Thomas Sharkey of Clemson University wins Fellow Award from the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers

Colleagues at Clemson University and beyond are congratulating Thomas Sharkey, a professor of industrial engineering, for winning the Fellow Award from the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE).

Fellow is the highest classification of IISE membership and “recognizes outstanding leaders of the profession who have made significant, nationally recognized contributions to industrial and systems engineering,” according to the institute.

Sharkey has been described as an outstanding researcher, a passionate supporter of colleagues, an active promoter of populations regardless of background and an excellent and innovative teacher.

Colleagues said he is highly engaged in the profession and IISE and that he is leading the development of the next generation of industrial and systems engineers.

Sharkey’s pioneering research spans from disrupting human-trafficking networks to infrastructure resilience. His work showcases his rigorous approach and practical solutions, colleagues said.

Sharkey’s record includes 54 high-quality manuscripts published in archival journals, plus additional refereed proceedings. Colleagues said his work is of very high quality and that he has garnered significant funding, including a CAREER award from the National Science Foundation.

Sharkey has received three best track paper awards at various conferences, including two from the IISE annual conferences in 2010 and 2017.

Colleagues said Sharkey’s approach of holistically exploring societal problems coupled with his technical ability, intellectual curiosity and work ethic have led to results that are impressive and of interest to both academics and practitioners.

His extensive involvement with IISE over the past decade, including editorial roles, conference organization, leadership positions and mentoring initiatives, reflects his dedication to advancing the profession and prioritizing IISE as his primary professional commitment.

Not more than 20 fellows can be named each year, according to IISE. A list of Fellow Award winners dating to 1950 can be found here.

Sharkey joined Clemson as a professor in 2020. He previously was on the faculty of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Sharkey received his Ph.D. from the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering at the University of Florida, a Master of Science in Engineering in Mathematical Sciences from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Sciences with honors, also from Johns Hopkins University.