Nachtmann Named Arkansas Research Alliance Fellow

Whit Pruitt, University Relations

Professor Heather Nachtmann

Heather Nachtmann, professor of industrial engineering and the Earl J. and Lillian P. Dyess Endowed Chair in Engineering, has been named an Arkansas Research Alliance Fellow. The ARA Fellows program recognizes scientists and engineers already resident at a university or institution in Arkansas for their ongoing, exemplary contributions to the state’s core research focus areas with a $75,000 grant paid over three years. The program recognizes research leaders with an established history of impact and includes membership into the ARA Academy of Scholars and Fellows.

“For 23 years, Dr. Nachtmann has dedicated herself to the University of Arkansas, rising through the professorial ranks while assuming increasing levels of leadership positions,” College of Engineering Dean Kim Needy said.  

“She has established a renowned research program in logistics modeling and economic decision analysis and is a recognized intellectual leader in her field,” Needy added. “Being named an ARA Fellow will accelerate her contributions to the state of Arkansas, giving us much to celebrate!”

Margaret Sova McCabe, interim vice chancellor for research and innovation, echoed Needy’s appreciation: “Congratulations to Heather Nachtmann on this richly deserved honor. Dr. Nachtmann’s work in advanced mobility, economics and operations analysis of inland waterways, and data science for transportation are recognized the world over and are driving innovation in Arkansas and beyond.”

Nachtmann’s research contributions to the state include economic impact and operational studies of the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System and the Ouachita River. She also serves on the leadership team of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s Data Analytics that are Robust and Trusted (DART) Center while also leadingadvanced mobility efforts for the University of Arkansas. 

“I am honored to join the Arkansas Research Alliance Academy as an ARA Fellow and will continue working with stakeholders across Arkansas to drive innovation and economic impact in advanced mobility and future logistics,” Nachtmann said. “Many thanks to Chancellor Charles Robinson, Dean Kim Needy, and the Arkansas Research Alliance Board of trustees for their nominations and selection to join this esteemed group of Arkansas researchers and inventors.

Nachtmann has published more than 100 peer-reviewed publications and generated more than $17 million in research grants as principal investigator. She serves as director of the Maritime Transportation Research and Education Center, a U.S. Department of Transportation University Transportation Center, and the Mack-Blackwell Transportation Center.

She is also a Fellow of the American Society for Engineering Management and the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers, and is a member of both the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department Research Advisory Council and the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Visioning Alliance Standing Council. She also serves as editor in chief of The Engineering Economist journal.  

Nachtmann received her bachelor's, master's and Ph.D. in industrial engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. She has been with the College of Engineering since 2000, starting as an assistant professor in the Department of Industrial Engineering.

About the University of Arkansas: As Arkansas' flagship institution, the U of A provides an internationally competitive education in more than 200 academic programs. Founded in 1871, the U of A contributes more than $2.2 billion to Arkansas’ economy through the teaching of new knowledge and skills, entrepreneurship and job development, discovery through research and creative activity while also providing training for professional disciplines. The Carnegie Foundation classifies the U of A among the few U.S. colleges and universities with the highest level of research activity. U.S. News & World Report ranks the U of A among the top public universities in the nation. See how the U of A works to build a better world at Arkansas Research and Economic Development News.