News

Robert T. Sumichrast is dean of the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business. He holds the Simon S. Selig, Jr. Chair for Economic Growth. From 2003-2007, he was dean of the E. J. Ourso College of Business at Louisiana State University and Ourso Distinguished Professor of Business.

Sumichrast received a bachelor's degree in physics from Purdue University in 1979. He earned his doctorate in management science from Clemson University in 1984, where he served as a lecturer during his study.

Indiana native Sumichrast began his professional career as an assistant professor of management science at Virginia Tech in 1984. In 1990 he became an associate professor, then professor of management science and information technology in 1996. He received both the Pamplin College of Business Certificate of Teaching Excellence and the University Certificate of Teaching Excellence. In 1998, Sumichrast was named associate dean for graduate and international programs at Pamplin College of Business. He received the MBA Faculty Award in 2001.

Sumichrast has served on editorial boards and as a reviewer for more than 15 journals and industry publishers, including Decision Sciences, Journal of Management Information Systems, and the European Journal of Operations Research. He authored Operations Management and Decision Support Tools, an educational package composed of a textbook and computer programs, in addition to many refereed articles published in journals such as Decision Sciences, Journal of Management Information Systems, and Journal of Operations Management.

As a consultant, Sumichrast provided invaluable guidance to Ingersoll-Rand and Rusco in improving their respective information systems. Additionally, he designed scheduling, inventory control, and decision support systems for Burlington Industries, Owens-Corning Fiberglas, and Federal Mogul.

Sumichrast is an active member of the Decision Sciences Institute (DSI) and the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (InfORMS). He was coordinator of DSI's southeast region Student Paper Competition in 2001 and chairperson of the Programs and Meetings Committee from 1996 to 1997. He has held the offices of secretary/treasurer, vice president, and president of the southeastern chapter of InfORMS. Sumichrast also sat on the board of directors of the southwestern Virginia chapter of the American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS), as well as serving as president of that organization. In 2002, Sumichrast earned a spot on the Japan Study Tour sponsored by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB International) and the leading Japanese business organization Keizai Koho Center.