Cultivating Change in the Community

Ava Piliang professional headshot

Name: Ava Piliang

Hometown: Cleveland, OH

Major: Agricultural Economics; Global Studies

Minor: Farm Management

Why did you come to Purdue: Because of the academic reputation and community on campus

Favorite Purdue tradition: The men’s basketball starting lineup intro (featuring Family Ties by Kendrick Lamar)

Piliang dancing with friends in Mackey Piliang dressed up with friends in front of fountain Piliang next to Purdue Pete in Mackey

Top influences at Purdue:

  1. Zac Brown
  2. Chloe Benson
  3. Allyssa Powers
  4. My parents (both Purdue alumni!)
Top five memories of your time at Purdue: 
  1. Game days in Mackey as part of the Paint Crew
  2. Getting elected as president of Cultivating Change
  3. Getting tapped for Purdue Mortar Board
  4. Panhellenic bid day in the fall of 2023
  5. Getting selected to go on my first Support for Success sponsored trip to the Cultivating Change Summit in October 2024
Places you have been as a Purdue student: 
  • Cultivating Change Summit in Portland, Oregon (2x!)
  • MANRRS National Conference in Memphis, TN and Dallas, TX
  • Australia on a summer study abroad internship
  • The Support for the Successful program trip to Six Flags
  • The 2025 AFA Conference

Piliang standing in front of AFA 2025 sign Piliang with friends holding a person horizontally

Favorite club/organization: Students for Cultivating Change-Purdue Agriculture, the Paint Crew

Favorite student-led event: The holiday food drive that the men’s basketball team hosts every year

Favorite Purdue event: The Purdue men’s basketball game against IU in Mackey

Favorite place to study: Armstrong and ABE

Favorite thing about CoA: The community!

Favorite class: AGEC 450

Favorite professor: Dan Pastor

Class you are excited to take your senior year: HORT 370

Piliang standing in front of the Sydney Opera House Piliang standing with a friend Piliang standing with a friend in Mackey

Biggest accomplishments at Purdue: 

  1. Getting tapped for the Purdue Mortar Board
  2. Getting elected as Cultivating Change president

Something about you that is not listed on your resume: I have traveled to 12 countries!

Future plans: I am planning to get a job working for a sports team, managing their concessions

Piliang standing with friends in Mackey Arena Piliang with a friend standing with Purdue Pete Piliang with friend at a barn dance

Advice for underclassmen: You may not end up where you thought you were going to, but you will end up where you are meant to be. 

The biggest takeaway from Purdue: Make the most of your time at Purdue; it goes by in the blink of an eye.

Piliang standing in front of John Deere tractor Piliang with friend in front of sorority building