Alumni News

IE alum Cao excelling as associate professor at MD Anderson
September 25, 2023
When Wenhua Cao first arrived at the University of Houston to start his doctoral work in the Industrial Engineering Department, he wasn't new to just the school – It was his first time spending significant time in the United… 		Wenhua, a graduate of the Industrial Engineering doctoral program, is now an associate professor in the Department of Radiation Physics, a Division of Radiation Oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. He joined MD Anderson as an assistant professor in 2016.
IE grad Lele provides a case study for importance of logistics
March 24, 2023
A graduate of the Industrial Engineering master's program at the University of Houston's Cullen College of Engineering is now leading a team optimizing the operational dynamics at DHL as the firm continues to grow in size and… 		Viraj Lele is a 2017 Industrial Engineering graduate of Cullen's Master of Engineering program.
Cullen alum named one of city's Most Admired CEOs
August 26, 2022
An alumni of the Cullen College of Engineering has been selected by The Houston Business Journal as one of 45 honorees in the fifth-annual Most Admired CEO Awards. Daniel Wong, CEO of Tolunay-Wong Engineers, Inc., is a 1988… 		Daniel Wong, CEO of Tolunay-Wong Engineers, Inc. and an alum of the Cullen College of Engineering, has been selected by The Houston Business Journal as one of 45 honorees in the fifth-annual Most Admired CEO Awards.
IE Alum Echeverry latest member of Industry Advisory Board
August 8, 2022
In a way, María Patricia Echeverry serving on the Industrial Engineering Department's Industry Advisory Board is a “full circle” moment for the UH graduate – from an undergrad collaborating with the college, to Master's student… 		María Patricia Echeverry earned her master's degree from the Industrial Engineering Department of the Cullen College of Engineering, en route to a successful career as executive vice president at Gulf Coast Distillers. She is now serving on the Industry Advisory Board for the department. [Photo courtesy Gulf Coast Distillers.]
Location, opportunity allow IE grad Luo to thrive
July 26, 2022
For David Luo, it was the combination of location, finances and a faster-paced curriculum that challenged him, which drew him to the University of Houston's Cullen College of Engineering. Since graduating with his master's degree… 		David Luo, a 2019 graduate of the Industrial Engineering program at the Cullen College of Engineering, is now thriving in a position at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
College mourns the passing of Gerri Snider
April 28, 2022
The Cullen College of Engineering extends its condolences to the family of Gerlene “Gerri” R. Snider, a longtime benefactor to the College and the University of Houston. Along with her husband Larry, a UH alumnus, she established… 		Larry and Gerlene (Gerri) Snider.
EAA recognizes 50 students for academic achievements, leadership
February 25, 2022
The Engineering Alumni Association (EAA) hosted another successful event on Feb. 22, as the 2022 Engineers Week Awards program recognized 50 students for their accomplishments. Since 2004, the EAA and industry donors have come… 		Haley Conley, posing with friends.
Alum Santos promoted to Distinguished Service Professor at Binghamton
April 15, 2021
An alumnus of the University of Houston's Cullen College of Engineering has been promoted to the position of Distinguished Service Professor of Systems Science and Industrial Engineering, building on the teaching experience he… 		Daryl Santos, Ph.D., graduated with his Masters and doctorate in Industrial Engineering from UH in 1990 and 1993, respectively. Santos was recently promoted to Distinguished Service Professor at Binghamton University, the highest faculty rank that SUNY awards.
Adat building on skills from UH education
February 11, 2021
Building on the skills he first learned while pursuing a Masters’ degree in Industrial Engineering at the University of Houston’s Cullen College of Engineering, Arun Adat is now in his second decade of a successful career at the… 		Arun Adat, who earned his Masters’ degree in Industrial Engineering at UH, is now in his second decade of a successful career at the Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company, a Fortune 500 company.
UH grad Walheim continues to plot course for the stars
November 25, 2020
When Rex Walheim first enrolled at the University of Houston's Cullen College of Engineering's Masters program in Industrial Engineering in the 1980s, his goals were literally sky high. At the time, he was a flight controller at… 		Rex Walheim, a 1989 graduate of the Industrial Engineering Masters program at UH, is now at the private company Axiom Space after retiring from NASA. The agency noted that he spent almost 36 years in government service, 36 days in space, and 36 hours on spacewalks.
Students prove mettle via challenging capstone class
April 9, 2020
It happens in the spring of every academic year. Teams of Cullen College industrial engineering students, most of them seniors about to graduate, are working to polish final details of the biggest assignment of their… 		Instructional Associate Professor Randal Sitton (’85, M.S.I.E. ’88, Ph.D. ’92)
UH Cullen College Industrial Engineering Paper on Mass Evacuation Receives International Recognition
September 23, 2019
Paper Published in Two IISE Publications Industrial engineers make things and systems better for people. In Gino Lim’s case, it can involve reliable mass evacuation planning in situations of critical emergencies. “A reliable… 		Professor Gino Lim and his doctoral student Ayda Darvishan with a poster about their emergency evacuation project.
UH Cullen College Alumnus Leads UHCL’s College of Science and Engineering
August 27, 2019
UH Cullen College of Engineering alumnus Miguel A. Gonzalez (’83, MSIE ’85, Ph.D. IE ’95) recently took the helm as the new dean of the College of Science and Engineering at University of Houston-Clear Lake. He will also serve as… 		UH Cullen College of Engineering alumnus Miguel A. Gonzalez is the new dean of the College of Science and Engineering at University of Houston-Clear Lake.
Photos: 30th Annual UH Engineering Crawfish Boil Kicks off OTC
May 15, 2019
The UH Cullen College of Engineering hosted its 30th annual Offshore Industry Crawfish Boil on Sunday, May 5 at Lynn Eusan Park. Thousands of alumni, faculty, students and industry leaders gathered to network and mingle as they… 		The UH Cullen College of Engineering hosted its 30th annual Offshore Industry Crawfish Boil on Sunday, May 5 at Lynn Eusan Park.
UH Engineers Apply Their Skills to Health Care
April 25, 2019
Efforts to re-engineer delivery of care recognized by Harris Health Industrial engineers work to improve system performance, whether that system is in an oil refinery or an automobile production line or, as in this case, in… 		A collaboration between the University of Houston and the Harris Health System is aimed at easing bottlenecks for psychiatric patients in the emergency center. Photo: Getty Images
UH NSBE Alumni to Share Industry Insights With Students
April 8, 2019
The UH chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) is bringing together UH NSBE alumni and current student members for an information session, titled “NSBE Guy and Girl Talk,” on Tuesday, April 9, in room 108 of… 		UH NSBE Event Flyer
UH Engineering Building Named for Durga D. and Sushila Agrawal
October 10, 2018
An engineering building at the University of Houston will be renamed the Durga D. and Sushila Agrawal Engineering Research Building in recognition of a gift that will provide ongoing support for faculty, students, research and… 		An engineering building at the University of Houston will be renamed the Durga D. and Sushila Agrawal Engineering Research Building in recognition of a gift that will provide ongoing support for faculty, students, research and building operations. Photos: Cullen College of Engineering
A Passion for Paying it Forward: Q&A With Victor Zaloom
March 13, 2018
Victor Zaloom (Ph.D. IE '70) is a man with interests as broad and deep as the industrial engineering (IE) field in which he works. A professor of industrial engineering at Lamar University, Zaloom has really done it all, working… 		Industrial engineering alumnus Victor Zaloom
UH Alumnus Wins Prestigious National Engineering Award
March 1, 2018
Klotz views engineering as a 'license to change the world.'   Houston civil engineer D. Wayne Klotz (1976 MSCE) has added another feather in his cap. The University of Houston alumnus recently became the fourth recipient of an… 		D. Wayne Klotz, a University Houston engineering alumnus, received the 2018 Outstanding Practitioner in Water Resources Engineering Award from the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers (AAWRE)
IE Alumnus Eric Ayanegui Engineers Safety, Reliability and Lifelong Relationships
August 11, 2017
It was 1995 and Eric Ayanegui (BSIE ’95) was an industrial engineering undergraduate student at the University of Houston Cullen College of Engineering. He found himself in unfamiliar surroundings – at the Cintas Facility and… 		Eric Ayanegui proudly shows off his UH class ring at the Cintas facility in Houston.