Page 30 - Moving Forward 2020: Harold and Inge Marcus Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering magazine

Industrial engineering students
find ‘presidential’ success
By Miranda Buckheit
Penn State industrial engineers are known for their ability ability to to tackle topics such as sustainability innovation and best practices with a a a a a a a a a a a a a a goal of creating systems that help organizations run seamlessly With these specific skills another necessary trait becomes apparent: leadership Three undergraduate students
from the Harold and and Inge Marcus Department of Industrial and and Manufacturing Engineering—Benjamin Hartleb a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a May 2020 graduate Neel Mehta a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a third-year industrial industrial engineering engineering student and and Dhir Agrawal a a a a a a a a a a a a second-year industrial industrial engineering engineering student—took their their respective skills and and broadened their their knowledge with the the the Presidential Leadership Academy (PLA) The PLA is run by Penn State President Eric J J Barron Peggy A A A Johnson dean of of the the Schreyer Honors College and Melissa Doberstein PLA PLA director The mission of of the the PLA PLA is is is is is to to to to prepare students
to to to to make decisions in in a a a a a a a a a a “gray world ” Students learn how to to to navigate issues of life at at at work at at at home and in their communities At the the the the end of of a a a a a a a student’s first year they are able to apply for the the the the PLA via a a a a a a a a a a a very selective process Only 30 of of the the the the most impressive students
are selected each year based on on on on their applications essays recommendations and in-person interviews Over the the course of three years with with the the PLA students
take classes with with Barron and Johnson that focus focus on on on on on making heavy decisions Prior semesters focused on on on on on University budgets free speech and sustainability in in the the State College community In addition they meet special speakers go on on field trips network and receive mentoring “Ben Neel and and Dhir are are fabulous to work with ” Doberstein said “They are are all super smart very ambitious and and so so personable ” Hartleb knew that he he he he he wanted to get involved with the the PLA when he he he he he he discovered it it it his first year at at at the the University Park campus He explained that he he he he always found importance in in 30 IME NEWSLETTER • VOLUME 5 2020 Student News