Graduate School Dean Recipient of Lifetime Achievement Award

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Ed Pohl, dean of the Graduate School and International Education, has received the Bernard Sarchet Award from the American Society for Engineering Management. The award was presented at the group's Nov. 6-9 conference in Virginia Beach, Virginia.

The Sarchet award is the highest award given by the society's Engineering Management Division. It recognizes a lifetime of achievement in engineering management education and is named after one of the founding fathers of the academic discipline of engineering management. It honors an individual who has made significant contributions over an extended period to the discipline and the division and who exemplifies the highest standards of the professorate in engineering management.

Kim Needy, dean of the College of Engineering, nominated Pohl for the award, especially noting his publication record, over 80 peer-reviewed journal articles in 30 different journals.

"I'm so pleased to see Dr. Pohl receive this recognition for his substantial contributions to the field of engineering management throughout his career, with an impact at local, national and international levels," Needy said. "From his incredible record of peer-reviewed articles to his steadfast engagement and leadership with the society, he richly deserves this award."

Chase Rainwater, head of the Department of Industrial Engineering, commented, "We are pleased to see Dr. Pohl honored for his lifetime of accomplishments in engineering management. We are fortunate to have such a recognized individual as one of our faculty and campus leaders.

Pohl joined the U of A in 2004 as an associate professor of industrial engineering. From 2007 to 2014, he was director of the operations management master's degree program, one of the largest graduate programs at the U of A. He was promoted to full professor in 2013 and served as the head of the Department of Industrial Engineering from 2014 to 2023, transitioning to dean of the Graduate School and International Education in June 2023.

Pohl is a certified professional in engineering management and has held certifications as a certified materials and resource professional and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt. Pohl is a Fellow of the American Society for Engineering Management, the Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers and the Society of Reliability Engineers. Pohl is a senior member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the American Society for Quality. He is a diplomate in the Society of Health Systems. He is also a member of the International Council on Systems Engineering, the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences, and the Association for Health Care Resource & Materials Management.