Dr. Steven C. Beering served as the ninth President of Purdue University from 1983 to 2000. During his eighteen years of leadership, international enrollment soared, fundraising efforts rapidly expanded, liberal arts programs were strengthened, and more than 20 buildings were added to campus. His life and accomplishments are truly inspiring – growing up in Nazi Germany, Dr. Beering had experienced the atrocities of World War II, and he was able to overcome these tragedies and start a new life with his family in the United States. Prior to his presidency at Purdue, Dr. Beering was an Air Force veteran, advisor to the U.S. Surgeon General, and physician to President Dwight Eisenhower and the country’s first astronauts. He also served as the dean of the Indiana School of Medicine and director of the Indiana University Medical Center. Following his retirement from Purdue, Dr. Beering went on to become the chair of the National Science Board and continued to serve as a fundraiser and ambassador for the university with his wife Jane.

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Dr. Beering’s impact on Purdue, Indiana, and the nation as a whole will forever be remembered. At Purdue, he has especially touched the lives of many with his establishment of the Beering Scholarship. Having received a full scholarship to medical school himself, Dr. Beering was inspired to raise private funds for the scholarship endowment. His efforts have transformed the lives of Beering Scholars, removing the financial burden of pursuing education and opening up opportunities that they never thought possible. The Beering Scholar community will forever be so grateful for Dr. Beering and his generosity.