Sachin Modi named new head of OBAIS department

Previously a professor and the John F. Connelly Endowed Chair in Management at Villanova University, Modi will also serve as a professor within the OBAIS department.

“I’m a Bearcat, so being back at UC feels like home. I feel very fortunate to have the position and to lead the faculty. They are truly, truly, truly stars,” Modi said. “I’m also drawn to the co-op model and how the OBAIS faculty are student-centric. They are excellent at research and delivering a really great curriculum to students.”

Modi garnered a Master of Science in industrial engineering from UC and noted that his master’s classes — many of which were held in the old Lindner Hall — inspired him to obtain his doctorate in operations management and decision science from Indiana University.

A self-described “multidisciplinary business researcher,” Modi’s expertise lies in the study of supply chains, particularly how they can be sustainable from an environmental and financial standpoint.

Modi, who has been cited more than 3,800 times, according to Google Scholar, has been published in:

• Journal of Business Ethics
• Journal of Marketing
• Journal of Operations Management
• Production and Operations Management
• Journal of Supply Chain Management
• Journal of the Academy of Marketing Science

Modi is also the sustainable operations department’s co-editor at the Journal of Operations Management and an associate editor at the International Journal of Operations and Production Management.  

“Sachin puts his research into practice. For example, he worked closely with representatives of the automotive industry to improve their operations through a partnership he developed in one of his previous appointments,” said Andrew Harrison, PhD, OBAIS associate professor, outgoing interim department head and incoming assistant department head. “The application of research into practice is something we covet at UC. I am looking forward to seeing how his leadership can strengthen our impact in our community and business partnerships.”

OBAIS Professor Craig Froehle, PhD, said that the search committee was impressed by Modi’s “inclusiveness,” whether that was discussing research with faculty or instructing in an undergraduate classroom.

“I'm confident he will be successful at building consensus within the department while also extending the bridges OBAIS already has with our partners in industry and the community,” Froehle said. “With the right support and ongoing success at Lindner and UC more broadly, I expect Sachin will help continue the department's long-running streak of highly regarded and growing academic programs, research leadership and collegiality.”

Modi touted the OBAIS department’s credentials, referencing its decoration as INFORMS’ 2019 UPS George D. Smith Prize winner for constructing a curriculum that effectively prepares students to be successful operations research and analytics professionals after graduation. He also looks forward to collaborating with the Center for Business Analytics.

A passionate educator and leader, Modi’s teaching and mentoring philosophy extends outside of the classroom.

“I see a responsibility in getting to know as many Lindner students as possible,” Modi said. “To me, being a college department is about building futures for our students.”

Featured image at top: Sachin Modi at Lindner Hall. Photos by Danielle Lawrence.