SUBJECT: Dr. Armen Zakarian’s Joint Appointment as Vice Provost for Research and Dean of Graduate Studies

Dear Colleagues,

It is my pleasure to announce the extension of  Dr. Armen Zakarian’s appointment as Vice Provost for Research and new responsibilities as the Dean of Graduate Studies, pending the Board of Regents’ approval, starting September 1st.

Dr. Zakarian, Professor of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering,  received a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Yerevan Polytechnic University, Yerevan, Armenia; an M.S. degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California; and a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from The University of Iowa, Iowa City, in 1997.

Armen’s research interests include the development of integrated products and systems, system engineering and architecting, and intelligent design and manufacturing. He published papers in journals and proceedings sponsored by the IIE, ASME, IEEE, SAE, and INCOSE societies. His research work is supported through grants from various federal and private sources including US Army, US Navy, AT&T, FORD Motor Company, General Motors, Visteon, and TRW. He has been the recipient of a number of distinctions, including the 2003 Annual International Conference on Systems Engineering Best Paper Award. He created the Virtual Learning Tool software program for which he received special recognition from Governor Granholm of Michigan and was named a Laureate and Finalist of the Computerworld Honors Program.

Armen has supported thirteen graduate students through his research grants, and several of them are currently employed with major US corporations including Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, Meta, Symantec, JP Morgan Chase, Salesforce, and General Motors.  Armen has over 40 publications and has been PI or Co-PI on over 9.9 million in research expenditures.

As vice provost for research, he helped to expand research activities on campus, improve research development, and post-award support for faculty. As Chair of the Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering Department at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, he led the department through two successful ABET Accreditation visits, directed a number of graduate programs, and helped to introduce an interdisciplinary undergraduate program in human-centered engineering design, two successful master’s programs in program and project management and human-centered design and engineering and a Ph.D. program industrial and systems engineering. During his tenure as chair, the department’s graduate enrollment and external research expenditures have increased significantly.

As Dean of Graduate Studies, Dr. Zakarian will collaborate closely with the college deans, graduate program directors, the Graduate Enrollment Management Executive Director, and the Office of the Provost to provide support for the development and implementation of new graduate academic programs and the revision of existing programs. In addition, Armen will assess efforts to support graduate student success in UM-Dearborn Master’s and Doctoral degree programs. In the fall, Armen will transition to Chair of the UCDC Graduate Subcommittee and also co-chair the Council of Graduate Enrollment Management as well as representing UM-Dearborn at the Rackham Executive Board.

Armen’s appointment began on September 1st and I hope that you will join me in congratulating him.

Best wishes,

Gabriella

Gabriella Scarlatta
Provost & Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs