University of Arkansas engineer to give first Pritsker lecture
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – John A. White of the University of Arkansas will be the inaugural speaker on April 11 for the Pritsker Scholars Distinguished Lecture Series at Purdue University.
The series, presented by the School of Industrial Engineering, is named for the late Alan Pritsker. Pritsker made major contributions to industrial engineering, particularly in the area of computer simulation.
White is a distinguished professor of engineering and chancellor emeritus at Arkansas. His lecture will examine the roots of the industrial engineering profession, consider the leadership role Purdue has played, assess the profession's current status and challenges, and make recommendations for industry and academia.
Before taking the chancellor's position at Arkansas, White was dean of engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology. He also served as assistant director for engineering at the National Science Foundation. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering.
The lecture series is designed to reinforce Pritsker's legacy at Purdue and in the field of industrial engineering. As a leader in simulation, he was pivotal in building the School of Industrial Engineering's reputation. He helped it become a frontrunner in research and thought leadership.
Pritsker was on the Purdue faculty from 1970-98. In 1973 he co-founded Pritsker & Associates to use computer simulation technologies to solve problems in industry and government. In 1989 Pritsker Corp. was formed from the merger of Pritsker & Associates and FACTROL.
Pritsker is perhaps best known for developing and using large-scale simulation models to support protocols for organ transplantation for the United Network for Organ Sharing.
The lecture will be at 2:30 p.m. in the Purdue Memorial Union East-West Faculty Lounges. A reception will begin at 2 p.m.
Those planning to attend are asked to RSVP to vhaddock@purdue.edu or 765-496-7827.
Writer: Judith Barra Austin, 765-494-2432, jbaustin@purdue.edu
Source: Dan Folta, School of Industrial Engineering director of development, 765-496-6192, dfolta@purdue.edu