Connecting with the Boilermaker Community

Kelby Roberts professional headshot

Name: Kelby Roberts

Hometown: Rushville, IN

Major: Agricultural Economics (Pre-Law and Policy)

Why did you come to Purdue: As a third-generation Boilermaker and lifelong fan of Purdue Athletics, the legacy of the University and the opportunity to be a part of one of the nation’s best agriculture colleges was simply something I could not pass up!

Roberts with peers in front of mountains abroad

Favorite Purdue tradition: Game days in Mackey!!!

Top three influences at Purdue:

  1. Dr. Mark Russell
  2. AGEC Advising Department
  3. Dr. Michael Wilcox
Top five memories of your time at Purdue: 
  1. Studying abroad
  2. Ag Week (all of them)
  3. Birthday parties and other celebrations in our apartment for/with all of our closest friends!
  4. Sigma Alpha formals
  5. Working with PSG on the Indiana Lifeline Law Amendment
Places you have been as a Purdue student: 
  • Peru!!
  • Kansas City for AFA Leaders Conference
  • Indiana State House with Purdue Student Government
  • Spring Break trips out west
  • Wisconsin for my Case IH internship

Roberts holding Hammer Down Hunger sign Roberts with friends in formal dance wear

Favorite club/organization: Purdue Student Government

Favorite student-led event: Purdue Ag Week

Favorite Purdue event: Hammer Down Hunger

Favorite place on campus: Mackey Arena

Favorite thing about CoA: Close-knit community with so much support from faculty, professors and staff

Favorite class: International Relations with Dr. Tyler Girard

Favorite professor: Dr. Dalheimer

Class you are excited to take your senior year: Advanced Ag Leadership with Dr. Akridge and Dr. Wilson

Roberts walking down PMU hallway with peers Roberts with friend holding IU Shucks sign in sports audience

Three biggest accomplishments at Purdue: 

  1. Serving as the Purdue Student Body President through PSG
  2. Top 5 AGEC Student each year
  3. Dean’s List / Semester Honors each semester

Something about you that is not listed on your resume: I’m certified as a professional Parliamentarian

Future plans: Pursue a career in strategic communications, focusing on sharing the stories of agricultural producers around the world and advocating for food and rural policy in marginalized communities.

Advice for underclassmen: Choose your “hard” and do it scared!!! Your time at Purdue is meant to challenge you and spark growth, so do the things that don’t come easy, and keep pushing even when it gets scary. After all, anything worth doing should scare you a little.

The biggest takeaway from Purdue: “Home” is where your people are, and at a place as big as Purdue, you will find your people. Growing up in a small town with a wonderful community around me, I didn’t think it was possible for me to feel any more at home or as connected to the people I was with, but my time at Purdue proved me wrong. Whether your circles are big or small, there are no people like your fellow Boilermakers, so when you find them, hold onto them and love them hard; you only have a few years with them, just around the corner, in the other room or down the road.