Monday, January 27, 2025
Marv and Melanie Richardson are redefining retirement. The couple is embarking on a new chapter centered on faith, family and philanthropy. One of those philanthropic pursuits? Naming the Marvin and Melanie Richardson Department Head of Pharmacy Practice position.
John M. Allen, PharmD, BCPS, BCCCP, FCCM, FCCP, is the inaugural Marvin and Melanie Richardson Department Head of Pharmacy Practice. Allen assumed the department head role on December 1, 2024, and the naming was approved by Provost Patrick J. Wolfe on January 8, 2025.
This milestone marks the first named department head position within the Purdue University College of Pharmacy, a testament to the Richardson family’s deep-rooted commitment to the college.
Marv’s journey with Purdue began in an elective pharmacy management course taught by the late Dr. Bob Evanson, a pivotal moment that influenced his career trajectory. The Richardsons’ generous gift honors Dr. Evanson’s legacy and his impact on Marv’s life.
“Dr. Evanson was instrumental in shaping my interest in pharmacy management,” Marv shared. “Since Dr. Evanson was part of what is now the Department of Pharmacy Practice, this gift feels especially fitting.”
The Richardson legacy extends beyond Marv and Melanie. Their family includes three other proud Purdue graduates: daughter Emily Richardson Bauer (PharmD ’13); daughter-in-law Elizabeth Gill Richardson (PharmD ’15) – married to their son, Reed Richardson; and son-in-law Adam Bauer (B.S. Mechanical Engineering ’12) – married to Emily. This gift ensures that future generations can benefit from similar opportunities.
“To Melanie and me, it’s about paying it forward and creating opportunities for pharmacists in our profession,” Marv said. “We are passionate about putting pharmacists at the forefront of healthcare and ensuring they have the time to make a meaningful impact.”
A Pharmacy Family
Marv, originally from Anderson, Indiana, found his calling in pharmacy at a local independent pharmacy during his teens, influenced by pharmacist TJ Furnish (BS ’68).
Melanie, hailing from Lisbon, New York, initially pursued sociology at the State University of New York-Plattsburgh before shifting to a pharmacy management career.
The two met while working in pharmacy management with Walgreens in Houston, Texas, and married in 1987. Now, they are proud parents of three adult children – Ryan, Reed and Emily – and grandparents to six. Their family inspires their philanthropic endeavors.
“Our daughter Emily and daughter-in-law Elizabeth are both Purdue pharmacists,” Melanie said. “We hope others will have the same opportunities they and Marv had. We also hope our grandchildren will pursue their passions and particularly hope they will become Boilermakers themselves.”
An Impactful Education
Marv credits his Purdue education for the broad opportunities that led him to pharmacy automation, his career passion. This passion brought the Richardsons back to Indiana, allowing them to stay close to family and embark on entrepreneurial ventures.
Together, they founded multiple businesses, with their latest, Capstone Consultants, supporting pharmacy automation. Their involvement in iA, a company that uses automation to free up pharmacists for patient care, continues to shape the industry. Although Marv retired as CEO in November 2023, he hopes this automation continues to expand the pharmacist’s role in healthcare.
Their philanthropy also extends to Grace Church in Noblesville, Indiana, where Marv serves as Treasurer of the Grace Care Center Foundation Board. He was recently appointed to the Indiana Mental Health Roundtable. Other charitable efforts focus on faith, hunger initiatives, and mental health advocacy.
Beyond financial contributions, Marv engages with Purdue through the Dean’s Leadership and Innovation Forum, introducing students to emerging trends in pharmacy. He is also a recipient of the prestigious Distinguished Alumni Award for his professional achievements.
Making a Difference
Philanthropic gifts like this one from the Richardson family open doors for world-changing science and prestigious pharmacy education. In the case of named faculty positions, Eric Barker, Purdue’s Vice President for Health Affairs and Jeannie and Jim Chaney Dean of Pharmacy, said support from alumni and friends allows Purdue Pharmacy to recruit and retain top faculty and administrators.
“It’s hard to put into words the gratitude we have for alumni and friends like the Richardsons who continue to invest in the College of Pharmacy,” Barker said. “Top faculty and leaders want to know they are committing to a college where they and their work are supported. Named positions, like the Marvin and Melanie Richardson Department Head of Pharmacy Practice, show the depth of that support.”
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If you wish to find a meaningful way to create your own legacy within the College of Pharmacy, please reach out to Travis Smith, managing director of development, or Carrie Bright, director of development.
