Charles Cole, III - BSIE, 1967
Vice President (MCI WorldCom, retired)

"[IE provides] a combination of technical and business knowledge [which] better prepares one for the ever changing world of business. To be successful, one must be able to address technical issues, business issues, and human issues. Industrial engineering is the only discipline, that I am aware of, that addresses all three. Most college graduates learn only one of these in college and the other two with company-based or on-the-job training.”

Dr. Wayne Jones - PhD, 2001
Chief for Science & Engineering Division (OC-ALC/TIE Tinker Airforce Base)

“A degree in industrial engineering has broadened my perspective of what senior practicing engineers should consider in their professional decisions. I have had many technical opportunities during my career. Industrial engineering has opened my eyes to a creative and entrepreneur view of engineering. I would definitely recommend pursuing a degree in industrial engineering.”

John Kenney - BSIE, 1971
Attorney (McAfee & Taft)

"[IE education and industrial experience helped me] develop an expertise for the trial of cases involving technical and scientific issues... Among my classmates are an industrial engineering manager, a CEO of a major communications company, a research scientist and inventor, an expert witness, and a former governor of Oklahoma. This group of interesting and varied careers points out the value of the broad-based training one gets in industrial engineering.”

Dwight Perkins - BSIE, 1978
Vice President for Oklahoma City Manufacturing Operations (CMI Corporation)

“[Industrial engineers are] the engineers with people skills. [They] have the most diversified professional paths of growth and development among all engineering disciplines.”

Everett Shissler - BSIE, 1974
Corporate Environmental Manager (T.D. Williamson Inc.)

"Without my industrial engineering degree, none of [my successes] would have happened. It is because of my IE education that I was able to grasp the overall picture of finance, engineering, and human factors. As I talked with people who had responsibilities for large operations, they would usually be impressed with my ability to review their data, put it all together, and discuss pertinent issues with them. On more than one occasion I was asked what my college degree was in and they were impressed when I told them I was an industrial engineer. [Refering to students considering a major in IE,] if the student likes working with people and likes getting involved in a variety of disciplines, then industrial engineering is a great starting place!” ”

Kent Shortridge - BSIE, 1990
Manager for Measurement & Regulation (Oklahoma Natural Gas)

“The IE education I received from OU prepared me to solve engineering-related problems with the ability to communicate the solutions to others. I firmly believe the discipline provides industrial engineers an advantage over other engineers due to the focus on business management in the IE curriculum. We have the ability to work with others in analyzing problems, creating solutions, and communicating with one another in a business environment. With an IE degree you get a head start in your career advancement.”

Danny Wade - BSIE, 1983
Group Vice President (Alcatel)

“Industrial engineering gave me a solid, broad-based engineering and business perspective to analyze and resolve problems and to manage various organizations and functions. IE provides a student with a wide range of career paths within the technical or business worlds.”

University of Oklahoma, School of Industrial Engineering © 2004
Updated: September 13, 2005