“It’s our responsibility to create opportunities for others, whether through financial sponsorship or the willingness to commit time and expertise to inspire those following behind us,” say Jody (MS’04, PhD A’08) and Rodney (A’02, PhD A’08) Green.
The couple met at Purdue two decades ago and have stayed connected to both the university and North Carolina State University (NCSU), where Rodney earned his master’s degree. Rodney is a creative builder who enjoys tinkering with tools to make objects, layouts, and designs better. He works as a senior director of research and development at a consumer packaged-goods company. Jody, an entomologist and educator at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, is an animal lover and arthropod rescuer, active in the Omaha running community, and an advocate of inclusive outdoor spaces.
The Greens recently established the Arthro-Pod Scholarship to benefit students in Purdue’s Department of Entomology. “It was the generosity of scholarship donors that made it possible for my success during those early years at Purdue,” Jody says. “Giving back through scholarship support is an expression of gratitude to the department that changed and strengthened me to pursue a career in my field.”
Rodney, who also created a scholarship at NCSU, wanted Jody to be a part of an enduring legacy and established the scholarship in her honor, originally naming it the Jody Green Scholarship. After learning about this, Jody changed its name to the Arthro-Pod Scholarship, saying, “I’m still alive.” The new name comes from a podcast called “Arthro-Pod,” which Jody co-hosts with a few other Purdue entomology alumni. Together, they deliver insect-related topics to listeners around the world twice a month, often interviewing an expert in the field.
“For a long time, we didn’t know if we were screaming into the abyss, but the show has received positive feedback from listeners, encouraged students to pursue a degree in entomology, and guided individuals toward an entomology-related career,” Jody says. “By naming the scholarship after the podcast, we hope to encourage recipients to forge ahead in weird-ness, persist with passion, and stay connected to the university and those they meet there.”
During their time at Purdue, Rodney and Jody enjoyed building connections and engaging with professionals in their respective industries, some of whom became mentors, employers, partners, and stakeholders. They hope their scholarship will help increase students’ access to the same support, encouragement, and advice they received.
“This gift is an investment, a living legacy for us,” Jody says. “It represents everything important to our family, and we hope it inspires others to think about what they can do to positively impact future generations. The bottom line is, you don’t have to be older, rich, or no longer living to give. You don’t even have to have been a good student. Those future generations will be grateful.”
