01-14-2026
Leaders from Purdue University and Wabash recently came together to discuss opportunities at the intersection of innovation, advanced manufacturing and workforce readiness.
The day included a tour of Wabash’s South Plant for the Dr. Samuel R. Allen Dean of the Mitch Daniels School of Business Jim Bullard; John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering Arvind Raman; and other university leaders, giving them direct exposure to the cutting-edge technologies, processes and equipment shaping Wabash’s future.
Participating Wabash Senior Leadership Team members included President and CEO Brent L. Yeagy; Senior Vice President and CAO Kristin Glazner; Senior VP and CFO Patrick Keslin; VP of Talent and Organizational Effectiveness Dave Teeter; Senior VP and Chief Growth Officer Mike Pettit; and Senior VP and COO Donald Winston.
Purdue and Wabash reaffirmed their longstanding partnership through strategic briefings that highlighted shared commitments to technology integration and future-focused growth.
“Our partnership with Purdue brings together world-class research capability and real-world industrial application in a way that truly accelerates innovation,” Pettit says. “As Wabash continues to evolve our advanced manufacturing and digital solutions, access to Purdue’s expertise in AI, engineering, and talent development is critical.
“This collaboration allows us to think bigger — connecting technology, workforce readiness and growth strategy — so we’re not just responding to change, but actively shaping the future of our industry,” he says.
Purdue leaders outlined initiatives in AI, digital operations and multidisciplinary talent development that align closely with Wabash’s transformation priorities in advanced manufacturing, operational modernization, and product innovation.
“Solving today’s most complex business challenges requires deep collaboration between industry and academia,” Bullard says. “By aligning business education with STEM and AI, we are developing talent that can drive innovation, productivity and long-term growth for organizations like Wabash and beyond.”
Wabash leadership emphasized the company’s ongoing evolution and its interest in tapping Purdue’s research expertise and robust talent pipelines to accelerate progress. Together, the two organizations signaled a strong foundation for continued collaboration that will drive meaningful advancements across industry and academia.
As AI continues to redefine both physical and digital operations, Purdue and Wabash underscored the critical need for a workforce equipped to lead in this rapidly evolving landscape.
Purdue shared its strategic vision for AI integration — spanning advanced manufacturing optimization, predictive logistics, digital asset intelligence and connected operational systems — and highlighted how its academic programs are evolving to prepare students for these demands. Through strengthened collaboration with industry leaders like Wabash, Purdue is shaping curricula, applied learning experiences and research opportunities that cultivate AI-ready talent. This partnership supports Wabash's innovation agenda and ensures that graduates enter the workforce with the practical skills and strategic mindset needed to drive the next generation of AI-enabled transformation.
The strong alignment between Purdue and Wabash highlights the power of bringing leading researchers and industry practitioners together to solve complex challenges and shape the future of advanced manufacturing. Both organizations are committed to deepening this partnership — removing barriers, thinking big and pursuing initiatives that can drive meaningful regional and industry-wide impact.
