Issue link: https://industrialmanagement.epubxp.com/i/513969
Finding your place in a wide-ranging world Supporting student involvement and professional development The diversity of specializations in industrial engineering, while inspiring, can be overwhelming for students trying to find a place within such a broad discipline. As a student in an industrial and systems engineering department studying management systems engineering, communities focused on engineering management provide me with resources and connections that are vital to my professional development. SEMS provides a smaller community within IIE that not only allows me to connect with other people in this discipline but also encourages student involvement in a meaningful way. Over the past several months, I have become more involved in SEMS and have found many opportunities for students beyond traditional volunteering. The SEMS Student Committee encourages students to become involved in community activities and provides programs specifi- cally focused on students, such as the SEMS student paper competition. Students also can participate on the SEMS blog and write pieces for publication, such as in "SEMS Says." This helps students become active members of the community, and they develop communication skills that are increasingly important in engineering. The March SEMS newsletter announced a new blogging series that lets students who take a management systems engineering course at Oregon State University post reflective pieces about work on projects where they apply their IE skills. These activities provide students with an outlet while giving professionals a window into the education of new engineering managers. Students in SEMS also are encouraged to participate in other activities, such as contributing to webinars held by SEMS. My dissertation research helped me develop some proficiency in the systematic literature review methodology, and I will have the opportunity to host a webinar to help make this method more accessible to engineering management researchers. These types of contributions help the SEMS community but also give students opportunities to develop skills and confidence in their work. In this way, students not only have access to professional development resources but also become active members of the society, helping to prepare them for the next phase of their career and giving them a head start in an important community in the engineering management profession. Through participating in SEMS, I have been able to engage in the engineering management profession and to enrich my education in important ways. The student population of SEMS continues to grow, and I encourage all students to find ways to become involved and take advantage of the important opportunities that SEMS provides. —HeatherKeathleyisaPh.D.candidateintheGradoDepartmentofIndustrialand SystemsEngineeringatVirginiaTech.SheearnedaB.S.insystemsengineeringwith concentrationsinmechanicalandcomputerengineeringattheUniversityofArkansas atLittleRockandanM.S.inindustrialandsystemsengineeringfromVirginiaTech. 8 Industrial Management