University of Maryland President Appoints William J. DeWitt to Professor of the Practice

College Park, MD July 5, 2006 University of Maryland President C.D. Mote appointed Dr. William J. DeWitt III to Professor of the Practice, Logistics, Transportation and Supply Chain Management of the Robert H. Smith School of Business.

The Professor of the Practice title is reserved for faculty demonstrating excellence in the practice as well as leadership in specific fields. Appointees have attained regional and national prominence and, in some cases, international recognition for outstanding achievement. Additionally, an appointee must have demonstrated superior teaching ability. Though not tenured, an appointee holds a terminal professional degree and the rank of professor.

This is a well-deserved honor fitting of Bills contributions to the Smith School, said Howard Frank, dean of the Robert H. Smith School of Business. He truly is committed to the expansion and excellence of our supply chain management and logistics program and as a result it is one of the largest and top-ranked in the nation.

DeWitts five-year appointment is the maximum initial appointment; reappointment is possible.

After earning an MBA from the University of Tennessee in 1972, DeWitt went to work for Burlington Northern Railroad for 23 years. He returned to the University of Tennessee in 1995 and earned his doctorate in 2000.

DeWitt came to the Smith School, first as a teaching fellow in 1999. He now teaches eight to 10 courses each year to both undergraduates and MBAs. Earlier this year, DeWitt was among 10 honored with the Smith Schools 2006 Krowe/Legg Mason Teaching Award for teaching excellence. His research interests include transportation in supply chains, transportation education, geographic information systems (GIS) and supply chains.

In addition to classroom and research work, DeWitt leads MBA classes internationally to Chile and the European Union and has taught in China. He serves as the academic director for an executive education program with Black & Decker. DeWitt is past chair of the University of Maryland Library Council. He advises the undergraduate Logistics, Transportation and Supply Chain Management Society with their LTSCM Person of the Year and Career Fair each fall.

DeWitt also works with the U.S. Department of Transportation policy office on freight transportation and logistics in the public sector as well as freight transportation and logistics education.