Industrial and Systems Engineering inducts new members to Academy of Distinguished Alumni, celebrates prestigious award winners

The Grado Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) celebrated its annual banquet on April 22, 2024, which included recognition of outstanding alumni receiving multiple departmental honors and awards:

• Marvin H. Agee Award 
• 19th induction to the ISE Academy of Distinguished Alumni 
• Emerging Leaders Award 
• Early Career Impact Award 

“We are thrilled to recognize these incredible alumni for their contributions to the field of industrial and systems engineering,” said department head Eileen Van Aken. “Each year, our Academy inductees and award winners are leaders in their fields, champions of their community, and perfectly exemplify Ut Prosim (That I May Serve). This year’s class is no exception.” 

Vinod Chachra ‘72: 2024 Marvin H. Agee Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient

The Marvin H. Agee award is the highest honor bestowed by the department to graduates, and is awarded biannually to alumni who have demonstrated the highest standards of professional achievement in industrial engineering. The award is named after the late Marvin Agee, who served the department as professor and department head from 1970 – 1975. Under his leadership, the first departmental advisory board was established. 

The 2024 Marvin H. Agee award recipient is Vinod Chachra, a 1968 M.S. and 1972 Ph.D. graduate in industrial engineering and operations research. Chachra served Virginia Tech in numerous capacities upon graduation, and later founded VTLS, Inc. – the first international leader in library systems. 

Learn more about Chachra’s professional and philanthropic accomplishments.

2024 Class of ISE Academy of Distinguished Alumni

The ISE Academy of Distinguished Alumni was established in 1993 by the advisory board and senior faculty of the department. Each year, it recognizes the contributions of exemplary alumni to the profession and society. Candidates can be nominated by anyone, and inductees are carefully selected by a committee composed of members of the ISE advisory board, Academy, and faculty. 

2024 Academy inductees were selected based on their career accomplishments, professional contributions and honors, service to the profession of industrial engineering, service to their community, and involvement and service with Virginia Tech. 

Read more about their accomplishments and the Academy.

James Archer ‘72

B.S. in industrial engineering and operations research 1972

Ranjana Mehta ‘09

M.S. 2009, Ph.D. 2011 industrial and systems engineering

Mehul Sanghani ‘98

B.S. industrial and systems engineering; B.S. psychology 1998

D. Wayne Snodgrass ‘62

B.S. electrical engineering 1962; industrial engineering 1968

Jennifer Van Buskirk ‘95

B.S. industrial and systems engineering 1995

Wilbert Wilhelm, Jr. ‘70

M.S. 1970; Ph.D. 1972 industrial engineering and operations research

Deborah Youmans ‘97

B.S. industrial and systems engineering 1997

Young Alumni Awards 

Young alumni awards are given annually to recognize the outstanding professional achievement and leadership of ISE alumni. The Early Career Impact Award recognizes alumni who are within 10 years of completing their first undergraduate or graduate degree in ISE, and have had a significant impact in their field. The Emerging Leaders Award recognizes alumni within 15 years of graduation from their first undergraduate or graduate degree, and have shown outstanding leadership in their industry and community. 

Learn more about the 2024 young alumni recipients.

Early Career Impact Award: Lauren Carpenito '19

B.S. industrial and systems engineering 2019

Emerging Leaders Award: Missie Smith '18

Ph.D. industrial and systems engineering 2018