Elizabeth Ventura, the new assistant director of the Brock-Wilson Center for Women in Business, has come home to Purdue.
Hailing from northwest Indiana, Ventura completed the first two years of her undergraduate education in West Lafayette before marrying her high school sweetheart, moving to Norfolk, Virginia, and completing her bachelor’s degree at Old Dominion University in 2003.
After beginning her career as a teacher, Ventura joined the Junior State of America Foundation in 2008 as a program director. She was promoted to director of school year programs in 2012, and became senior program director in 2019. In this latter role, she planned, organized and executed annual conferences for up to 1,500 people; directed a four-week, college-level summer education program for high school students; and coached a core team of 60+ student leaders.
When her husband retired from the U.S. Navy, Ventura and her spouse relocated to Tampa, Florida, where she earned an MBA from the University of South Florida Muma College of Business. In 2021, she joined EDSI, a national workforce development, talent and training company. She began as director of WIOA (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) and business services, and later served as regional director.
“Working with the community and helping people find training, education and access to good jobs was really rewarding,” Ventura says. “We’d planned to stay in Florida, but I missed the energy of working with students, so when one of my friends put me in touch with Cara Putman (director of the Brock-Wilson Center), returning to Purdue seemed like a great opportunity.”
In her new role, Ventura is helping Putman realize the center’s purpose and mission, including organizing speaking events, case competitions, conference activities and networking opportunities.
“I’m excited to work with the students to carry out our vision and strategy and help to grow the center,” she says. “We’re committed to providing the resources, community and confidence our students need to succeed at Purdue and in their careers.”
