Longtime Purdue VP announces retirement

Jan. 28—John Sautter, vice president for housing and food services at 39,000-student Purdue University, announced that he will retire, effective June 30, after nearly 40 years at the university.

Sautter’s current position oversees University Residences, Food Stores, the Purdue Memorial Union and its Hotel, as well as several arts-related venues around campus.

Sautter came to Purdue in 1971 as assistant manager of Wiley Residence Hall. During his time at the university, he also served in management positions at Shreve and Harrison halls, as assistant director of residence halls, assistant director of residence halls programming and counseling, and director of residence halls and graduate houses, before being appointed vice president in 1996. In his honor, Harrison Hall annually gives the John A. Sautter Fire Up Award to one of its residents.

"I am very fortunate to have spent my career at Purdue," Sautter said in a statement. "I've had the opportunity to be part of the development of some tremendous young men and women as they mature from freshmen to confident, well-educated seniors ready to become professional and community leaders. Knowing that the programming developed by our outstanding staff plays a role in that development is very satisfying to me."