Two Industrial and Systems Engineering Faculty played prominent roles at this year’s annual Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers (IISE) Conference & Expo in Arlington, Texas earlier this summer.
Professor, Graduate Program Director and Brij and Sunita Agrawal Faculty Fellow Qianmei “May” Feng received the IISE Quality Control & Reliability Engineering (QCRE) Teaching Award.
“I was truly honored and humbled to be selected as a recipient of the 2026 IISE QCRE Teaching Award,” said Feng. “Given the outstanding submissions received this year, this recognition is especially meaningful. I am grateful that my efforts to develop innovative and engaging learning experiences in quality and reliability engineering have been recognized by colleagues in the field.”
She added that the award “reaffirms [her] commitment to continually enhancing student learning by integrating emerging analytical and computational tools and real-world problems into the classroom.”
Feng first became involved with IISE through her research in quality engineering and reliability as a graduate student.
“IISE has provided an invaluable professional home where I have connected with researchers, educators, and practitioners worldwide. Early in my career, I had the privilege of serving as President of the Quality Control and Reliability Engineering Division, and IISE has continued to play an important role in shaping both my research and teaching,” she said.
“I am deeply grateful to my colleagues, students, and collaborators for their support and inspiration throughout my career. Teaching is one of the most rewarding parts of being a faculty member. I look forward to continuing to contribute to excellence and innovation in engineering education.”
Associate Professor, Scott T. Poage Faculty Fellow Yisha Xiang also served as Co-Chair of the conference, and described it as “a great success.”
“The IISE Annual Conference & Expo is the premier conference for exchanging ideas and advancing knowledge in industrial and systems engineering, bringing together researchers, educators, students, and industry professionals from around the world. This year, we organized more than 20 technical tracks covering a wide range of topics, giving attendees opportunities to learn about cutting-edge research, emerging methodologies, and the latest industry trends,” she said.
Xiang, who first attended the conference as a graduate student, further stated that it was “an honor and a privilege” to serve as Co-Chair.
“IISE has been my professional home throughout my career. Through this organization, I have built lasting collaborations and friendships, found mentors and colleagues, and grown both professionally and personally. Serving as conference co-chair was a meaningful opportunity to give back to a community that has contributed so much to my own development and to help create a valuable experience for everyone who participates in advancing the profession.”
Xiang added that “the University of Houston's Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering has had a strong presence at the IISE Annual Conference for many years through the research contributions and leadership of our faculty and students.”
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent UH in this leadership role and proud of my department’s continued contributions to the IISE community,” she said.