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Bill 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. Córdova 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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