polytechnic.purdue.edu/techiestoday

Purdue Polytechnic Vincennes' Jim Tanoos discusses supply chain management, globalization, and how studying abroad provides students with unique insight into this increasingly global field of study. See this episode's hotlinks at the Techies Today website: https://polytechnic.purdue.edu/techiestoday

Melody Birmingham-Byrd studied organizational leadership and has been a supervisor throughout her career, including more than seven years with Duke Energy. She reveals the inspiration for her career in management and shares advice about how to succeed in business in every phase of your career. Read more about Melody and our podcast here.

(Episode has been edited to correct a minor error.) Gozdem Kilaz is an assistant professor of engineering technology, who focuses on developing alternative liquid fuels for transportation — specifically, biofuels for aviation. She discusses her work on a project to convert plastic waste into jet fuel. Gozdem also has big news to share about an upcoming project. Learn more: https://polytechnic.purdue.edu/techiestoday