Directory

Dr. Christine Wilson earned her B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. from Kansas State University studying Agricultural Economics, and has since gained a national reputation for her commitment to students, teaching and advising. Dr. Wilson’s teaching career has included classes in agricultural finance, agribusiness risk management, small business operations, marketing, policy analysis and more. She began as Associate Dean and Director of Academic Programs for Purdue Agriculture in February 2020, and was promoted to Senior Associate Dean in 2023, when she took on the initiative of growing and promoting Ag Online programs. Responsible for undergraduate academic programs, Dr. Wilson enjoys the challenge of collaborating with faculty, staff, and leaders among the college, university, and student population to work towards the common goal of affording students the resources and opportunities they need to be successful in Purdue Agriculture and beyond.

When Dr. Wilson is away from the office, she can typically be found in her West Lafayette home in the company of her dogs or taking a road trip to the Kansas City area to visit friends and family.

Education: B.S.E Calvin University, M.S.E. University of MI-Ann Arbor, Ph.D. University of WI-Madison.

John promotes excellence in teaching and mentoring through the support and leadership of college level and national level teaching related awards programs, offering workshops and support for teacher development, support of the role of teaching in promotion and tenure, and involvement on university level committees. He teaches capstone courses in ABE department and leads multiple international experiences for students.

When John isn’t at work you can probably find him on the pickleball courts, up in the air flying his plane or paramotor, or taking pictures.

Hope Heathcote earned her B.A. in 2015 from Purdue University, where she studied professional writing. She came to Purdue Agriculture in 2018 where she discovered a newfound passion working “behind the scenes” in higher education, offering her creative and strategic planning skills to execute ideas and solutions whenever they are needed. Prior to her role at Purdue, she worked in a small, successful family business for several years.

A Lafayette native, Hope can often be seen enjoying local music and arts festivals when she’s not at home with her cat, Pickles and dog, Peach. She enjoys performing music, sewing, and relishing her husband's exceptional cooking. 

Carrie Harris earned her B.A. from Purdue University, where she studied Movement and Sports Science. Her undergraduate experience as an undecided student and student leader led her to pursue an M.Ed. in College Student Personnel from the University of Louisville. Having worked at several universities in roles ranging from admissions to academic advising, she returned to her alma mater in 2022 as an academic advisor and is now part of the Office of Academic Programs as a Student Success Specialist.

Outside of her work in higher education, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids, planning adventures, and gathering inspiration and supplies for her next creative project.

Education: B.S. Miami University (Ohio); M.S. Purdue University

Charlotte is the scholarship and career services coordinator in the College of Agriculture. She earned her B.S. from Miami University and M.S. from the Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) Department at Purdue. Prior to joining the Office of Academic Programs, Charlotte was the Alumni, Scholarship, Awards, and Student Career Specialist in FNR. In her current role, she coordinates scholarships and student grants and serves as a leader for career education and opportunities for undergraduate students. In her free time, you can find her spending time with her family, playing board games, reading, or crafting.

Jannet McCutchan joined the Office of Academic Programs in the fall of 2022 as the Senior Administrative Assistant for Career Services, Scholarships, and Program Data. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Purdue University studying Wildlife. She has held administrative positions in the local animal welfare industry where she grew her organizational and project management skills. She is excited to apply her knowledge to support students as they develop their academic and professional careers. In her free time Jannet enjoys creating art, exploring nature, and spending time with her family and small zoo of pets.

Education: Ph.D. Indiana University; M.A. Bowling Green State University; B.S. Ball State University

Alyssa Powers joined the Office of Academic Programs in 2021 and currently serves as the Assistant Director for Academic Excellence and Transformational Education. In this role, she oversees the Dean’s Scholars program and College of Agriculture Transformational Experiences (CATE). She has previous experience in student success, environmental education, service learning, and conducting research in higher education settings. Alyssa encourages students to seek out new experiences and practice thinking about topics from multiple perspectives. Outside of work, Alyssa enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time in nature.

Meeting Link: https://appt.link/Meet-With-Zachary

Education: B.S. Agricultural Sciences, Southern University and A&M College; M.S. Agricultural Education, Iowa State University; Ph.D. Candidate, Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication, Purdue University

Zachary C. Brown, M.S., joined the College of Agriculture in 2018 and currently serves as the Assistant Director for Academic Programs and Strategic Initiatives. In this role, Zac supports the advancement of Purdue Agriculture’s online education and Purdue in Indianapolis initiatives. He also leads efforts to recruit and retain undergraduate and graduate students through strategic partnerships across all areas of the College of Agriculture and with external partners. Zac’s role is shared between the Office of Academic Programs and the Office of Agricultural Research and Graduate Education.

Originally from Houston, Texas, Zac enjoys spending his free time riding his motorcycle or e-bike, hiking, kayaking, and practicing photography.

Dr. Joshua D. Detre leads strategic research development in Purdue University’s College of Agriculture, aligning academic programs with the One Health initiative to integrate human, animal, and environmental health. He oversees the college’s online education portfolio, ensuring quality, accessibility, and student success, while fostering partnerships across academia, industry, and government.

He holds a PhD and MS in Agricultural Economics from Purdue and a BS in General Agriculture from Western Kentucky University.

Outside of work, Dr. Detre is a first-degree black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, an avid outdoorsman, reader, church member, and active supporter of his children’s activities. Guided by a “1% better each day” philosophy, he continually seeks growth—whether through reading or refining a Jiu-Jitsu technique—and inspires others to pursue lifelong improvement.

Andrea began at Purdue University in 2019, and soon joined the College of Agriculture in 2021 as the Assistant Director for Undergraduate Recruitment. In her current role, Andrea assists and collaborates with college leadership and departments in developing and implementing student recruitment communication, events and programs. She enjoys serving prospective students and their families through the academic major and college decision-making process. In her free time, you’ll find her trying a new recipe, coaching basketball, or spending time with her husband, family, and friends on the Ohio River.

Andrea earned a B.S. in management and M.Ed. in teaching and learning at Indiana State University.

Rusty Nelson has been in his current position since 2017, specializing in serving students who transfer (or are planning to transfer) to Purdue Agriculture from other colleges/universities. In his current position, he coordinates the Pathway to Purdue Agriculture Program, helps with transfer credit evaluation questions, supports incoming transfer students with the transition to Purdue, and is an advocate for all transfer students in the College of Agriculture. He is originally from Lafayette, is a Purdue graduate (B.A. in Psychology and M.S. in Education), has 3 children, and his wife is an elementary school teacher. He enjoys exercising outdoors, watching Purdue sports, and spending time with family.

Scott Haan has served as Lead Administrative Assistant for Recruitment and Outreach in the Office of Academic Programs since 2018. He works with departments and the Ag Ambassador team to arrange campus visits for prospective students who are interested in the College of Ag, as well as assisting with other recruitment events and efforts throughout the year. He and his wife both graduated from Purdue as undergrads and are now Purdue employees. Scott’s hobbies include theatre, playwriting (he is the author of 30+ published plays), comics and movies (especially Marvel), and spending time with his wife and children.