Distinguished Purdue Professor awarded 'Sagamore of the Wabash'

Purdue’s chief semiconductor officer and distinguished professor Mark Lundstrom was bestowed with the Sagamore of the Wabash Award by Gov. Eric Holcomb last week, according to a press release.

The Sagamore of the Wabash Award was created during the term of Gov. Ralph Gates in the '40s and is given to those who have rendered distinguished service to Indiana or the governor.

The term “sagamore” was used by the tribes of the northeastern United States to describe a lesser chief or a great man among the tribe to whom the true chief would look for wisdom and advice.

Lundstrom is the Don and Carol Scifres distinguished professor of electrical and computer engineering in the Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

He has served as principal advisor on microelectronics to the executive vice president for strategic initiatives, special advisor to the president and chief semiconductor officer. He was also named the acting dean of the College of Engineering in 2020 and interim dean during the 2022-23 academic year.

Purdue President Mung Chiang nominated Lundstrom for the impact he’s had on the nation as the first university-appointed chief semiconductor officer and his leadership in connecting Purdue’s research and success in the semiconductor industry with the state.

Chiang said Lundstrom’s contributions resulted in an economic development trajectory that created opportunities for not just Indiana’s workforce, but the country’s.