The 2025 INFORMS Annual Meeting in Atlanta was memorable in more ways than one. While we had an exciting lineup of student presentations that showcased the strength and diversity of our research community, which we shared in an earlier blog post, this year stood out for an especially meaningful reason: we returned home not with one, but two major honors that made the conference truly unforgettable for us.
We are thrilled to share that Professor Anna Nagurney, our faculty advisor, received the INFORMS President’s Award, one of the highest distinctions in our field. This award recognizes individuals whose work has made exceptional contributions to society through operations research and management science (OR/MS). Professor Nagurney’s career has been defined by groundbreaking research, dedicated mentorship, and a deep commitment to making the OR/MS more inclusive and impactful, a legacy that continues to inspire us all. Celebrating this achievement on October 26, 2025, at the INFORMS Awards Ceremony at the Omni Hotel in Atlanta, alongside colleagues, alumni, and friends, made the moment even more special.
In addition to this remarkable recognition, the UMass Amherst INFORMS Student Chapter was honored with the Cum Laude Award at this year’s Student Chapter Award Ceremony, which took place on the evening of October 27 at the Omni Hotel. This award celebrates student chapters that demonstrate consistent engagement, leadership, and commitment to the OR/MS community. We’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our former Chapter President, Ismael M. Pour, whose leadership over the past year played a vital role in this achievement. We’re also grateful to the entire team of 2024–2025 chapter officers for their creativity, hard work, and collaboration.
It was a joy to share this moment not only with our current chapter officers and faculty advisor, but also with Dr. Heng Chen, a former chapter member and now a professor at Kansas State University, who joined us at the ceremony.
To mark these special achievements, we’re hosting a Celebration Gathering on Friday, November 7, at 10:00 AM in ISOM Room N135. We warmly invite all faculty, students, and chapter members to join us for refreshments as we celebrate, catch up, and enjoy the excitement of this memorable INFORMS experience together.
Looking forward to seeing you at the gathering!