The annual Industrial and Systems Engineering Donor Appreciation Luncheon was held last week, celebrating the generosity and impact of our alumni donors.

The luncheon speakers at the event included Dr. Pinar Keskinocak, H. Milton and Carolyn J. Stewart School School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISyE) Chair and Professor at Georgia Tech, amongst other industrial engineering members including:

• Lorette Leone, Fourth Year Industrial Engineering Undergraduate Student
  • Lizanne and Robert A. Milton International Scholarship Endowment Recipient
• Amanda Mewborn, (IE ‘00, MS HS ’01)
  • Alumna and Associate Vice President, Planning, Design, & Construction, Georgia Institute of Technology
• Joel Sokol PhD, Professor and Director
  • Master of Science Analytics Program (MSA), Harold E. Smalley Professor
• Nancy Sandlin, (MGT ‘92)
  • Senior Director of Development, Georgia Tech Office of Development & ISyE

Dr. Keskinocak highlighted the importance of donors in advancing research and educational initiatives within ISyE. Her speech resonated with attendees as she shared success stories and the positive outcomes of donor-funded projects.

Lorette Leone, a fourth-year Industrial Engineering student from Tanzania, also spoke at the luncheon. Leone expressed her gratitude for the financial support she received, which has enabled her to pursue her education and engage in various extracurricular activities. She emphasized the transformative power of donations in changing students' lives and helping them achieve their dreams.

Amanda Mewborn (IE ‘00, MS HS ‘01), began her career path in healthcare, serving in various spaces including facility planning, operations, design and construction, and more. With her depth of experience in consulting, architecture, and information technology, Amanda has been recognized as a Fellow for both the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE), and the American College of Healthcare Executives. 

Dr. Joel Sokol, Harold E. Smalley Professor and Director of the Master of Science in Analytics at Georgia Tech, captivated the audience with his insights on the Master of Analytics Program, and applied operations research. Dr. Sokol's work, supported by donor funding, has led to larger advancements in predictive modeling and analytics education.

Nancy Sandlin (MGT ‘92), Senior Director of Development for the Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, closed the event with a heartfelt thank-you to all donors for their unwavering support. Sandlin emphasized the critical role of funding support in sustaining the school's mission and enhancing the academic and research environment.