Jennifer DeBoer
Director of Practice
Dr. Jennifer DeBoer is currently an Associate Professor of Engineering Education at Purdue University. Her research focuses on international education systems, individual and social development, technology use and STEM learning, and educational environments for diverse learners.
Dr. DeBoer obtained her Ph.D. in international education policy studies from Vanderbilt University in 2012 and two bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering and foreign languages from MIT. Before joining the faculty of engineering education at Purdue in 2014, she served as a postdoctoral associate for education research at MIT.
Her work addresses the complex social, cultural, and economic background factors that facilitate diverse students’ paths through the engineering education system around the world. Most recently, this has meant investigating the different ways in which students engage with MOOCS. She is interested in better understanding how online and blended learning spaces can support individual learners.
DeBoer currently serves as co-director of the International Institute for the Development of Engineering Academics (IIDEA) and associate editor for the IEEE Transactions on Education.
Suzi Cyr
Program Director
Prior to taking the role of Program Director, Suzi was the Assistant Director of Awards Management for Purdue Applied Research Institute’s Global Development and Innovation Division (PARI-GDI). She has more than 15 years of experience in financial management in higher education. Most recently, Suzi served as an international sponsored programs manager for the LASER PULSE consortium. Prior to joining LASER PULSE and then PARI-GDI, she served and provided fiscal management to several units spanning Administrative Operations, Environmental Engineering, Construction Engineering Management, Global Engineering Programs & Partnerships, and manufacturing initiatives such as the Composites Manufacturing & Simulation Center and the Indiana Manufacturing Competitiveness Center. Suzi earned a Bachelor’s degree from Purdue University’s West Lafayette campus
