Professor Emory W. Zimmers is the recipient of the 2025 Lehigh ISE Distinguished Alumni Award in Academia. Dr. Emory Zimmers Jr is a Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering and Director of the Enterprise Systems Center at Lehigh University, where he holds four degrees.
He transitioned from industry consulting to academia, developing courses in industrial systems, leadership, and experiential capstone projects. Under his leadership, the Enterprise Systems Center has completed over 1300 projects, engaging over 4400 students. He has served as Deputy Director of the Iacocca Institute, co-authored a CAD/CAM textbook, and earned multiple teaching and service awards. He is a Fellow of both the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. Congratulations Emory!
George Psarros is the recipient of the 2025 Lawrence E. White Fellowship for a Master of Science at Lehigh’s ISE Department. This fellowship is made available through the generosity of Lehigh ISE alumnus Lawrence E. White (’64, ’65, ’69) for a full tuition towards 30 credits of master’s degree study. George is a student at the University of Miami studying industrial and systems engineering with a strong interest in data analytics, linear programming, and stochastic modeling. He is excited to build on his engineering foundation here at Lehigh University. Congratulations George!
Shutian Li is the Award Winner of the 2025 Van Hoesen Family Best Publication Competition. This award inspires students to publish influential research, software tools, and applications, and was made available through a generous gift of Everett Van Hoesen ‘55. Shutian will receive a $1,500 monetary prize for her paper titled “Equity-Promoting Integer Programming Approaches for Medical Resident Rotation Scheduling,” co-authored with Shutian’s adviser, Professor Karmel S. Shehadeh, Professor Frank E. Curtis, and Dr. Beth Hochman, from the Department of Surgery of Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Shutian is a fourth year PhD student in ISE. Congratulations Shutian!
Xiaoyi Qu received a Van Hoesen Family Best Publication Competition Honorable Mention for his paper titled “Proximal-Gradient Method for Equality Constrained Optimization,” co-authored with Dr. Yutong Dai and Xiaoyi’s advisor, Professor Daniel P. Robinson. Xiaoyi is a third year PhD student in ISE. Congratulations Xiaoyi!
2025 Lehigh ISE Community and Culture Award
The Culture and Community Award recognizes members of the Lehigh ISE Community who actively cultivate a strong and connected community within the ISE department and beyond. Deserving nominees bring people together, create meaningful engagement opportunities, and inspire a culture of support and shared purpose. Through their efforts—such as mentoring, organizing initiatives that enhance connection, and championing a welcoming environment—they help shape a vibrant and engaged academic community. Our 2025 awardees are:
Lara Zebiane is a second-year PhD student and president of the Lehigh INFORMS Student Chapter, has shown exceptional leadership and dedication to fostering community within the ISE department. From organizing diverse events—such as social gatherings, academic seminars, and cross-institutional collaborations—to advocating for student well-being and inclusivity, she has built strong connections across cultures and backgrounds. Her warmth, initiative, and tireless efforts to support and uplift others have made a lasting impact on the ISE community, earning her recognition as a true team builder and an outstanding leader. Congratulations Lara!
Professor Frank E. Curtis is a dedicated and deeply supportive member of the Lehigh ISE community, known for his outstanding mentorship, leadership, and tireless commitment to both students and faculty. He actively participates in departmental discussions, social events, and academic initiatives, consistently offering his time, energy, and expertise. Frank has played a pivotal role in redesigning the ISE PhD Program, launching the FACET initiative, and mentoring numerous faculty and students. His collaborative spirit, generous mentorship, and unwavering support make him a true community builder and a cornerstone of the ISE department's culture. Congratulations Frank!
2025 MIT Supply Chain Excellence Award
Each year MIT presents its Supply Chain Excellence Award to outstanding graduating seniors from Lehigh. The awards recognize students’ potential for leadership in supply chain management and provide tuition scholarships to the MIT Supply Chain Management Master’s Program after a minimum of two years’ work experience in the supply chain sector. Winners were selected based on personal statements and on their academic excellence at Lehigh.
This year Lehigh ISE seniors Olivia Harrison and George Pentz were recognized as the 2025 MIT Supply Chain Qualified Nominee. Qualified Nominees receive 10% tuition fellowship at any of the sister centers in the MIT SCALE Global Network. Congratulations Olivia and George!
2025 Lehigh ISE Student and Faculty of the Year Awards
Lehigh ISE is honored to announce the following awards in recognition and appreciation of students, staff, and faculty, for their achievements throughout the 2024-2025 academic year. The department congratulates these students and faculty and thanks them for their contributions and dedication to the Lehigh ISE Department.
- Industrial and Systems Engineering Sophomore of the Year: Emma Tsujimoto
- IBE Industrial and Systems Engineering Sophomore of the Year: Benjamin Erickson
- IBE Financial Engineering Sophomore of the Year: Derek Walasavage
- Industrial and Systems Engineering Junior of the Year: Connor McDowell
- IBE Industrial and Systems Engineering Junior of the Year: Ruhi Tawde
- Financial Engineering Junior of the Year: Cecy Benitez
- Industrial and Systems Engineering Senior of the Year: Sara Menand
- IBE Industrial and Systems Engineering Senior of the Year: Cooper Nelson
- IBE Financial Engineering Senior of the Year: Michael Jamesley
- Industrial and Systems Engineering Master’s Student of the Year: Harshitha Chandrakant Bhagaje
- Health Systems Engineering Master’s Student of the Year: Evelyn Galarza
- Financial Engineering Master’s Student of the Year: Andrew Le
- Industrial and Systems Engineering Ph.D. Student of the Year: Lara Zebiane
- Undergraduate Faculty Member of the Year: Professor Ana-Iulia Alexandrescu-Anselm
- Master’s Faculty Member of the Year: Professor Luis F. Zuluaga
- Ph.D. Faculty Member of the Year: Professor Frank E. Curtis