We are proud to celebrate the recent accomplishments of members of the UMass INFORMS Student Chapter.
On Thursday, May 1st, the OIM Elevate Scholarship Ceremony was held at the Dickinson Ballroom at the Inn on Boltwood in Amherst, where former chapter president Dana Hassani was honored as a recipient of the OIM Elevate Scholarship.
In addition to this honor, Dana also received the Isenberg Outstanding Doctoral Student Researcher Award for the second year in a row. Since he was presenting at the POMS Conference in Atlanta at the time, Professor Anna Nagurney accepted the award plaque on his behalf. Upon Dana’s return, the plaque was formally presented to him by Professor George Milne, Associate Dean of Research and PhD Programs at the Isenberg School of Management, together with Professor Anna Nagurney.
Recent Publications
Congratulations to Dana Hassani, who co-authored the paper “A Multiperiod, Multicommodity, Capacitated International Agricultural Trade Network Equilibrium Model with Applications to Ukraine in Wartime”, published in Transportation Science. The paper was featured in a press release by INFORMS.
Congratulations to Ismael M. Pour, co-authored the paper “Integrated Crop and Cargo War Risk Insurance: Application to Ukraine” published in International Transactions in Operational Research. This research introduces a novel framework that integrates insurance and supply chain planning under conflict-related disruptions.
Congratulations to Samira Samadi, co-authored the paper “Multicommodity Trade, Tariffs, and Rerouting” in the Convex and Variational Analysis with Applications: In Honor of Terry Rockafellar’s 90th Birthday. This research adds to the literature on multicommodity trade by constructing a spatial price equilibrium model with tariffs that allows for the investigation of rerouting of commodities to evade tariffs.
Congratulations to Semih Boz, who co-authored the paper “Parcel Delivery by Vehicle and Drone in Ordered Customer Neighborhoods” published in Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review. His work examines innovative logistics strategies combining ground and aerial delivery.
We would like to express our sincere appreciation to Professor Anna Nagurney, our faculty advisor, for her continued guidance, encouragement, and support of our chapter and our research. We are proud of the accomplishments of our chapter members. Congratulations again to all who presented and published, and best wishes for a great summer from the UMass INFORMS Student Chapter!
The UMass INFORMS Student Chapter is excited to share highlights from the 35th Annual Production and Operations Management Society (POMS) Conference, held from May 8–12, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. The conference featured a wide range of presentations, discussions, and networking opportunities. The weather was a mix of sunshine, clouds, and rain, matching the dynamic and engaging atmosphere of the conference. It was a great opportunity to connect with researchers from around the world, including many from UMass Amherst.
A memorable part of the conference was a lunch gathering at a Turkish restaurant with Dr. Deniz Besik and Dr. Min Yu, both former PhD students of Professor Anna Nagurney. Joining them were chapter members and officers: Dana Hassani, Ismael M. Pour, Samira Samadi, and Busra Karkili. It was a wonderful chance to connect across generations of scholars and share experiences over excellent food.
Chapter Member Presentations at POMS 2025
Dana Hassani presented his paper “A Multiperiod Multicommodity Capacitated International Agricultural Trade Network Equilibrium Model with Applications to Ukraine” on Saturday, May 10 in the Responsible Operations in Agriculture and Food Supply Chains track (Invited Session).
Ismael M. Pour presented his paper “Integrated Crop and Cargo War Risk Insurance: Application to Ukraine” on Friday, May 9in the Supply Chain Disruption track (Invited Session).
Samira Samadi presented her paper “A Variational Inequality Trade Network Model in Prices and Quantities Under Commodity Losses” on Friday, May 9 in the Data-driven Operational Efficiency Improvements in Food Supply Chains track (Invited Session).
Busra Karkili gave two presentations. Her first, “Optimizing Incentives in Voucher-Based Subsidy Programs for Equitable Service Delivery”, was on Friday, May 9 in the Nonprofit Operations for Social Good track (Invited Session). Her second, “Integrating Cash Transfers and In-Kind Aid in Welfare Assistance Programs”, was on Sunday, May 11 in the Addressing Community in Operations Management track (Invited Session).
Joshua Gladstone presented “Pricing and Convenience Considerations in Omnichannel Assortment Planning” on Saturday, May 10 in the Emerging Technologies in Retail track (Invited Session).
Semih Boz presented “A Decomposition Approach for Vehicle-Drone Parcel Delivery” on Sunday, May 11 in the Societal Implications of Drone Integration track (Invited Session).
Solmaz Abbaspour presented “Equitable Supply-Demand Balancing: Tailoring Equitable Incentives for Demand Response Programs in Power Grids” on Friday, May 9 in the Energy, EV, and Sustainable Technologies track (Contributed Session).
We are proud of our chapter’s presence at POMS 2025 and the contributions our members made to the academic and professional community. We thank the Operations and Information Management Department and the Isenberg School of Management for their continued support.
Stay tuned for our posts on recent publications and recognitions celebrating the achievements of our chapter members.
On May 2, 2025, the INFORMS Student Chapter at UMass Amherst held its traditional end-of-semester party. It was a great way for students and faculty in Operations Research and Management Sciences to come together and celebrate the end of the academic year.
The event took place in Room N135 of the Business Innovation Hub at the Isenberg School of Management. Even though there was a last-minute issue with our original food order being canceled, our Chapter President, Ismael Pour, arranged new orders from Atkins and Antonio’s Pizza in downtown Amherst. Everything turned out well, and we had a lot of great food.
The food included warm varenyky/pierogies, kielbasa, pizza, sandwiches, fruit and veggie trays, cold cuts, cheeses, cookies, and even baklava. Professor Anna Nagurney and Professor Ladimer Nagurney brought the homemade Ukrainian food and desserts, continuing a chapter tradition.
Our Vice President, Josh Gladstone, cut the “Congratulations” cake, which was from Whole Foods. It was a nice way to mark the chapter’s big achievement this year, receiving the Magna Cum Laude Award from INFORMS at the Annual Meeting in Seattle last October.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make this event a success.
Stay tuned for more blog posts about our officers’ and members’ activities over the summer. We are excited to begin the new academic year with more great events!
On Tuesday, April 29, UMass Amherst celebrated Founders Day with a festive afternoon full of campus-wide activities and community spirit.
Our INFORMS Student Chapter was delighted to take part in the celebration! Among those in attendance were our faculty advisor, Professor Anna Nagurney; Professor Zihao Qu; Professor Ladimer Nagurney; Chapter President Ismael Pour; former President Dana Hassani; Vice President Josh Gladstone; and Social Media Officer Semih Boz. We enjoyed a delicious lunch provided by UMass Dining under a beautiful tent on the lawn, accompanied by live music. The setting was perfect for conversation, laughter, and catching up with friends and colleagues.
A special highlight was our photo with Sam the Minuteman, the official UMass mascot representing the university’s athletic spirit and proud history. The Minutemen (and Minutewomen) are symbols of strength, tradition, and unity, and we were thrilled to include Sam in our celebration.
Here are some impressive robots we encountered at Founders Day!
It was a joyful afternoon filled with great food and great company. We’re grateful to the university and all the organizers for creating such a vibrant event, and we’re already looking forward to next year.
We are thrilled to highlight an amazing new article reflecting on the partnership between the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst and the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE).
We invite you to read the full article to learn more about this inspiring collaboration and the difference it continues to make:
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, this partnership has become a model of resilience, academic collaboration, and global friendship. Launched swiftly in July 2022, the Virtual Scholar in Residence (VSR) and student exchange programs have supported 25 Ukrainian scholars and brought outstanding KSE students to Isenberg, building lasting connections between the two institutions.
This spring, Isenberg celebrated this partnership through a powerful panel discussion featuring KSE exchange students and a thought-provoking lecture by KSE President Dr. Tymofiy Mylovanov. The events showcased the resilience, ambition, and strength of Ukrainian students and highlighted the importance of academic solidarity during times of conflict.
You can also revisit our recent blog posts on these important events:
April 11th was an inspiring day for members of the UMass Amherst community and the UMass INFORMS Student Chapter, filled with outstanding research talks on the latest developments in supply chain management. The day began with a CORS Micro-Event, organized by the Canadian Operational Research Society (CORS) and its Montreal Local Section, which several of our members attended virtually. The session featured two distinguished researchers.
The first talk was delivered by Professor Anna Nagurney, Faculty Advisor to our UMass INFORMS Student Chapter. Her presentation, titled “Agricultural Supply Chain Networks Under Uncertainty,” explored how optimization and game theory are being used to model and enhance agricultural supply chains, particularly under disruptions caused by pandemics, climate change, and geopolitical events. Professor Nagurney discussed the challenges of maintaining fresh produce quality, modeling multitiered supply networks, and developing resilience metrics. She also emphasized the importance of effectively communicating research to influence real-world policies and drive positive change.
Following her talk, Dr. Emma Frejinger from the University of Montreal presented “A Model-Free Approach for Solving Choice-Based Competitive Facility Location Problems Using Simulation and Submodularity.” Dr. Frejinger showcased her novel methodology that merges simulation techniques with submodular optimization to solve large-scale facility location problems under uncertainty. Her work demonstrated significant performance improvements over traditional methods and offers promising applications across the transportation and supply chain industries.
The talk is available at the following link:
In the afternoon, we had the opportunity to attend an in-person talk at UMass Amherst as part of the OIM Distinguished Speaker Series, featuring Dr. Burak Kazaz, Steven Becker Professor of Supply Chain Management and the Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professor for Teaching Excellence at Syracuse University.
Dr. Kazaz’s talk, titled “Wine Analytics,” introduced the audience to a fascinating new field focused on applying advanced analytics to wine supply chains. He explained how winemakers use predictive models to estimate the value of wine futures and how distributors can optimize investment portfolios using these insights. Dr. Kazaz also presented prescriptive models that help winemakers decide how much wine to sell as futures and at what prices, presenting an exciting blend of finance, analytics, and agriculture. His dynamic presentation style energized the audience and led to a lively Q&A session, covering topics such as investment strategies, climate impacts on chateaus, and the broader applications of wine analytics.
We would like to thank the organizers of the CORS Micro-Event and the OIM Distinguished Speaker Series for making these enriching talks possible. Special thanks also to Professor Anna Nagurney, Dr. Emma Frejinger, and Dr. Burak Kazaz for sharing their expertise and research insights with the community.
The UMass INFORMS Student Chapter looks forward to more inspiring events this semester — stay tuned to our blog for updates!
Today marks the first day of the rest of the Spring semester after a refreshing Spring break here at UMass. Before the break, the Operations and Information Management (OIM) Department hosted an exceptional guest speaker, Dr. Yossi Sheffi, whose lecture left us both inspired and provoked to think deeply about sustainability in business. His talk, part of the OIM Distinguished Speaker Series, offered valuable insights that resonate with students, faculty, and professionals alike.
Dr. Yossi Sheffi is the Elisha Gray II Professor of Engineering Systems at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and a globally recognized expert in supply chain management and logistics. He is the founder and director of the renowned MIT Center for Transportation and Logistics (CTL), which houses the prestigious Supply Chain Management master’s program. Dr. Sheffi was named the #1 Influencer in Supply Chain Management by Supply Chain magazine, and his thought leadership continues to guide businesses in addressing sustainability, resilience, and risk management challenges. On Tuesday, March 11, from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m., he spoke to the Isenberg community in Campus Center Rooms 165-169 about a critical question: When to Embrace Sustainability in Business? His lecture, followed by a Q&A session, drew from his influential book, Balancing Green: When to Embrace Sustainability in a Business (and When Not To).
Dr. Sheffi challenged conventional wisdom, urging us to look beyond surface-level sustainability efforts and consider the complexities of supply chains. He illustrated this with the example of a banana’s life cycle, tracing its emissions from farm to port to consumer, highlighting how location and transportation can drastically alter its environmental footprint. His perspective sparked lively debate during the Q&A.
We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Professor Senay Solak, John F. Smith Memorial Professor and Department Chair of Operations & Information Management, for his support in making this event possible. A special thank you goes to Professor Arzum Akkas for inviting Dr. Sheffi, and, of course, we’re immensely grateful to Dr. Yossi Sheffi for sharing his expertise and sparking meaningful dialogue. You can also read an article on Professor Anna Nagurney’s website about her visit and talk at CTL, where she crossed paths with Dr. Sheffi.
The UMass INFORMS Student Chapter is excited about our upcoming events and news for the rest of the Spring semester. Stay tuned to our blog posts for more updates!
On Friday, March 7, 2025, the University of Massachusetts Amherst had the privilege of hosting Dr. Tymofiy Mylovanov, President of the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE), for a thought-provoking talk hosted by the Office of Global Affairs and the UMass INFORMS Student Chapter. Dr. Mylovanov, a former Ukrainian Minister of Economic Development, Trade, and Agriculture, and Associate Professor at the University of Pittsburgh, shared his insights on leading KSE during wartime, the resilience of Ukraine, and the broader implications for Europe and the United States. His visit underscored the growing partnership between UMass Amherst and KSE, a collaboration that continues to support scholars, students, and research amid Ukraine’s ongoing challenges.
A Warm Welcome and Engaging Pre-Talk Chat
The day began with a friendly gathering in Isenberg Room 111, where faculty, PhD students, and KSE exchange students gathered. Dr. Mylovanov and Professor Anna Nagurney, the Eugene M. Isenberg Chair in Integrative Studies and Director of the Virtual Center for Supernetworks, joined the group after lunch to host the session. Participants included Dr. Senay Solak, John F. Smith Memorial Professor and Department Chair of Operations and Information Management; Dr. Bogdan Prokopovych, Senior Lecturer in Management; PhD candidate Dana Hassani; and PhD students Samira Samadi, Yongdong Chen, and Ismael M. Pour. Joining them were KSE exchange students Asta Motrenko, Karyna Lutsenko, and Oleksandra Horusieva, who are currently studying at UMass Amherst as part of the partnership. The group enjoyed a lively discussion before escorting Dr. Mylovanov to the Integrated Applied Life Sciences Conference Center (Room S330-S340) for his presentation.
The Talk: “Future of Europe if Ukraine Loses”
From 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM EST, Dr. Mylovanov delivered an engaging presentation introduced by Professor Anna Nagurney. Professor Nagurney, who also serves as Co-Chair of the KSE Board of Directors, praised Dr. Mylovanov for his tremendous work leading KSE in wartime, tripling student enrollment, launching new master’s programs, and hosting global speakers despite the conflict.
Kalpen Trivedi, Vice Provost for Global Affairs and Director of the Office of Global Affairs, reflected on the partnership’s potential, expressing openness to further collaboration and new ideas to strengthen ties between UMass and KSE. Kalpen Trivedi then offered welcoming remarks and presented Dr. Mylovanov with a gift on behalf of UMass Amherst.
The talk, titled “Future of Europe if Ukraine Loses,” explored the stakes of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and its potential ripple effects across the continent and beyond. Dr. Mylovanov highlighted Ukraine’s resilience, and emphasized KSE’s role as a hub of education and research, with its Institute producing studies widely cited by global media. Shifting to a broader view, he addressed the uncertainty facing Europe and the world: “Four, six weeks ago, this scenario seemed extreme, but you see how things have evolved in four, six weeks and at this rate of uncertainty anything can happen.” Reflecting on Europe’s role, he noted, “It does provide a nice angle, as a counterfactual, of what would happen to Europe and what is at stake for Europe in the current situation.” His talk offered a framework for understanding these complex issues, blending data, personal experience, and a call to consider the global implications.
Q&A and Reception
The lecture was followed by an engaging Q&A session, during which attendees had the opportunity to ask insightful questions. Topics discussed included the role of technological innovations in warfare, geopolitical alliances, Europe’s strategic choices, and the critical role universities can play in supporting Ukraine through research partnerships and scholarly exchanges.
The event concluded with a reception from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM in Room S320, where warm conversations flowed alongside food and drink. Faculty, students, and guests reflected on the talk, strengthening ties between UMass Amherst and KSE.
Since March 2022, UMass Amherst and KSE have collaborated to support Ukrainian scholars and students affected by the war through a highly original model. This includes a virtual scholar program, on-campus residencies, and hosting exchange students like Asta, Marharyta, Karyna, and Oleksandra, helping reduce brain drain and fostering research collaborations that have led to joint publications and symposia.
Dr. Mylovanov’s visit was a testament to his leadership—not just of KSE, but as a voice for Ukraine on the global stage. As he navigates wartime challenges, Dr. Mylovanov remains driven by a clear purpose. “We all will die, so we need to identify what will be our legacy,” he said during a prior visit—a sentiment that resonates as he builds KSE into a beacon of resilience and hope.
Thank You
Our heartfelt thanks go to Dr. Tymofiy Mylovanov for his inspiring visit and to the Office of Global Affairs—Kalpen Trivedi, Vice Provost for Global Affairs and Director; Kimberly Stender, Senior Administrative Coordinator to the Vice Provost for Global Affairs; Eric Wirth, Manager of Global Partnerships; and Kenneth Reade, Executive Director of Immigration Services—for their support. Special gratitude to Professor Anna Nagurney, our UMass INFORMS Student Chapter faculty advisor, and to UMass Amherst and everyone who made this event possible.
On Thursday, February 27, 2025, the UMass INFORMS Student Chapter hosted a panel discussion in Isenberg School of Management Room 210 to mark over three years since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The event celebrated the ongoing partnership between UMass Amherst and the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE), featuring Professors Anna Nagurney and Bogdan Prokopovych alongside four remarkable exchange students from Ukraine: Asta Motrenko, Marharyta Nechytailo, Oleksandra Horusieva, and Karyna Lutsenko.
The event kicked off with Professor Nagurney sharing highlights of the UMass Amherst–KSE partnership, which began swiftly after the invasion in March 2022. This collaboration, has enabled student exchanges to support Ukrainian academia amidst wartime challenges. Professor Nagurney praised the rapid response of UMass leadership, including the Office of Global Affairs, and noted KSE’s incredible growth—tripling its student body despite the ongoing war.
The spotlight then turned to the exchange students, who shared their personal stories and perspectives. Asta, Marharyta, Oleksandra, and Karyna, reflected on the challenges they faced in Ukraine—power outages, water shortages, and studying in bomb shelters—while expressing gratitude for KSE’s resilience and support. Their transition to UMass Amherst brought a mix of relief and new experiences, from navigating an expansive campus to enjoying the diversity of dining hall food (though they still crave Ukrainian borscht!).
Moderated by Professors Nagurney and Prokopovych, the panel tackled questions about differences in education and daily life between KSE and UMass. The students highlighted smaller, discussion-based classes at KSE versus the larger, theory-heavy lectures at UMass, appreciating the independent learning opportunities here. They were surprised by the scale of UMass—its massive campus, diverse student body, and endless events—describing it as a vibrant, supportive community that reminded them of both the challenges and joys of student life.
The audience, including representatives from the Office of Global Affairs and the INFORMS Chapter officers, engaged eagerly in a Q&A session. Questions ranged from favorite UMass experiences (like exploring Amherst’s downtown or attending basketball games) to plans for Ukraine’s future. The students expressed a strong desire to leverage their education for recovery efforts—whether through research, or fostering international connections to rebuild their homeland.
A special moment came with the exciting news of the President of KSE, Dr. Tymofiy Mylovanov, revisiting UMass Amherst. He will deliver a talk titled “The Future of Europe if Ukraine Loses” on March 7, 2025. The event is scheduled for 3:00 PM in the Integrated Applied Life Sciences Conference Center, Room S330-S340. It will be followed by a reception from 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM in Room S320.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Asta, Marharyta, Oleksandra, and Karyna for their inspiring participation, as well as to Professors Anna Nagurney and Bogdan Prokopovych for their insightful moderation. Special appreciation goes to the Office of Global Affairs, the Isenberg School of Management, the Operations and Information Management Department, and other UMass supporters for making this event a success.
Last year, we also hosted an event featuring exchange students in a panel discussion titled Higher Education in the US and Ukraine. The event explored the challenges and opportunities of studying abroad and emphasized the importance of academic collaboration between the US and Ukraine. You can revisit our blog post about that event here:
For more details on KSE President Dr. Mylovanov’s upcoming talk or to stay updated on future INFORMS events, check our blog posts, along with the UMass and Isenberg event pages. Keep following us for more coverage of the Chapter’s exciting initiatives!
As we step into 2025, our chapter is excited to share two remarkable interviews that highlight the dedication of our chapter faculty advisor, Professor Anna Nagurney, and the courage of the exchange students from the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE).
Professor Nagurney’s Insights on Trade and Economic Policies
In the interview titled “UMass Isenberg School Prof Anna Nagurney: Trump, Tariffs & Tradeoffs,” Professor Nagurney shares her expertise on the complexities of global trade, discussing how trade policies influence global trade dynamics, supply chains, and the broader economy. You can listen to Professor Nagurney’s insightful interview here:
KSE Exchange Students’ Experiences
The second interview features four exchange students from the Kyiv School of Economics—Asta Motrenko, Oleksandra Horusieva, Marharyta Nechytailo, and Karyna Lutsenko. In the interview, they share their experiences of studying abroad during Russia’s war on Ukraine. They discuss the difficulties they’ve faced, their academic pursuits, and their hopes for the future. You can listen to their inspiring interview here:
This is not the first time we’ve celebrated the KSE exchange students on our chapter’s platform. Last year, we hosted an event featuring exchange students in a panel discussion titled Higher Education in the US and Ukraine. The event explored the challenges and opportunities of studying abroad and emphasized the importance of academic collaboration between the US and Ukraine. You can revisit our blog post about that event here:
We are deeply grateful to Professor Nagurney for her support. Special thanks to WHMP hosts Buz Eisenberg and Bill Newman for providing a platform to share these inspiring stories. Their thoughtful questions and engaging discussions have brought these important topics to a broader audience.
Stay tuned for more updates on our chapter’s website as we prepare for next semester’s events.
