Operations Management, Engineering Management Master's Programs Welcome New Director

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David Paulus and Greg Parnell

The Operations Management and Engineering Management programs are proud to announce a leadership transition. Greg Parnell, who has served as the director for the past 10 years, will be stepping down, and David Paulus will assume the role of director in May.

Since 1974, the Master of Science in Operations Management program has grown from its humble beginnings to be the largest online master's program at the U of A. With over 6,000 graduates to date, the program will celebrate its 50th anniversary later this spring. The Master of Science in Engineering Management program began in 2017 and is now the fifth largest graduate program on campus.

Chase Rainwater, head of the Department of Industrial Engineering, which houses the programs, shared his outlook of the transition in his announcement to staff.

"I am confident that David is someone who will continue to guide these programs along the exceptional trajectory established by Dr. Greg Parnell and Dr. Ed Pohl over the last 15 years," Rainwater said.

Pohl is the former head of industrial engineering and was director of operations management and engineering management prior to Parnell. He now serves as dean of the Graduate School and International Education.

Paulus joined the U of A in fall 2023 as a professor of practice in industrial engineering. He is currently serving as the co-director of the Operations Management and Engineering Management graduate programs.

Paulus earned his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and his master's degree in industrial engineering at the University of Tennessee. He earned his doctorate in mechanical engineering at Colorado State University. Before joining the faculty in Fayetteville, he was an assistant and then associate professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith and an associate professor in the engineering and technology management online master's degree program for Washington State University.

Paulus' doctoral research interests focus on developing a computer-controlled resistance exercise system to counter the adverse physiological adaptations of space flight, including bone density loss and muscle atrophy. He continued the research with funding from the Arkansas Space Grant Consortium and then with NASA funding from Phase I, II and III Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) with Streamline Automation in Huntsville, Alabama.

Paulus was the inventor and lead engineer developing the compact Controlled Resistance Exercise Device (C-RED) that programmed electric motor resistance to simulate the inertial loading of free-weights. He has worked closely with NASA Johnson Space Center performing prototype testing and biomechanical evaluations.

Paulus is a professional engineer in the state of Arkansas, a Certified Professional in Engineering Management and a Certified Human Factors Engineering Professional. Paulus has been an engineering consultant for Paulus Consulting LLC since 2012 in areas related to industrial and mechanical engineering, including human factors and intellectual property.

Paulus is happily married to his wife, Heather, and they have three children, Emma, Luke and Julia.

Parnell will be taking the time to assist with the leadership transition, and a celebration in recognition of his service as director will be hosted before the end of the spring semester.

About the Department of Industrial Engineering: The Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Arkansas was founded in 1950, led by department head John L. Imhoff who believed deeply in the global impact of industrial engineering. Today, the department averages over 200 undergraduate students and over 40 doctoral and master's students. In addition, the department has three online master's degrees: the Master of Science in Operations Management, Master of Science in Engineering Management and Master of Science in Operations Analytics. These three programs alone enroll over 600 students each academic year. To learn more about the Department of Industrial Engineering please visit our website.