Industrial Engineering Department Head Receives John L. Imhoff Global Excellence Award

University Relations

Edward A. Pohl

Edward A. Pohl, professor and head of the Department of Industrial Engineering received the award at the 2016 American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) Annual Conference and Exposition on June 27 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The only conference dedicated to all disciplines of engineering education, ASEE is committed to fostering the exchange of ideas, enhancing teaching methods and curriculum, and providing prime networking opportunities for engineering and technology education stakeholders such as deans, faculty members and industry and government representatives.

Selection for the John L. Imhoff Award is initiated by a nomination.  The selection process is extremely thorough and competitive which enhances the high regard in which the award is held.

Edward A. Pohl is holder of the Twenty-First Century Professorship in Engineering. He also serves as the director of the Center for Innovation in Healthcare Logistics (CIHL) and the co-director of the emerging Institute for Advanced Data Analytics at the University of Arkansas. Before coming to Arkansas, Ed spent 21 years in the United States Air Force where he served in a variety of engineering, operations analysis and academic positions during his career. Pohl received his Ph.D. in systems and industrial engineering from the University of Arizona. He holds a M.S. in systems engineering from the Air Force Institute of Technology, and M.S. in reliability engineering from the University of Arizona, an M.S. in engineering management from the University of Dayton, and a B.S. in electrical engineering from Boston University. His primary research interests are in risk, reliability, engineering optimization, health care and supply chain risk analysis, decision making and quality.

The John L. Imhoff Global Excellence Award for Industrial Engineering Education is endowed from the estate of the late Professor John L. Imhoff and recognizes an individual who has made outstanding contributions in the field of industrial engineering education, who exemplifies the highest standards of the professorate in industrial engineering, and has demonstrated global cooperation and understanding through leadership and other initiatives.

An engineering educator for more than 50 years, John L. Imhoff was the founding department head for the Industrial Engineering program at the University of Arkansas. He thrived on the global impact potential of the industrial engineering discipline. His vision encompassed the undergraduate, graduate, and teaching levels. He believed that global sharing through educational channels would lead to greater cooperation and understanding. He was very committed to students within the classroom and was passionate about professional student organizations as well as faculty involvement within those organizations. He encouraged students to travel abroad on work/study programs; encouraged them to take summer jobs abroad; and encouraged faculty to bring in speakers who had worked abroad to share their experiences.