The Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering hosted its spring Advisory Board meeting on April 24, 2009. Led by Stewart School Chair Chelsea C. White III and by Advisory Board Chair Christopher B. Lofgren, the Board concentrated on the current economic times and Georgia Tech's reach into international programs.

White updated the Board on the Stewart School's continuing successes and upcoming challenges as the nation's largest and highest ranked industrial engineering program. White cited the School's growing alumni base, its partnerships with industry, and its increasing international presence as measures of progress. He spoke of the emerging applications of ISyE to fields such as medical operations research, humanitarian logistics, sustainability, finance, and security. He also discussed using the economic downturn as an opportunity: How do we exit the downturn stronger than when we entered it?

Nancy Sandlin, ISyE Director of Development, gave an update on the fundraising successes to date.

Valerie Thomas, Anderson Interface Associate Professor of Natural Systems, and Ed Rogers, Board Member and UPS Strategic Planning Manager, gave an update on their collaborations since the last Board meeting by reporting on the leadership role ISyE can play in the initiative for solutions in energy and sustainability. "We want to make a difference not just at Georgia Tech but nationally and locally," said Thomas, whose leadership has created an undergraduate-level Energy and Environmental Analysis class. She announced the need to develop more courses and a potential concentration in sustainability for students so that the Stewart School of ISyE might gain experience and emerge as an innovator in the field.

Professor Bill Rouse, Executive Director, The Tennenbaum Institute, gave an update on the Tennenbaum Institute. His discussion focused on complex organization systems - how they change, don't change, and how we can help people succeed. Associate Professor Shijee Deng gave an update on the Quantitative & Computational Finance Program and how IE's can play a role in the current environment.

Steven McLaughlin, Professor in Georgia Tech's School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Vice Provost for International Initiatives, then turned the focus toward Georgia Tech's international programs: "We have to go global," McLaughlin insisted, "Our students, faculty, and cohorts are demanding it. The things we do abroad have to complement what we do here."

Recently, the Stewart School of ISyE has developed academic partnerships with the National University of Singapore (NUS), has installed residences in Brazil, France, and Hong Kong as part of the Executive Masters in International Logistics (EMIL) Program, has launched the Sino-U.S. Global Logistics Institute in Shanghai, and has developed a new international initiative in Costa Rica.

Following McLaughlin's presentation, a panel of six undergraduate industrial engineering students shared their study abroad and work abroad experiences with the Board. Andrew Garfrerick spoke of his collaboration with students from the National University of Singapore and from Tsinghua University while on the Beijing-Singapore Summer Study Abroad. Hannah Bennett's participation in the Oxford Program and Natasha Jain's stay at GT Lorraine provided them with additional course credit and a unique view at the sustainable lifestyle of Europe. Renee Desing, Andrew Myers, and Jameel Khan spoke of the challenges and rewards of taking classes in another language as participants in the Spanish and German Language for Business and Technology (LBAT) Programs.

The ISyE Advisory Board also welcomed five new members for the 2009-2013 term. Joseph C. Mello (IE '80) and R. Jamie Spriggs (IE '90) each bring over a decade of experience in the healthcare industry to the Board. The manufacturing background of Timothy L. Waldee (ME '89) as a General Manager for GE Energy proves timely in today's market. Maria Rey is a 2002 graduate and adjunct faculty member of the EMIL Program. David Riviere (IE '87) rounds out the new Advisory Board members with over 20 years of consulting experience.

The next Board meeting will be held on October 23, 2009.

After the meeting adjourned, a smaller group of female ISyE PhD students, alumnae, and faculty convened for a Women's Tea in the faculty lounge. The event provided an informal setting for female industrial engineers to share their experiences and ideas regarding their roles in industry and academia.