Patrick Francis

Associate Director, Industry Engagement & Partnerships
(765) 494-0367
patrickf@purdue.edu


Biography

Patrick is a proud Boilermaker, both as an alumnus and a dedicated professional serving the Purdue ecosystem. In his role, he manages external relationships with industry partners seeking to connect, recruit students, and maintain a presence through OPP programming. Additionally, he oversees the OPP Corporate Sponsorship Program and serves as an instructor for OPP professional development courses.
 
Since returning to campus in 2022, Patrick has led impactful initiatives to enhance student opportunities and employer engagement. He was instrumental in launching the new Learning While Working co-op program with partners like Cummins and General Motors. Under his leadership, the Interns for Indiana program has more than doubled in size, serving more startups within the Purdue ecosystem than ever before, and driving workforce development across the state. He has also played a pivotal role in the Lilly Scholars at Purdue program, contributing to its successful implementation in early 2023.
 
More recently, Patrick played a key role in establishing the Office of Professional Practice (OPP) at Purdue University in Indianapolis. In its first semester, OPP taught professional development coursework to over 250 students and engaged with more than 1,500 students through events and programming in Indianapolis. He will continue to split time in a hybrid capacity at both campus locations to support connectivity for team structure, student experience and industry partnerships.  
 
One of Patrick’s favorite aspects of working at Purdue is the vibrant network of students, faculty, and staff that makes each day engaging and rewarding.
 
His diverse background in secondary education, international cultural exchange, business operations, university recruitment, and event management provides him with a unique and dynamic skill set. His passion for innovation and collaboration continues to foster a strategic vision that benefits OPP and the broader Purdue community.
 
In his free time, Patrick enjoys cheering on Purdue sports, traveling, boating with his family, playing pickleball, attending concerts, and spending time with his dog, Gus.