Industrial Engineering Assistant Professor and Alum Named Clemson's Young Alumni of Year

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Kevin Taaffe, chair of the Industrial Engineering Department at Clemson, and Rob Curry, Young Alumni of the Year.

Rob Curry, an assistant professor of industrial engineering, was recognized April 26 at Clemson University with the prestigious Young Alumni of the Year Award. The award was presented during the Clemson University Industrial Engineering End of Year Celebration.

An alumnus of the Department of Industrial Engineering at the U of A, Curry joined the department as an assistant professor in 2023. He received his Ph.D. in industrial engineering from Clemson University, his master's in industrial and systems engineering from the University of Florida and his bachelor's in industrial engineering from the U of A.

Head of the Department of Industrial Engineering, Chase Rainwater, commented about this prestigious honor: "This recognition is a testament to the success Rob has already had in his young career. We remain excited that he has brought his talents back to the University of Arkansas. Our department is already feeling his impact."

Before joining the U of A as an assistant professor in 2023, Curry served as an assistant professor in the Mathematics Department at the United States Naval Academy for five years. His research focuses on developing methodologies for modeling and solving large-scale network optimization problems, with applications ranging from defense settings to sensor networks and cyber-physical infrastructure.

Curry's scholarly contributions have been recognized by prestigious academic journals such as IISE Transactions, Networks and Naval Research Logistics. Furthermore, his research has been sponsored by esteemed organizations like the Office of Naval Research, underscoring the significance and impact of his work.

In addition to his research pursuits, Curry is invested in teaching, with expertise in areas including linear and integer programming, network optimization modeling and algorithms, and applied probability and statistics. His commitment to educating the next generation of industrial engineers further solidifies his status as a deserving recipient of the Young Alumni of the Year Award.