Distinguished ISyE professor will lead the nation’s No. 1 industrial engineering program.
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Pinar Keskinocak has been selected as the next leader of Georgia Tech’s H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISyE). She will serve as the H. Milton and Carolyn J. Stewart School Chair beginning January 1.
Keskinocak is the William W. George Chair and Professor and serves as ISyE’s associate chair for faculty development.
She will be ISyE’s ninth permanent chair, leading a school renowned for its top-ranked graduate and undergraduate industrial engineering programs. U.S. News & World Report has consistently ranked ISyE as the nation's best since the mid-1990s.
“Pinar is a proven and respected leader both on campus and within her academic and research community,” said Raheem Beyah, dean of the College of Engineering and Southern Company Chair. “She is well-positioned to continue advancing ISyE’s national prominence and accelerate the School’s trajectory.”
Keskinocak is the cofounder and director Georgia Tech’s Center for Health and Humanitarian Systems, an interdisciplinary research center focused on education, outreach, and developing innovative solutions via advanced modeling, analytics, and systems engineering.
Keskinocak’s research has had broad societal impact. This includes policies and practices for improved emergency preparedness and response, disease prevention and public health, healthcare access, resource allocation, and supply chain management.
Keskinocak has collaborated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The Carter Center, and other governmental and nongovernmental organizations to translate research into real-world solutions that benefit people and communities.
“I am honored to have the privilege of serving our School in this important leadership role,” Keskinocak said. “As ISyE continues to expand our core activities in education and research, we will strive to advance our excellence and leadership and grow our impact. I look forward to collaborating with our faculty, staff, students, and alumni, as well as with the leadership of the College, Georgia Tech, and our broader community and partners.”
A highly regarded researcher, Keskinocak has published extensively in top-tier academic journals. She served in various leadership roles within professional societies, including as the 2020 president and a two-time board member of INFORMS (The Institute for Operations Research and Management Sciences). She is the cofounder, and has been president, of multiple INFORMS subdivisions. She also has served on several National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine committees.
Keskinocak is a fellow of INFORMS and recipient of the society’s George E. Kimball Medal, President’s Award, and Daniel H. Wagner Prize. At Georgia Tech, she has been recognized with the Outstanding Achievement in Research Program Development Award, Class of 1934 Outstanding Service Award, Outstanding Professional Education Award, and Denning Award for Global Engagement.
A dedicated mentor, educator, and advocate for broadening participation in STEM fields, Keskinocak served as the College’s ADVANCE Professor from 2014 to 2020. She was recognized with the INFORMS Women in OR/MS Award and the Georgia Tech Women in Engineering Excellence Teaching Faculty Award.
Keskinocak replaces Edwin Romeijn, who will return to the ISyE faculty after 10 years as chair.
“I am thankful to Edwin for his very successful tenure, during which ISyE enrollment grew from 1,800 students to more than 8,000,” Beyah said. “I’m also grateful to our search committee and chair Arijit Raychowdhury. This group of students, faculty, and staff diligently worked to help identify a national, diverse pool of strong candidates.”
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