In May 1956, Barbara was named The Outstanding Senior Woman at The Ohio State University, where she earned a BS in the College of Business, cum laude. A month later, she was a Navy draftee’s wife working as a bank teller in New Orleans. While her husband, Howard, earned a PhD and started a Purdue teaching career, Barbara raised their four kids.
Barbara then took a job as a part-time advisor in Purdue’s Krannert School of Management in 1977. After three years, and while finishing an MS in College Counseling, Barbara replaced three persons in the Advising Office, the Assistant Dean, a PhD, and the Senior Advisor, as she became Director of Undergraduate Programs.
Barbara went on to earn distinguished service awards, in her profession, including the National Academic Advising Association Outstanding Advisor Award and the Helen B. Schleman Gold Medallion Award. Purdue awarded Barbara Doster the Special Boilermaker and Outstanding Advisor on Campus Awards and The Management School’s Distinguished Service Award for her dedication to Purdue students.
Along with being the Director of Undergraduate Programs, Barbara was the advisor for the School of Management Employers Forum, the Golden Key Honorary, Industrial Management Students Association and the Presidents Council. As the advisor for the School of Management Council, Barbara helped the team develop the first Leadership Forum which the students named in her honor. When she learned the students had named the forum The Barbara G. Doster Leadership Forum, she postponed her retirement two weeks and spoke at the pinnacle event.
Thanks to her students and her sons, who have endowed a scholarship in her name, she enjoyed awarding the Barbara G. Doster Positive Attitude Scholarships annually.
