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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowBill Oesterle, co-founder and CEO of Indianapolis-based Angie’s List, has donated $1 million to Purdue University to create the school’s first endowed professorship in information technology, the university announced today.
The professorship, named the Olga Oesterle England Professorship of Information Technology, will first be held by Gerry McCartney, Purdue’s chief information officer.
Oesterle, a Purdue trustee since 2005, named the professorship in honor of his great aunt.
Income from the endowment will be used to benefit research, infrastructure and other needs for information technology at Purdue. As the holder of the endowed professorship, McCartney will oversee the use of the funds.
McCartney was appointed the university’s vice president for information technology and CIO in May 2007 after having served as the top information technology administrator in an interim capacity since July 2006.
“Endowments like these enhance positions and help attract and retain leaders in their fields,” said Purdue President France A. C?rdova in a prepared statement “I’m especially pleased that Gerry McCartney, who has served this university so well, will be the first honored with this title. I am also deeply grateful to Bill Oesterle for this pioneering and innovative gift.”
Angie’s List helps consumers choose service companies based on reviews posted by its members. Previously, Oesterle was a partner with venture capital firm CID Equity Partners. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Purdue in 1987 and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Last year, Oesterle pledged $250,000 toward the $5 million Presidential and Trustees Scholarship Challenge, aimed at attracting high-achieving high school students to Purdue. Previously, he established the Germaine Seelye Oesterle Chair in History in honor of his mother.
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