Running head: INTRODUCTORY SPEECH FOR DR.

JORGE HADDOCK 1

Introductory Speech for Dr. Jorge Haddock, Guest Speaker of Purdue University’s Ideas Festival

Elisha Taylor

Purdue University, COM 60511

INTRODUCTORY SPEECH FOR DR. JORGE HADDOCK 2

Hello everyone and thank you for coming.

As we step into 2019, and our 150th year of giant leaps, seeking new opportunities for

innovation in science and technology, we look to those who have pioneered their own path and

hope to gain knowledge and insight from their experiences to guide our own. Luckily enough for

us (pause), one of Purdue University’s former Ph.D. students, Dr. Jorge Haddock (gesture to

speaker, pause for applause), President of the University of Puerto Rico, has joined us to speak

on several of his invaluable experiences and his current goal to develop renewable energy

resources on the island after the devastation of Hurricane Maria. Dr. Haddock, an expert in

leadership, educational resource design, team management, and student engagement, has

valuable insights into making goals become realities, which is something we can all benefit from.

(allow applause). Before Dr. Haddock speaks, I would like to contribute my own words

of encouragement for our unified goal, if that’s okay? (pause for laughter). I’ll take that as a yes

(short pause).

Over the last several years the state of Indiana has made strides in our use of biofuel,

solar, wind and biomass resources to sustain Indiana’s energy use and the economy. We, at

Purdue University are in the fortunate position, thanks to our hardworking science, technology,

engineering, agricultural, and mathematics teams to have a substantial impact on the future of

renewable energies. Our eyes are set on the future, on building sustainable products which, we

hope, will change the course of human innovation. We have all heard the numbers and the worry

surrounding a scarcity of resources in the very near future due to over population, resource

consumption and waste. Let us change the course of our future. Inside each of you is a leader, an

inventor, and an opportunist. All that is standing in your way is the hard work it takes to make

your dream a reality.

INTRODUCTORY SPEECH FOR DR. JORGE HADDOCK 3

Now, to keep from boring you, (wait for laughter), it is my pleasure to introduce Dr.

Jorge Haddock, President of the University of Puerto Rico, alumnus of Purdue University and

expert on leadership.
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References

Staff Reports. (2019, January 25). University of Puerto Rico president to talk renewable energy

at Purdue Ideas Festival. Purdue Exponent: All Things Purdue. Retrieved from

https://www.purdueexponent.org/campus/article_c0023b0e-20de-11e9-a248-

df5a301cf678.html

Universidad de Puerto Rico. (2017). About the President. UPR Adm Central, Calle Flamboyan

Jardin Botanico Sur, Rio Piedras, PR. Retrieved from http://www.upr.edu/about-the-

president/