Kim Needy, dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Arkansas, has received the Frank and Lillian Gilbreth Industrial Engineering Award from the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers. Considered the organization’s highest honor, the award is presented to individuals who have made distinguished contributions to the welfare of mankind in the field of industrial engineering.
A full professor of industrial engineering who holds the Irma F. and Raymond F. Giffels Endowed Chair in Engineering, Dr. Needy has served as the University of Arkansas’ engineering dean since 2020. In this role, she led the development of Vision 2035, a strategic plan centered on providing public education, improving quality of life for Arkansans, helping drive the state’s economy, and contributing service and expertise through outreach. The initiative includes plans for increasing the number of engineering graduates to meet industry demand and enhancing the college’s research productivity. Ultimately, the plan aims to add $4 billion annually to the state economy by 2035.
As a scholar, Dr. Needy studies engineering management, engineering economic analysis, sustainable engineering, and integrated resource management. She is a longtime fellow of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers and previously served as the organization’s president from 2013 to 2014. She also had a stint as president of American Society for Engineering Management.
Dr. Needy received her bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. She holds a Ph.D. in the same discipline from Wichita State University in Kansas.