Amy Cohn sitting at desk on computer

Amy Cohn named as IISE Fellow

This designation is exceptionally prestigious, with the Institute conferring the title of Fellow upon less than 20 individuals annually from a membership exceeding 10k.

Amy Cohn, the Arthur F. Thurnau Professor at the University of Michigan’s Department of Industrial and Operations Engineering (U-M IOE), has achieved the distinguished status of Fellow within the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE).

“I am so proud of this recognition, and to be part of this incredible, vibrant community,” said Cohn. “IISE represents so much of what I believe we as engineers can do to change the world.”

This designation is exceptionally prestigious, with the Institute conferring the title of Fellow upon less than 20 individuals annually from a membership exceeding 10,000. Prospective candidates for this accolade are required to exhibit exemplary professional achievements and a dedication to advancing the field of industrial and systems engineering.

Professor Cohn joined the faculty at U-M IOE in the capacity of Assistant Professor in 2002. She is an alumna of Harvard University, having graduated magna cum laude with an A.B. in applied mathematics, and she earned her PhD in operations research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her roles extend beyond her professorship at U-M IOE; she is also the Faculty Director of the Center for Healthcare Engineering and Patient Safety (CHEPS) and holds the pivotal role of Chief Transformation Officer at Michigan Medicine.

Four people sit around a table looking at a screen with graphs on in
Cohn with CHEPS students working on solving healthcare-related problems during the height of COVID-19.

Her research interests are concentrated primarily on combinatorial optimization within the contexts of healthcare and aviation, and she has a keen focus on the intricacies presented by optimization problems that necessitate balancing multiple objective criteria.

Professor Cohn’s scholarly contributions are evident in her significant participation in the deployment of COVID-19 testing and vaccination efforts both on the University of Michigan campus and at Michigan Medicine. Additionally, she has played a crucial role in the development and implementation of the ResponsiBLUE application, which is integral to ensuring safe access to university facilities for both employees and students throughout the campus.

Among her numerous accolades is the prestigious Michigan Distinguished Professor of the Year Award, an honor bestowed upon merely three professors across the state of Michigan each year.