Purdue’s president is starting to say goodbye to the university community.
France Cordova delivered her “Last Lecture” Tuesday night at Loeb Playhouse in Stewart Center.
She talked to a crowd of mostly students about her rise to the position and goals after she steps down in July.
Cordova believes she will leave the university in a better position than when she took over five years ago.
She says the most challenging part of her presidency was managing the school during the height of the economic recession.
Cordova says striking a balance between demands from students and parents calling for lower tuition and the state reducing funding forced Purdue to make difficult sacrifices during that time.
But, she says she is proud of how the university pulled through crediting alumni and supporters with helping keep Purdue strong during that time.
She says more than a billion dollars were donated to the school over the past five years without a formal campaign.
Cordova says her goal after her time at Purdue is to finish writing two books, including one she started when she was in college.
The university is in the process of finding her replacement.