Pelin Pekgün

Title

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Thomas H. Davis Professor in Business, Professor of Analytics, Department Chair, Wake Forest University School of Business

Education

  • M.S. (2005) and Ph.D. (2007), Industrial and Systems Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA
  • B.S. (2000) and M.S. (2001), Industrial Engineering, Boğaziçi University, Istanbul, Turkey

Professional Experience

  • Wake Forest University (Professor of Analytics 2024-Present; Department Chair July 2025-Present)
  • University of South Carolina (Faculty Director of MSBA Program 2020-2023, Associate Professor 2018-2023; Assistant Professor 2012-2018)
  • Georgia Institute of Technology (Visiting Assistant Professor 2011-2012)
  • JDA Software Group (Manager, Analytical Services 2009-2011; Solution Architect/O.R. Consultant 2006-2009; Intern 2005-2006)

Selected INFORMS and Related Activities (Member since 2004)

  • Secretary, INFORMS Board of Directors & Executive Committee (2025)
  • Vice President (2024), Board Member (2017-Present), INFORMS Practice Section
  • Member, INFORMS Strategic Planning Committee (2024)
  • VP of Membership and Professional Recognition, INFORMS Board of Directors (2020-2023)
  • Special Issue Editor for the Franz Edelman Award, INFORMS Journal on Applied Analytics (2022-Present)
  • Associate Editor, Manufacturing & Service Operations Management (2017-Present)
  • Judge/Coach/Member (2013-2019, 2024), INFORMS Franz Edelman Award Committee
  • Member, INFORMS Practice Strategy Committee (2018-2022)
  • Chair, INFORMS Membership and Member Services Committee (2018-2019)
  • Chair, INFORMS Professional Recognition Committee (2012-2014)
  • Cluster/Track Chair for INFORMS Analytics Conference (2015-2019) and INFORMS Annual Meeting (2013, 2016)

Selected Professional Honors and Awards

  • High Impact Scholarship Award, Wake Forest School of Business (2025)
  • INFORMS Volunteer Service Award (2024)
  • Top 50 Women Leaders of South Carolina, Women We Admire (2022)
  • M&SOM Practice-Based Research Competition Finalist (2020/2021)
  • M&SOM Meritorious Service Award (2020)
  • INFORMS Franz Edelman Award Finalist (2012)
  • IIE Transactions Best Paper Award (2009)
  • INFORMS George B. Dantzig Dissertation Award Honorable Mention (2008)

Selected National Service Activities

  • Reviewer, National Science Foundation (NSF, 2020-2021)

Selected Publications

  • Author of more than 20 journal articles and book chapters that have appeared/are to appear in Manufacturing & Service Operations Management, Production and Operations Management, Journal of Operations Management, Journal of Marketing, INFORMS Journal on Applied Analytics, and others.

Candidate Statement

I am honored to be nominated for the position of Secretary on the INFORMS Board of Directors. INFORMS has been my professional home for over two decades – a community that has supported my growth as both an academic and a practitioner. I have always seen this organization as instrumental in disseminating knowledge, raising awareness about operations research (OR), management science (MS), and analytics, and providing members with valuable opportunities for networking, mentoring, career development, publication, and professional growth. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to serve INFORMS in various leadership roles, gaining a broad perspective on how the organization supports its members and advances the field. Most recently, I was appointed to the Board of Directors as Secretary for 2025, a role that also includes serving on the Executive Committee. This position has provided valuable insights into the organization’s governance and strategic direction and has reinforced my commitment to enhancing INFORMS’ visibility, expanding its reach, and celebrating the impactful work of our members to strengthen our profession and community.

Previously, I served a four-year term as Vice President of Membership and Professional Recognition. That experience allowed me to work closely with our dedicated staff and volunteers to lead initiatives that enhanced the member experience and highlighted the many ways our community contributes to the advancement of OR/MS and analytics. I am especially proud of launching two initiatives during my term: the Early Career Practitioner Award and Senior Member designation. These programs were developed to recognize professional achievements of our members across different stages of their careers and encourage continued engagement with INFORMS. My focus was to ensure that INFORMS is a place where all members feel their contributions are valued and opportunities for volunteering and recognition are accessible and transparent.

In addition to my time on the INFORMS Board, I have had the privilege of serving the INFORMS community in a range of other roles. I served as the chair of both the Professional Recognition Committee and Membership Committee, as a Board Member and Vice President of the INFORMS Practice Section, and as a member of the Strategic Planning Committee. I have also been actively involved in practitioner-oriented competitions, serving as a judge for the Edelman Award and Wagner Prize, and contributed in editorial roles to both academic and practitioner-oriented journals. These experiences have given me a deep appreciation for the breadth of the INFORMS community and the important role we play in advancing both theory and practice.

If elected to continue as Secretary, I will bring the experience, perspective, and commitment developed throughout my years of service to advance the mission of INFORMS. I will work to ensure that our strategic initiatives remain aligned with member needs and that INFORMS continues to be a welcoming and vibrant professional home for all those committed to making “Smarter Decisions for a Better World.”

Looking ahead, I believe that INFORMS is uniquely positioned to support its members in a dynamically evolving landscape. As an academic with strong ties to practice, I am particularly passionate about strengthening connections between academics and practitioners, mentoring students and early-career professionals as they transition into the workforce and advance in their careers, and increasing awareness and visibility of our field among policymakers, corporations, nonprofits, government agencies, and the public. I also believe that INFORMS must continue to innovate in how we deliver value to members – identifying ways to support our community during challenging times, expanding access to professional development resources, cultivating new partnerships and collaborations, and celebrating the work of our members across sectors and disciplines.

I am grateful for the opportunity to serve this remarkable community and would be honored to continue contributing to its growth and impact.

For more information, please visit: https://business.wfu.edu/directory/pelin-pekgun/.