2022 Supply Chain Management Directors’ Conference

hero image of the Jindal School, UT Dallas, home of the 2022 Supply Chain Management Directors’ Conference

Supply Chain Management Directors’ Conference

2022 Register Now

Welcome to Jindal School of Management, UT Dallas Campus

The 11th Annual SCM Directors’ Conference
March 3-4, 2022

No Registration Fee

  • Are you responsible for developing and managing supply chain programs?
  • Are you experiencing difficulties in recruiting new particularly, domestic students?
  • Are you in the process of developing an STEM program or enhancing your supply chain curriculum?
  • Would you like to build quality relationships with industries to market your programs?
  • Would you like to improve your internship outcomes or the overall ranking of your SCM programs?

If you experience these issues, then you are not alone. The conference, hosted by the Jindal School of Management, brings a unique colloquium specific to program directors, assistant/associate deans and center managers who are involved in developing and managing different aspects of supply chain management programs and curriculum.

This conference is a premier colloquium for designing, developing, and even reinventing SCM programs. We plan to encourage thought-provoking conversations, debates on the several issues confronting us, and discussions of emerging ideas to promote program success at every level from the classroom through the dean’s suite. This conference also has been selected as one of the top 50 Logistics, Warehouse and Inventory Management Conferences to attend in 2017.

Interested in being a speaker or serving on a faculty panel?

Experts from various universities will provide insights and share innovative techniques. If you are interested in sharing your experiences as a speaker or panelist, please send an email to David Widdifield. The agenda may include:

  • Curriculum Development
  • Online Program Development
  • Developing STEM Program
  • Program Assessment (AACSB)
  • Methods to Grow Domestic Enrollment
  • University and Industry Rankings
  • Building Marketable Certificate Programs
  • Building Industry Advisory Board and Relationships

Organizing Committee

If there are topics you would like to see on the program, please let us know and we would be happy to add it to the program agenda.

Shawn Alborz

Shawn Alborz, PhD

Conference Co-Chair, UT Dallas
Associate Dean

salborz@utdallas.edu | (972) 883-6455

David Widdifield, DM

David Widdifield, DM

Conference Co-Chair, UT Dallas

dsw180001@utdallas.edu | (972) 883-5168

Message from Dean

Hasan Pirkul, PhD

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the 2022 Supply Chain Management Directors’ Conference. We are pleased to welcome you to Naveen Jindal School of Management (JSOM), at UT Dallas and we hope you enjoy your time with us.

This year’s conference will focus on differentiation, competitiveness and several exciting topics, and the importance of strong industry engagement and partnerships for outstanding undergraduate programs and curriculum. This is a wonderful opportunity for business school leaders to share their successes and exchange ideas as together they confront challenges and recognize innovations in the field.

I would like to thank the conference program committee, for their time and dedication to planning and delivering this conference. I am confident you will have a reinvigorated view of the work you do in your programs.

Best wishes for a productive and enjoyable conference.

Best wishes,
Hasan Pirkul, PhD
Dean and Caruth Chair of Management

Conference Agenda

The tentative schedule is noted below and will be updated periodically.

Schedule for Thursday March 03, 2022 (Central Time)
Time Program
9:50 a.m. – 10 a.m. Attend Virtual via Microsoft Teams
10 a.m. – 10:05 a.m. Conference Welcome: Dr. David Widdifield (UT Dallas), Dr. Shawn Alborz (UT Dallas)
10:05 a.m. – 11 a.m. Keynote Speaker: State of Supply Chain Digitization in Today’s Environment
Speaker: Mr. Adrian Kumar, DHL Supply Chain Global Head of Operations Science & Analytics
11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Session #1: Supply Chain is Driving Today’s Economy: Top Programs Constantly Keep Pace with Curriculum Changes

The impact of the pandemic on the world’s supply chain has been relentless. Innovations in the supply chain are now driving the economic metrics, and top academic programs respond by adapting curriculum to reflect the just-in-time changes. Learn how top supply chain programs adapt the curriculum to help the supply chain continue to drive a strong economy.

Moderator: Dr. Subhro Mitra/University of North Texas

Panelists: Dr. Vidyaranya Gargeya/The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Panelists: Dr. Donnie Williams/University of Arkansas
Panelists: Dr. Zach Zacharia/Lehigh University

12 p.m. – 12:15 p.m. Coffee Break
12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Session #2: Program Leadership Determine Program Success: Examples of Cradle (Recruiting) to Grave (Alumni) Can Determine Program’s Success

Supply chain program leaders are expected to be extraordinary recruiters driving enrollment higher. They manage students’ satisfaction, engagement and are special promoters who engage with employers. These skills are not typically in the wheelhouse of most program leaders. In this session, learn how they have developed such skills and adapt the leadership style to grow the program.

Moderator: Dr. John Visich/Bryant University

Panelists: Dr. John Hill/Indiana University
Panelists: Dr. Brian Gibson/Auburn University
Panelists: Ms. Cindy Mebruer/Saint Louis University

1:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Coffee Break
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Session #3: Co-curricular Engagement Builds Reputation and Helps to Execute and Deliver a Top Program

Engaging advisory boards, successful alumni, and employers have become critically important to help grow and validate a quality supply chain program. Learn from seasoned academic leaders discussing how they have complemented the academic coursework with external engagement and opportunities that helped their internships and final placement positions.

Moderator: Dr. Sue Sundar/University of Utah

Panelists: Mr. Jake Dean/University of Wisconsin-Madison
Panelists: Dr. William Sawaya/Bowling Green State University
Panelists: Ms. Pamela Wiseman/Jindal School of Management MS SCM Industry Advisory Board

2:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. Wrap up: Dr. David Widdifield (UT Dallas)
Schedule for Friday March 04, 2022 (Central Time)
Time Program
9:50 a.m. – 10 a.m. Attend Virtual via Microsoft Teams
10 a.m. – 11 a.m. Session #4: Gartner: Academic Supply Chain Rankings

Speaker: Ms. Dana Stiffler, Gartner VP Supply Chain Research & Advisory

11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Session #5: Engaging Today’s Supply Chain Student and Providing Opportunities for Growth Inside and Outside the Classroom

The pandemic has impacted students, changed their confidence levels, and increased their unwillingness to take risks and engage outside the classroom. Learn from successful schools about encouraging engagement in the supply chain leadership council, ambassador programs, professional development workshops, and competitions. These experiences are becoming increasingly important in helping students distinguish themselves in the workforce.

Moderator: Mr. Greg Carter/Colin County Community College

Panelists: LTC (Ret) Jeremy Banta/ Columbus State Community College
Panelists: Ms. Rosemary Coates/Reshoring Institute
Panelists: Dr. Gurram Gopal/Illinois Institute of Technology

12 p.m. – 12:15 p.m. Coffee Break
12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Session #6: Engaging “Best in Practice” Technology Tools Within SC Curriculum To Prepare Students for Industry Success

The supply chain field has increasingly become more reliant on automated solutions for success. Today’s students need to be equipped with variety skills in the cutting-edge technologies routinely used by supply chain operations. This session explores the supply chain technologies (A.I. analytics, machine learning, robotics) fast becoming common place in supply chain curriculums, their formats (academic software, cloud-based platforms, subscriptions, etc.) and program placement.

Moderator: Dr. Daniel Lin/University of San Diego

Panelists: Mr. Steve DeNunzio/The Ohio State University
Panelists: Dr. Ike Ehie/Kansas State University
Panelists: Ms. Shivani Marwaha/Cardinal Health

2:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Wrap Up: Dr. David Widdifield (UT Dallas)