asoo vakharia

Information systems scholar receives distinguished service award

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – McClatchy Professor Dr. Asoo Vakharia received the 2016 Dennis E. Grawoig Distinguished Service Award from Decision Sciences Institute (DSI) at the organization’s annual meeting Nov. 19-22 in Austin, Texas.

The award is named in honor and memory of Dennis E. Grawoig, the Institute’s founder, first president, and executive director.  The recipient is selected based on exemplary service to the Institute over a significant number of years.

Fewer than 50 members have received the award in the Institute’s 45-year history.

Dr. Vakharia, who is also the Director of Warrington’s Center for Supply Chain Management, has provided more than 32 years of service to the Institute, which includes scholars and professionals from academia and practice as its members. He’s served in numerous roles, most notably as Editor of Decision Sciences Journal—one of two publications DSI produces—from 2010-14. He’s also served the Journal’s Associate Editor, and on its Editorial Review Board among other roles.

In 2013, Dr. Vakharia was named a Fellow of DSI, the highest honor the Institute can bestow on a member. Selection as a DSI Fellow is in recognition of exceptional career contributions to the decision sciences disciplines in research, scholarship, teaching, and service accomplishments.

In addition to his service to DSI, Dr. Vakharia has been active in various academic and professional organizations relating to information systems and operations management. He’s served as President of the Production & Operations Management Society (POMS), Senior Editor, Editor, and Department Editor of Production and Operations Management Journal, and as a Reviewer for the National Science Foundation among other activities.

Dr. Vakharia, who has taught in Warrington’s Department of Information Systems and Operations Management since 1994, has a Ph.D. from the School of Business at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research focus is on Supply Chain Management with an emphasis on Green/Sustainable Product Development, Channel Selection and Design, and Reverse Supply Chains.

Dr. Vakharia is also an exemplary teacher at Warrington, and has taught courses in Operations/Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing Planning and Control, International Logistics, and MPC/ERP Systems Integration. He has been extensively involved in Executive Teaching and has also taught industry specific executive development courses for several companies. His consulting work includes projects with AT&T Solutions Customer Care, Golden Eagle Distributors, Garrett Air Research, Motorola, Sweetheart Cups, Inc., and the University of Arizona Medical Center.