Trustee Reagan Koester - Driven by Service

By Andi Anderson

Purdue University has welcomed a new voice to its Board of Trustees. On August 5, Governor Braun appointed undergraduate student Reagan Koester, a junior in agribusiness, to serve as the next student trustee.

Koester grew up on her family’s grain and dairy farm in southwest Indiana, which she says helped guide her decision to pursue studies at Purdue’s College of Agriculture.

A legacy student, she had already been involved with Purdue initiatives in high school, making the choice of college an easy one.

She describes agriculture as “one big family” and finds that sense of connection reflected throughout Purdue’s campus.

While at Purdue, Koester has been active as a Rising Professional Host, served on central committees, joined the Student Life Advisory Board, and participated in the Ag Week Task Force. She also gained industry experience through an internship with Corteva Agriculture.

Koester says her motivation comes from a mindset of service rather than personal gain. “It’s really just trying to pay it forward and help others in what I do, because that’s really what motivates me at the end of the day,” she explained. This approach naturally led her to pursue the trustee role, which she sees as a way to give back to an institution that has given her so much.

Her appointment also marks a shift, as the last four student trustees were graduate students. Koester believes her undergraduate perspective will add value by connecting more directly with the student body.

She aims to act as a listening ear, bringing student concerns and ideas into board discussions.

At her first board meeting on August 8, she was struck by the dedication of the trustees. “Everything that’s discussed is so fascinating. I wish everyone had the chance to see how much they genuinely care about the university,” she shared.

Looking ahead, Koester hopes to strengthen connections among students across different colleges and career paths, helping Boilermakers support one another.

Her advice for incoming students is simple: embrace new opportunities. “Say yes to those different opportunities that maybe stretch you outside your comfort zone, because that’s where you’ll find your family, and that’s where you’ll really grow.”

Photo Credit: purdue-university