Three faculty from the Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering (ISE) at the University of Florida have recently received endowed appointments in recognition for their continued research efforts in ISE.
Yongpei Guan, Ph.D.
George E. & Rolande G. Willis Professor
Yongpei Guan, Ph.D., Associate Chair for Graduate Studies and professor has recently been named the George E. & Rolande G. Willis Professor. This professorship was created by the Willis family with the objective of supporting research and teaching efforts in engineering economics.
Guan, who has made significant research contributions in the areas of energy and power systems transmission and distribution, was selected for this particular professorship based on the potential economic impacts of his studies in industrial and systems engineering for large industry sectors.
Panos Pardalos, Ph.D.
Paul & Heidi Brown Endowed Professorship
Panos Pardalos, Ph.D., a professor, has been named the Paul & Heidi Brown Endowed Professor. Paul and Heidi Brown are both alumni of the UF ISE Department and this professorship was created to advance the state of the ISE discipline.
Pardalos was selected for this professorship based on his continuous contributions to the UF ISE department, as well as the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, including many interdisciplinary projects.
Xiang Zhong, Ph.D.
Lauderdale Faculty Fellowship in Industrial & Systems Engineering
Xiang Zhong, Ph.D., an assistant professor, received the Lauderdale Faculty Fellowship in Industrial & Systems Engineering. This professorship was endowed by UF ISE alumni, Trey Lauderdale (B.S. 2004).
Lauderdale, who is the founder of Voatle, a clinical communication software company, created the professorship in support of an ISE faculty member conducting research in healthcare.
Zhong has a specific research focus in healthcare systems and, in addition to the Lauderdale Faculty Fellowship, she has recently been awarded multiple funded projects, including a National Science Foundation EAGER Award for simulation-based modeling of the spread of COVID-19 and hospital resource allocation planning.
“The Brown, Lauderdale and Willis endowments of ISE faculty appointments represent the tremendous dedication and success of our department alumni. Our alumni share a love for UF and seek to ensure the future of the department, college and university. We are grateful for their support and look forward to the continuing research and teaching contributions of Drs. Pardalos, Zhong and Guan through the endowments,” said David Kaber, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering.