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José L. Zayas-Castro, Professor and Chair of the Industrial & Management Systems Engineering Department at the University of South Florida (USF), is recognized by the John L. Imhoff Award as an advocate for expanding engineering education and research throughout the U.S. and Latin America. As a professor, his work in the Learning Factory has been used as a model for innovating engineering education throughout Central and South America. As the senior vice president of International Affairs in the Institute of Industrial Engineers, he has institutionalized international outreach and program tracks the Institute’s national meetings. He continues to mentor and serve as a role model for numerous Latino students.
Zayas-Castro also serves as Assistant Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship at USF. Prior to his current appointment, he was Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Industrial & Manufacturing Systems Engineering at the University of Missouri-Columbia (MU). For sixteen years he taught at the Department of Industrial Engineering at University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez (UPRM), where he served as department head (1987-1990) and as Associate Dean for Academic and Research Affairs of the College of Engineering (1995-1998). In his various positions he has led initiatives to stimulate interdisciplinary research, education and industrial collaboration in the U.S. and Latin America; and has led initiatives to increase the diversity among the student body and faculty hires in engineering and other disciplines. He has done extensive work with private and governmental organizations.
Zayas-Castro has a B.S. in industrial engineering from UPRM and M.S. in Management & Industrial Engineering, MBA, and Ph.D. from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. His interests relate to statistical process control, applied modeling, systems integration, business and R & D strategy, innovation and entrepreneurship, cost analysis, technology transfer, healthcare systems engineering, and innovation in engineering education. His most recent research emphasizes the re-design of processes and products, re-engineering the healthcare sector, and its extended supply chain, product and process developments in medical devices and bio-medical businesses, and the integration of research and engineering education.
Zayas-Castro participates in various advisory and review committees in higher education and in the National Science Foundation. During his career he has been associated to more than $8.5 million in external funding. He has more than 40 publications and over 50 presentations. He was co-recipient of the National Academy of Engineering’s “Bernard M. Gordon Prize for Innovation in Engineering and Technology Education” (2006). He also received the Education Award – University from the Hispanic Engineer National Achievement Awards Corporation (2006).
Zayas-Castro is a Fellow of IIE, 2005-2007 Sr. Vice President for International and past Chair of the Council for Industrial Engineering Academic Department Heads (CIEADH). He is also a member of INFORMS, Alpha Pi Mu, ASEE, ACM, SME, SHPE, NSBE and IEEE.
The John L. Imhoff Award recognizes an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the industrial engineering discipline, who exemplifies the highest standards of the professorate in industrial engineering, and has demonstrated global cooperation and understanding through leadership and other initiatives.
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