ISU President Martin Jischke was announced as the next president of Purdue University at a press conference at 11 a.m. today.

Timothy McGinley, president of the Board of Trustees at Purdue, said Martin and Patti Jischke visited, meeting with Purdue faculty, the 14-member search committee and the trustees.

“The endorsement from each and every one of those meetings was strong and unequivical,” McGinley said. “One faculty member told me, ‘Don’t let him go.'”

He said one of Jischke’s attributes was his “proven ability in fund raising and faculty and staff and student recruitment.”

“Martin Jischke thrives on the pursuit of excellence. He will have the ability to continue that pursuit here at Purdue. He is the right person at the right time,” McGinley said. “Let me please welcome the 10th president of Purdue University, Dr. Martin Jischke.”

Jischke said being chosen president of Purdue University was an honor.

“Patti and I are very excited about becoming members of the Purdue family,” he said.

Outstanding faculty and staff, an impressive endowment, industry ties and a commitment to student education were some of the things Jischke said made him want to come to Purdue.

“I have sensed here at Purdue a quest for an even larger excellence,” he said.

The whole university, not just the president, needs to get involved in working to better the school, he said.

“We should craft a vision of the future of Purdue together,” Jischke said.

He said Purdue is a very good institution, but the university community is still striving to improve.

“What has attracted me to Purdue in part is not only the extraordinary reputation for excellence that is here already, but a widespread willingness to work toward a higher excellence,” Jischke said.

Jischke said there is going to have to be change at Purdue.

“I was trying to express a philosophy that if one wants to get better … that means you have to change. Getting better is changing.

“I want to be a part of that kind of university, that kind of institution. … I like the idea of wanting to get better,” Jischke said.

The president did not mention Iowa State in his speech, instead praising Purdue, its athletic program and the state of Indiana.

“It is, for Patti and me, an absolutely great time to be a Boilermaker,” he said.