Roberta S. 'Robin' Russell honored with emerita status

Mark Owczarski

7 May 2024

Roberta S. “Robin” Russell, pictured speaking at the 2023 spring commencement ceremony in her role as interim dean of Pamplin College of Business. — Roberta S. “Robin” Russell speaks at the 2023 spring commencement ceremony in her role as interim dean of Pamplin College of Business. Photo by Andy Santos for Virginia Tech.

Roberta S. “Robin” Russell, professor of business information technology in the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of professor emerita by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.

The emerita title may be conferred on retired faculty members who are specially recommended to the board by Virginia Tech President Tim Sands in recognition of exemplary service to the university. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board receive a copy of the resolution and a certificate of appreciation.

A member of the Virginia Tech community for more than 40 years, Russell made significant contributions in the fields of operations and supply chain management, health care quality and service operations. She was the author of more than 30 research articles and co-author of two nationally acclaimed textbooks, “Service Operations Management," printed in two editions, and “Operations and Supply Chain Management,” printed in 11 editions. She was recognized with the Gyrna Quality Award from the American Society for Quality for research excellence.

In addition, Russell served as interim dean of the Pamplin College of Business from 2022-23.

In her career, Russell held several important offices and served on numerous professional committees for the Decision Sciences Institute and the Production and Operations Management Society. She was president of the American Production and Inventory Control Society’s Educational and Research Foundation and president of the Southwest Virginia Chapter of the American Production and Inventory Control Society.

Russell taught at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, having received the Pamplin College of Business Certificate of Teaching Excellence, the university’s Certificate of Teaching Excellence, and the MBA Association Certificate of Teaching Excellence.

At Virginia Tech, Russell advised numerous graduate students in the Department of Business Information Technology, including service as chair of two Ph.D. dissertation committees and membership on 35 college and university Ph.D. committees and eight master’s degree committees. She received the Pamplin College of Business Excellence in Diversity Award and was head of the Department of Business Information Technology Department from 2017-22.

While department head, Russell spearheaded the development of the cybersecurity management and analytics major, the 2+2 degree completion program with Northern Virginia Community College, and the 3+1+1 coordinated program with Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies in Mumbai, India.

Russell received her bachelor’s degree and Ph.D. from Virginia Tech and her MBA from Old Dominion University.

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