Published on 03-07-2025
When Mitch Daniels School of Business alumna Elizabeth Miller joined the first cohort of Integrated Business and Engineering (IBE) students, she stood out. She’d already earned an associate degree in business administration and management from Ivy Tech and had worked at the Bob Rohrman Auto Group. She was also older than her classmates and balancing being a single mother to her 2-year-old son.
Today, Elizabeth stands out also as the very first graduate of the IBE program, in May 2024. This International Women’s Day, I want to celebrate and share with you the achievements of this inspiring woman. She went back to school and completed her degree while balancing being a single mother. Her journey is a testament to her perseverance, ambition, and hard work, setting an admirable example.
Elizabeth made the most of her Purdue experience. She worked on multiple projects as a team lead in EPICS, a service-learning design program. One of the most impactful lessons Elizabeth learned came from a professor: the importance of viewing the bigger picture when pursuing goals. She taught me this could apply to a class project or your daily mindset, emphasizing the importance of stepping back to gain a deeper understanding. She still recalls this daily.
Elizabeth also contributed to the Brock-Wilson Center as a teaching assistant for Empowering Women in Business courses. Over two summers, she worked with high school women to build their confidence and business knowledge. Elizabeth loved these opportunities to connect with high school women interested in business, share her journey at Purdue, and teach the next generation of leaders. The Brock-Wilson Center provided guidance and empowerment throughout her undergrad years.
“You have to learn how to run your own race,” Elizabeth told me.
She emphasized that everyone’s journey is unique. During her time at Purdue, she had to balance the demands of being a student while caring for her son. Instead of comparing herself to others, she remained focused on her own path. Elizabeth mentioned she measured success by achieving the goals and standards she set for herself. Her perspective for me was a valuable reminder not to compare myself to others and to focus on what matters most to me. This mindset has helped Elizabeth and will continue to do so.
Reflecting on her experiences at Purdue and where she is today, Elizabeth hopes her legacy is to “show other people that you can do it.”
She shared that some of her most cherished moments were the ones spent doing late-night homework with her son next to her. Elizabeth said her son is a motivator for her, and that moments like that made her know she was going to succeed. While her undergraduate college experience is different from most, she encourages everyone to believe in themselves and create the mindset that they can achieve what they set out to accomplish. Her hard work and determination paved the way for her success, leaving a lasting impact at Purdue, including having Lady Elizabeth, the first all-women EV go-kart, named in her honor.
After graduation, Elizabeth joined Toyota Material Handling as an operations analyst. In this role, she leverages her technology background and creative abilities while integrating her business-minded perspective. She is supported by her colleagues and manager and is able to continue to learn and experience new opportunities. Elizabeth also continues to be a mom to her 4-year-old son, Clark. This International Women’s Day, I applaud Elizabeth Miller for continuing to overcome barriers and for being an inspiration to women everywhere.
Madison Gaydos is a junior double majoring in marketing and general management at the Mitch Daniels School of Business. She is the President of Purdue Rotaract, a community service organization on campus. Madison is also the Vice Chair of the Learning Community in the Brock-Wilson Center, where she works on creating and fostering relationships for first-year women business students. She is a Marketing Generalist intern for the Daniels School’s Marketing and Communications team. She will return to State Farm this summer as a claims specialist intern in the auto department.
