Purdue's president will move on to work full-time as chair of the board at the Smithsonian Institution.
The Purdue president, an astrophysicist by trade, will go to work for one of the nation's most prominent preservers of historic and scientific artifacts.
Academics and researchers from Purdue University are among those watching closely as NASA hopesto make its final space shuttle launch in Cape Canaveral today.
Cordova wants to expand on the strategic plan put forward by outgoing President Martin Jischke, while remaining true to the founding mission of the school.