Purdue Black Alumni Organization (PBAO)

🚨 PBAO Board Elections Are Open! 🚨

Make your voice heard and help select the leaders who will represent our community. Review the candidates and cast your vote today!
🗳️ Vote by July 16, 2026.

Thank you to all of the nominees for stepping up to serve. 💛🖤
Link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=7UBb4sj5uUSUIP4chmQYVDESGgiIM9lNiZWjp1mFLOFUQzdDOTM1MktNN1RKRUdWN1czSDlDMldGTi4u

🚨 PBAO Board Elections Are Open! 🚨

Make your voice heard and help select the leaders who will represent our community. Review the candidates and cast your vote today!
🗳️ Vote by July 16, 2026.

Thank you to all of the nominees for stepping up to serve. 💛🖤
Link: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=7UBb4sj5uUSUIP4chmQYVDESGgiIM9lNiZWjp1mFLOFUQzdDOTM1MktNN1RKRUdWN1czSDlDMldGTi4u

forms.cloud.microsoft

Alaila Jones, B.S. Chemistry and Psychological Sciences

Meet a Purdue Class of 2026 graduate! Alaila Jones, is driven by a passion for healthcare, research, and fostering cultural understanding. Through experience as an emergency room medical scribe, EMT training, student housing leadership, and research in chemistry and psychology, Alaila has made an impact both inside and outside the classroom. Passionate about fostering community, celebrating diversity, and mentoring future Boilermakers, she has combined academic excellence with a commitment to service and leadership. While at Purdue she served as Social Committee Chair for the Black Student Union.

FATHER'S DAY POST
Passing "Carlos III" down to my son, the same name my dad gave to me, fills me with an immense sense of purpose. My main goal is pretty simple: raise a good human who understands the value of always treating people well, no matter what. I want him to look at the life we have and genuinely appreciate how lucky we are and never to take our blessings for granted. Watching him grow and become who he will be is a constant motivator, and it makes me incredibly grateful for my own dad, who showed me exactly what it looks like to show up for your family. Happy Father’s Day to all the men out there doing their best to get it right.
Carlos Banks II

FATHER'S DAY POST
I was blessed this year with a grandson. My daughter and her husband thought enough of me to name him Jackson Charles Burd. One thing, that I pass on to him when he grows older, is a message similar to what was impressed upon me by both of my parents. A message that I shared with my daughter and that I am sure she will help to reinforce on her son.

Jackson, unlock a lifetime of possibilities by embracing the adventure of learning every day. Never stop learning. Every book you read, every question you ask, and every experience you have will add another tool to your life’s toolbox. Knowledge is valuable, but wisdom comes from using what you know to make yourself better and to help others. The most successful people are not those who know everything, but those who keep learning and growing throughout their lives. Use your talents to solve problems, lift others up, and leave every place a little better than you found it. A curious mind and a caring heart can change the world.
Charles Bruce
EE 1973

David Robert Lewis, David Robert Lewis (CE '1894), First Black Graduate of Purdue University

As we celebrate Juneteenth and reflect on the ongoing pursuit of freedom, opportunity, and equality, we honor David Robert Lewis.

David Robert Lewis was the first Black graduate of Purdue University. His 1894 graduation marked a significant milestone in the university's history and reflected the gradual expansion of educational opportunities for African Americans in the late nineteenth century. Lewis attended Purdue during a period when very few Black students had access to higher education, particularly in the state of Indiana and in technical fields. He studied civil engineering and completed his degree in 1894, becoming the first African American to earn a degree from the university. After earning his Civil Engineering degree, Lewis accepted a position at the Hampton Normal and Agricultural Institute (now Hampton University) in Virginia. He served as a mechanical drawing instructor in the Armstrong & Slater Memorial Trade School from 1894 until 1906. He then went on to become a successful real estate broker. The school of Engineering has helped make Purdue affordable for many African American students through The David Robert Lewis Engineering Scholarship.

More than 130 years later, his legacy continues to inspire us. Today, Black students make up fewer than 3% of Purdue's student population, a reminder that while progress has been made, there is still important work to do. PBAO remains committed to supporting efforts that increase opportunities, access, belonging, and successful outcomes for current and future African American students and alumni. As we honor the significance of Juneteenth, we also celebrate the pioneers who came before us and recommit ourselves to helping create a brighter future for those who will follow.

To learn more about David Robert Lewis, Purdue's first recognized Black graduate and a pioneer whose legacy continues to inspire generations of Boilermakers, visit:
https://engineering.purdue.edu/CCE/AboutUs/News/Features/david-robert-lewis-purdue-pioneer?utm_source=chatgpt.com