Committee selects White as ISyE chair

Chelsea (Chip) White III has been appointed chair of the School of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISyE). U.S. News rates Tech's program as the most prestigious industrial and systems engineering program in the nation.

White is excited about working with faculty, students, administration, alumni and sponsors.

"I am looking forward to continuing the ISyE tradition of excellence in leadership, research, education and service that has made our school so nationally and internationally prominent," he said.

A search committee consisting of faculty, students and members of the alumni advisory board selected White through a process including applications and interviews. A variety of schools other than ISyE, including Mathematics, Management and Mechanical Engineering were also represented on the committee.

Because the head of the committee could not be a member of the school of ISyE by regulations, Ward Winer, chair of the school of Mechanical Engineering, headed the efforts of the search committee.

The criteria involved in the selection process, according to administrators, included scholarship-the committee searched for candidates who were well-respected in both the institute and the academic community as scholars-and the ability to lead and manage faculty and staff. In addition, the committee looked for the ability to manage external affairs such as fundraising and development.

White said his goals are at both an operational and a strategic level. According to him, the field of industrial and systems engineering plays an important role in the issues and trends that face the world. White also noted that Georgia Tech is a supportive culture for the school of ISyE to grow and meet these challenges.

He said that the ISyE chair is responsible for making sure that the school is effective in providing faculty with sufficient resources to conduct interesting research and providing students with resources they need to have an impact.

The ISyE chair must "lead the school and develop the human and financial resources of the school," according to William Rouse, former chair of the School of ISyE.

Rouse had held the position since 2001 and decided to step down in order to devote his full efforts to his post as Executive Director of the Tennenbaum Institute for Enterprise Transformation.

Paul Griffin, associate chair for Undergraduate Studies and ISyE professor, said that the ISyE chair is also responsible for "helping to define the strategic vision for the school and helping to get the resources."

The duties of the chair, Griffin said, include fundraising and fostering relations with alumni and with other organizations that support the school.

The chair manages the school of ISyE and its budget, and evaluates the performance of faculty. With the input of faculty and staff, the chair also makes decisions such as promotion and whether or not to grant tenure.

Currently, White also holds the Schneider National Chair in Transportation and Logistics, is the Director of the Trucking Industry Program at Tech and is the Executive Director of the Logistics Institute.