Honoring M. Jeya Chandra

Professor M. Jeya Chandra, a beloved member of the department's faculty since 1980, retired in the summer 2017. 

In recognition of his tremendous contributions and commitment not only to his students, but to the Harold and Inge Marcus Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering as a whole, a fund has been established in his name that will benefit the future needs of the department. 

Career

Chandra, who joined the Marcus department faculty in 1980, served as the chair of the University’s operations research integrated graduate degree program. He also served as the graduate program officer for many years before stepping down in 2014.

He has been presented with numerous teaching and service awards during his career including: the Marcus department Outstanding Faculty Award (1983, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1996, 2000), Penn State Engineering Alumni Society Awards (Outstanding Teaching, 1986; Outstanding Advising, 1988; Premier Teaching, 1989; Distinguished Service, 2010), Penn State’s George W. Atherton Award for Excellence in Teaching (1994), American Society for Engineering Education Outstanding Faculty Award from the Mid-Atlantic Region (1995), and the Penn State Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Society’s Faculty Appreciation Award (2011 and 2016).

He has more than 60 publications to his name and he authored a textbook published by CRC Press in 2001 titled Statistical Quality Control.

He has also supervised more than 80 graduate theses and 15 honors theses, and has been integral in the Marcus department’s efforts to expand study abroad opportunities to industrial engineering students.

Prior to his arrival at Penn State, Chandra was an instructor at Syracuse University where he taught courses on probability, statistics, and the design of experiments.

He is a member of the Institute of Management Sciences, the Institute for Industrial and Systems Engineers, and the American Society for Quality Control, and has held numerous leadership roles at industry conferences and with industry publications throughout his career.

Chandra holds a Ph.D. in industrial engineering and operations research from Syracuse University. He earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Madras University in India and his master’s in industrial engineering from Penn State.

What’s next?

Following his retirement, Chandra plans on serving as a consultant and teaching short courses in industry. He also plans to develop online operations research courses.

 
chandra speaking with a graduate student at a poster fair
chandra with minnie mouse at a conference
chandra laughing with a colleague
chandra with a graduate student at a conference
 

About

Home of the first established industrial engineering program in the world, the Harold and Inge Marcus Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering (IME) at Penn State has made a name for itself in the engineering industry through its storied tradition of unparalleled excellence and innovation in research, education, and outreach.

We are Innovators. We are Makers. We are Excellence in Engineering. We are Penn State IME.

The Harold and Inge Marcus Department of
Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering

310 Leonhard Building

The Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA 16802-4400

Phone: 814-865-7601

FAX: 814-863-4745