Governor Reappoints Trustees to Purdue University Board

By Andi Anderson

Indiana Governor Mike Braun has reappointed three current members to the Purdue University Board of Trustees for three-year terms and named a new student trustee for a standard two-year term.

Reappointed to the board are Lawrence “Sonny” Beck, Malcolm DeKryger, and Shawn Taylor, each of whom brings valuable industry and academic experience to Purdue. Joining them is Reagan Koester, an undergraduate agribusiness student, who will serve as the next student trustee.

Koester, from Wadesville, Indiana, is currently studying agribusiness management in Purdue’s College of Agriculture.

Her leadership is evident through her active roles in several campus organizations, including the Purdue Rising Professionals, Student Organization Grant Allocation Board, and the Ag Week Task Force. She also serves as an ambassador for the Department of Agricultural Economics.

Koester has already demonstrated a commitment to agriculture and public service. She was selected by the American Soybean Association in 2023 to represent National Ag Voices of the Future in Washington, D.C.

She is also a former Indiana 4-H state ambassador and has founded three charitable programs: Ping Pong for Poverty, Hug Packs, and Glam and Grit for Foster Teens.

Professionally, Koester has completed internships with industry leaders like John Deere and Corteva Agriscience, gaining real-world experience in marketing and stakeholder engagement. As a trustee, she will serve on the Academic and Student Affairs Committee and the Physical Facilities Committee, with full voting rights.

Beck, CEO of Beck’s Superior Hybrids, has served on the board since 2013 and is known for his emphasis on agronomic research and service to Indiana farmers. DeKryger, president of Belstra Milling Co., brings decades of experience in livestock feed and agricultural education. Taylor, appointed in 2022, has a background in finance and the restaurant industry, with prior ownership of major franchise operations.

These appointments continue Purdue’s strong commitment to leadership in agriculture, education, and student representation.

Photo Credit: purdue-university