A Change of Leadership

In May of 2023, University of Arkansas Provost Terry Martin named Ed Pohl the dean of the Graduate School and International Education. Pohl succeeded Curt Rom who served as interim dean since January 2022.

“I’m pleased to appoint Dr. Ed Pohl as the new dean of the Graduate School and International Education,” Martin said. “Dr. Pohl led the university’s largest graduate degree program and has also served as the director of the master’s degree program in engineering and the department head of a large and complex department since 2014. His own personal commitment to graduate education and his extensive experience overseeing graduate degree programs and research excellence in the College of Engineering make him well suited for his new role.”

Pohl, who joined the College of Engineering as an associate professor in 2004, had served as head of industrial engineering since 2014. He assumed the new role on June 1, 2023.

College of Engineering Dean, Kim Needy, then named the new Department of Industrial Engineering head on June 1st with Chase Rainwater, associate department head, taking over the role.

Known for his outstanding mentorship of students, Rainwater earned a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from U of A in 2004 and a Ph.D. in industrial and systems engineering from the University of Florida in 2009.

He joined the College of Engineering as an assistant professor of industrial engineering in 2009 and has been promoted twice, achieving the rank of professor in 2021.

He has also served as director of the J.B. Hunt Innovation Center of Excellence, inaugural director of the Master of Science in operations analytics program and codirector of the Arkansas Security Research and Education Institute.

“The Department of Industrial Engineering has meant so much to me as both a student and a faculty member. It is a tremendous honor to be its next leader. We are fortunate to have exceptional faculty and staff, and passionate alumni. Together we will continue our focus on the development of students and our commitment to their success,” Rainwater said. “I look forward to building on the tremendous momentum created by Dr. Ed Pohl as the department head. He has been an influential mentor to me and so many others. I am grateful for his leadership and dedication to the Department of Industrial Engineering and the University of Arkansas.”

Rainwater is regarded as an exceptional educator, teaching numerous courses in computing, as well as optimization, probability and statistics. His research interests include supply chain logistics, security and food safety. His work has been supported by the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S.

Department of Education, in addition to multiple national labs, nonprofit organizations and companies. Rainwater is a strong supporter of the Arkansas STEM community and has been a mentor in the FIRST program since 2010.

“Chase brings a wealth of expertise, experience and passion that will ensure the department’s success in training the industrial engineers of tomorrow,” said Dean Kim Needy. “His impressive track record of research and teaching will undoubtedly help us further our strategic vision, strengthen industry partnerships and attract top-tier faculty and students.