2009 Headlines
Johnson School Dean Earns Top Honor in his Field
Joseph Thomas recognized as a fellow of the Production and Operations Management Society
May 4, 2009 | Ithaca, NY | May 4, 2009 | Ithaca, NY | L. Joseph Thomas, the Anne and Elmer Lindseth Dean of the Johnson School at Cornell University and professor of operations management, today received the most prestigious honor awarded by the Production and Operations Management Society (POMS), the international organization representing the interests of production and operations management practitioners, scientists, educators, students, and others. The distinction is given for life.
The fellowships are intended to recognize POMS members, who have made exceptional intellectual contributions to the profession and the society through their research and teaching. Although loyal service to the society, in administrative, elected, or editorial assignments, is not by itself a sufficient qualification for this award, it can strengthen the case of a member who has also become a thought leader in the field. Each year, two new POMS fellows are selected by vote of current fellows. These include faculty members from among the nation's leading universities, including MIT, Stanford, Harvard, University of Pennsylvania, London Business School Georgetown, and Vanderbilt.
Thomas is the 10th dean of the Johnson School at Cornell University. He brings more than 30 years of experience as a Cornell University faculty member to his post as dean. With degrees in Chemical Engineering (BS) and Operations Research (PhD) and a long history of academic scholarship and publishing, Thomas is one the nation's foremost experts in operations management and manufacturing. His work has been widely published on a variety of topics, including redesign of global manufacturing and supply networks, manufacturing strategy, inventory systems, human resources management, and worker motivation. He has also studied models for managing complex production-distribution systems and their effective implementation.
In addition, he has consulted for and led management-education programs for several Fortune-100 companies, including Osram (and Osram-Sylvania), Accenture, and Sanofi-Aventis (Rhone-Poulenc Rorer). Thomas is an award-winning teacher, having twice won the Stephen Russell Distinguished Teaching Award. This award is voted upon by members of the five-year reunion class. The award is given to a faculty member whose teaching and example have continued to influence graduates five years into their post-MBA careers.
