Alice E. Smith facts for kids
Alice E. Smith is an American industrial engineer. She uses math to solve complex problems. These problems can be about making things, planning businesses, or even how communication networks work. She is a special professor at Auburn University. She also helps in the Computer Science department there.
Her Journey in Engineering
Alice Smith started her college journey at Rice University. She graduated in 1979 with a degree in civil engineering. After that, she worked for a company called Southwestern Bell Corporation. She was an engineer and a manager for ten years, from 1979 to 1989. While working, she also earned a business degree (an MBA) in 1988 from Saint Louis University.
She then went back to school to earn her PhD. She finished in 1991 at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. Her studies focused on managing engineering projects and systems engineering.
After getting her PhD, she became a professor. She started teaching at the University of Pittsburgh in 1991. In 1999, she moved to Auburn University. There, she became a full professor and led the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering. She has held several special professor titles at Auburn over the years.
Awards and Honors
Alice Smith has received many important awards and honors for her work.
- In 2003, she was named a Fellow of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers. Being a "Fellow" means she is highly respected by her peers in the field.
- She also became a Fellow of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences in 2021.
- In 2009, she won the WORMS Award. This award recognizes women who have helped advance the fields of Operations Research and Management Science.
- The Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers gave her the Albert G. Holzman Distinguished Educator Award in 2012. This award is for excellent teachers.
- She also won the Wellington Award. This award is for her lifetime achievements in the field of engineering economics.