Gutgsell Endowed Professor: Deborah Thurston

Deborah L. Thurston joined the University of Illinois in 1987, is a Professor in the Department of Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering, Co-Director of the Hoeft Technology and Management Program, and Director of the Decision Systems Laboratory. She earned the M.S. (’84) and Ph.D. (’87) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After obtaining the B.S. (’78) in Civil Engineering from the University of Minnesota, she worked for the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for four years.

Her research on multiattribute decision making integrates environmental impacts, cost and quality into concurrent design and manufacturing engineering. Her work helps designers make rational choices when faced with overwhelming complexity. The designer can then anticipate and prevent environmental impacts while simultaneously improving overall product quality. Her research has been funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Environmental Protection Agency, Chrysler, General Motors, Ford, Motorola, and a number of other industries.

Professor Thurston was instrumental in developing a new interdisciplinary PhD program in Systems and Entrepreneurial Engineering. As Interim Department Head from 2005-2007, she managed the transfer of the Industrial Engineering degree and research programs during a College reorganization. As Co-Director of the Hoeft Technology and Management Program, she administers a joint University minor between the College of Engineering and the College of Business, and advises industrially sponsored project teams.

She received the prestigious NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award in 1989, two Xerox Awards for excellence in research (1992 and 1995), three awards for excellence in undergraduate advising, and two best paper awards. Professor Thurston has served as technical area editor for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers: Journal of Mechanical Design, as well as The Engineering Economist. The NSF has invited her to serve on several panels to help define the national research agenda. She is a registered professional engineer and a member of several professional societies. Professor Thurston has taught courses in linear programming, statistics, industrially sponsored senior design and multiattribute utility analysis.