C. Richard Cassady, Ph.D.

Professor of Industrial Engineering

Director of Freshman Engineering

University of Arkansas

How to Find Me

Office: 328 Engineering Hall

Mail: 4207 Bell Engineering Center, Fayetteville, AR 72701

E-Mail: cassady at uark dot edu

Stuff of Interest?

If you are interested in my textbook, Probability Models in Operations Research, click here (coming soon).

If you are interested in my work in ranking college football teams, click here.

If you have nothing better to do than read my CV, click here.

My Life Story (The Short Version)

I was born in Martinsville, Virginia, on August 21, 1970. I was raised in the Pleasant Grove community in Henry County, Virginia. My father worked at the corporate level in production and sales in the furniture industry. My mother was a high school guidance counselor. They still live in Pleasant Grove. I have an older brother who lives in Hillsborough, North Carolina, and an older sister who also lives in Pleasant Grove.

As a youngster, I was a decent basketball player, but in high school, I became more interested in golf and music. My music exploits ended in high school, but I continue to be serious about golf. In my twenties and early thirties, I was a decent amateur golfer, winning a few local tournaments. Now that I am busy with family and career, I struggle to find time to play and practice. My handicap varies between 3 and 5. I am absolutely in awe of Tiger Woods, and I am still disappointed by the final round of the 1996 Masters.

I graduated from Bassett High School in 1988. I was valedictorian of my high school class, which was probably my only significant accomplishment before I went to college. I enrolled at Virginia Tech in the Fall Semester of 1988, and I stayed at Virginia Tech for eight years, earning three degrees in industrial and systems engineering along the way. I consider myself to be passionately devoted to Virginia Tech and its athletic teams, the Hokies.

While a student at Virginia Tech, I started dating Wendy Privette, who was also born and raised in Henry County and graduated from Bassett High School (in 1990). We were married on August 6, 1994, and she is by far the best thing that has ever happened to me. She is a speech-language pathologist, and she owns and operates Wendy Cassady Speech Pathology, Inc. in Springdale, Arkansas. We have two great boys, James Bryant (born August 27, 2002) and Banes Ramey (born on October 23, 2006).

My Professional Story

B.S. summa cum laude, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, 1992

M.S., Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, 1993

Ph.D., Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, 1996

My masters thesis was in the area of equipment availability modeling, and my doctoral dissertation was in the area of statistical quality control.

Instructor of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Virginia Tech, 1994- 1996

I got to teach, and I mean really teach, ten undergraduates courses while I was a Ph.D. student.

Assistant Professor of Industrial Engineering, Mississippi State University, 1996-2000

After finishing my Ph.D., Wendy and I moved to Starkville, Mississippi, so that I could begin my career at MSU. We had four great years at MSU, where we made several dear friends. It was the perfect place for me to begin my career, and I am very thankful to the people at MSU for giving me that opportunity.

Assistant Professor of Industrial Engineering, University of Arkansas, 2000- 2004

In 2000, I found my dream job. The University of Arkansas is a great place to work; it was the perfect fit for me professionally. Northwest Arkansas is a fabulous place to live and raise a family.

Associate Professor (with tenure) of Industrial Engineering, University of Arkansas, 2004- 2008

I was tenured and promoted in August, 2004.

John L. Imhoff Chair in Industrial Engineering, University of Arkansas, 2006-2007

During 2006 and 2007, I had the honor of holding the John L. Imhoff Chair, an endowed chair that rotates among our faculty every two years. Dr. Imhoff was one of the finest people anyone could ever know, and he will always be one of my role models.

Director, Freshman Engineering Program, University of Arkansas, 2006-present

In 2006, I led an effort in the College of Engineering to develop a proposal for a first-year program for engineering students at the University of Arkansas. In October, 2006, the College of Engineering faculty voted to create this program, the Freshman Engineering Program. In November, 2006, I was appointed to be the first Director of this program.

Professor (with tenure) of Industrial Engineering, University of Arkansas, 2008-present

I was promoted to Full Professor in August, 2008.