FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Heather Nachtmann has been appointed as associate director for the Mack-Blackwell National Rural Transportation Study Center. Nachtmann is an associate professor in the department of industrial engineering at the University of Arkansas. In 2000, she received her doctoral degree in industrial engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. Her current research interests include supply chain risk assessment, transportation network optimization, and optimal cost driver selection.

Nachtmann is currently the principal investigator managing more than $1 million of research funding and the recipient of two best paper awards for her works published in The Engineering Economist and the Engineering Management Journal. She is a member of ASEE, ASEM, IIE, INFORMS, and SWE. Nachtmann has also been the faculty adviser to the University of Arkansas’ Alpha Pi Mu, the industrial engineering student honor society since 2002, as well as the Women in Engineering and Society of Women in Engineering organization. She is an area editor for the The Engineering Economist journal.

"Centers such as MBTC provide a catalyst to conduct research that focuses on regional interests such as the importance of rural transportation to the state of Arkansas," Nachtmann said. "The Mack-Blackwell Rural Transportation Center's research in areas such as homeland security and biofuels are vital to our region, and I am thankful for the opportunity to serve in this capacity."

In addition to Nachtmann’s appointment, Jack Buffington, research professor of civil engineering, is now acting director for the Mack-Blackwell Center.