Clinical Associate Professor
Director Brock-Wilson Center for Women in Business
MBA Purdue University - honor scholar
JD George Mason School of Law - honors
BA University of Nebraska Lincoln - honors
At the Daniels School of Business, Cara serves as the Director of the Brock-Wilson Center for Women in Business and is a Clinical Associate Professor in the Law, Communications and Ethics area. An award-winning member of the faculty, she teaches undergraduate and graduate core courses in business law, employment law, international law, business ethics, and corporate governance. In 2022 she was selected as one of Poet & Quant's Top 50 Undergraduate Professors and in 2021 she received the Krannert Alumni Teaching Excellence Award in Course Delivery. She has been nominated by Krannert for university wide awards in recognition of her teaching excellence and in 2023 was accepted into the University's Teaching Academy. She has taught the core graduate business law class since 2006, and journeyed to Germany to teach it in the summer of 2012. In addition she has led undergraduate study abroad experiences in Siena, Florence, and Rome and took undergrads to London in summer 2024.
Cara is an innovator in the classroom. In Spring 2024 she piloted MGMT 255, the new core ethics course that will be required of most undergraduate students in Daniels after developing it through the IMPACT grant process in Fall 2023. In Spring 2024 she also developed and co-taught an interdisciplinary course for the Honors College that explored healthcare issues in Indiana. She has also developed MGMT 331 the Development of EEOC Law as a cultural competency core class through the IMPACT grant process. With a focus on the landmark Supreme Court cases that have affected women in the workplace since the passage of Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the class allows students to explore the law in a practical light. She also developed HONR 299, a leadership course, for the interdisciplinary students at the Honors College, and a three credit HONR 399 The Case for Ethics.
Cara is a frequent recipient of Distinguished and Outstanding Teaching Awards from her students. She loves it when students follow her from class to class or ask to do an independent study with her. Becoming the inaugural School of Management Honors Director was a natural extension of the joy Cara finds in mentoring students. In this role, Cara built programs and networked across campus to smooth the Honors pathway for Daniels' top students. Students will often find her door open, an invitation to come in and talk about classes, grad school, or career plans.
As the Director of the Brock-Wilson Center, Cara strategically focuses on recruiting young women to Daniels as well as their experience while they are at the school. That includes everything from designing the Women in Business Learning Community, developing and collaborating with the Brock-Wilson Center Ambassadors, advising the Women in Business and Graduate Women in Business student organizations, and creating programs like the Confident Transitions pathway for graduating women. She is an active partner with undergraduate and graduate recruiting and leads her team and ambassadors on numerous recruiting initiatives including a one-week summer course.
In August 2022, Cara was name an inaugural Scholarly Fellow at the John Martinhouse Honors College and in January 2023, she was named a Service Learning Fellow. She also serves as a Faculty Affiliate with the Center for Working Well. Prior to this in June 2017, Cara was named the Senior Faculty Fellow for Hawkins Residence Hall. The Faculty Fellow program is Purdue's mentoring program that promotes a personalized experience for students through association with faculty on an informal basis outside the classroom and office.
Prior to teaching at Purdue, she also taught in the Legal Research and Writing program at George Mason University School of Law. She is also a frequent instructor at writing conferences around the country.
Cara is a honors graduate of Krannert School of Management's Weekend MBA, George Mason University School of Law, and the University of Nebraska Lincoln. After law school, she clerked for Judge Loren Smith at the Court of Federal Claims. She provided legal services as an attorney with Bennett Boehning & Clary until the summer of 2023 and is licensed to practice in Indiana and Virginia.
At some business schools, research and teaching can be mutually exclusive, with certain faculty focusing on the former while others focus on the latter. At Purdue's business school, however, research and teaching are often intertwined, thanks in part to the efforts of Kelly Blanchard, Brian Chupp and Cara Putman.
Daniels School faculty from different disciplines team up to help students examine health care issues.
Full story: Interdisciplinary Teaching Shines New Light on Societal Issues
The Charles B. Murphy Award, Purdue's highest undergraduate teaching honor, recognizes up to five recipients (nominated through individual colleges) each year as models in excellent undergraduate education. Faculty with the rank of associate or full professor are eligible.
Honors the legacy of Dean Helen B. Schleman, who served as Dean of Women from 1947-68. The award is presented to a faculty member or administrator for their contributions to Purdue, especially in the promotion and advancement of women students and women’s issues. The winner receives a monetary award and a medallion in addition to having their name engraved on a plaque.
Selected based on my work to unify and develop MGMT 254, the undergraduate business law course, while also mentoring up to six adjuncts per semester.
An award received by a vote of the graduating seniors. One faculty member is selected, and three are recognized as Honorable Mentions.
An award received by a vote of the graduating seniors. One faculty member is selected, and three are recognized as Honorable Mentions.
The nominee from the School of Managment for this university award. Up to two are awarded per year.
You can learn more here: https://poetsandquantsforundergrads.com/news/2021-best-undergraduate-professors-cara-putman-krannert-school-of-management-purdue-university/
Fellows are tenure-track faculty, clinical/professional faculty, lecturers, and senior lecturers who have distinguished themselves in teaching and were nominated by the Schools/Colleges and selected by the Executive Council of the Academy.
Salute to Women is an annual event that celebrates and honors women making significant contributions in our community. It recognizes leaders who demonstrate outstanding service, advocacy, and dedication in various fields, showcasing their impact on improving and inspiring the lives of others. This event highlights their achievements and fosters a spirit of empowerment and recognition within the community.
Elected to serve on this committee which is evaluating the processes for promotion and retention.
Elected by peers to serve on this committee.
Appointed to this committee that was tasked with making recommendations to the Department Head and Dean on the future of the Managment Department. Participated in interviews with Assistant and Associate Deans Business Schools across the Big Ten and other peer schools.
Part of a two-day sprint designed to strategize outside the box on what the MBA could become.
cputman@purdue.edu
Phone: (765) 494-2593
Office: KRAN 357
Personal website
Learn more about our ethics model here.
Poets & Quants Top 50 Undergraduate Professors
Daniels Alumni Spotlight
Business Law, Contract Law, Corporate Governance, Employment Law, Ethics, Intellectual Property, Leadership, Nonprofit Management
