Julie Swann, co-director of the Center for Health and Humanitarian Logistics within the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, has been named the Harold R. and Mary Anne Nash Professor, effective July 1.

The Nash professorship was created through an endowment established by H. Ronald Nash (IE 1970), Deborah Nash Harris (IE 1978) and Michael R. Nash (IE 1974), the children of Mary Anne and Harold R. Nash (EE 1952), in honor of their parents.

Swann’s research focuses on developing models and analytical methods to solve problems in logistics and supply chain management and inform decisions in health systems and policymaking. 

She is also developing educational and outreach programs to governmental and non-governmental organizations that are involved in planning for and responding to short- and long-term humanitarian crises, such as the pandemic influenza.

“I am truly honored to have been chosen for this professorship,” Swann said.  “I am dedicated to having a societal impact through health and humanitarian research, and I'm delighted to partner with the Nash family in furthering these causes. Their support will help further the role that operations research and industrial engineering can have in improving society.”

Swann received her B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1996 and her M.S. and Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences from Northwestern in 1998 and 2001, respectively.

The Nash family has a longstanding and deep connection to Georgia Tech, having had three generations educated here and launched into successful careers. 

“As children of Harold and Mary Anne Nash it has been our pleasure to see all of the great work being done at Georgia Tech in the field of humanitarian logistics,” Ron Nash said.  “This important area of study is poised to bring incredible benefits to those people displaced in disasters as we learn how to become far more efficient in getting the right resources to those who need them the most.”