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Elisabeth Paté-Cornell, Ph.D. Burt and Deedee McMurtry Professor of Engineering Chair, Department of MS & E, Stanford University Director and Founder, the Engineering Risk Research Group (ERRG) 
She has been with the Stanford faculty for over twenty years, is a longtime consultant to NASA, founded and directs the world-renowned Engineering Risk Research Group (ERRG), teaches graduate courses to both on-campus and distance students, and is the department chair for the Department of Management Science and Engineering (MS & E). Professor Elisabeth Paté-Cornell is also a tireless advocate for her department and its mission. In fact, she spearheaded the effort that ultimately united the Department of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management and the Department of Engineering-Economic Systems and Operations Research to create the interdisciplinary MS & E in 1999. When asked why she believed this would be a positive move, she answers without hesitation, "Synergies and critical mass." In merging areas like risk analysis, industrial engineering and economic or financial systems, a door was opened to explore industry issues using new interdisciplinary viewpoints. "We had several small departments—areas with a narrow focus. Putting them together opened the intellectual landscape and gave us more critical mass and higher visibility." Uniting so many disciplines and dynamic research centers under one umbrella creates a formidable presence to draw funding, and more world-class students and faculty. 
MS & E uses existing synergies among disciplines to solve problems in industry as they relate to operating in a high tech environment. "We are uniquely suited to do this kind of interdisciplinary analysis, being positioned in an established top-ranked engineering school." Though some areas seemingly mirror programs in business, Paté-Cornell stresses the fact that MS & E programs are different. "We build on the message of engineering analysis. We have a deeper understanding of engineering and technology, but we examine with different set of tools and a narrower focus. Furthermore, all the basics of engineering are within our curriculum as well." She agrees that another plus lies in School of Engineering's productive ties to global as well as regional industries. The enormous spectrum of disciplines brought to bear on issues in MS & E draws students from many backgrounds, not just engineering or mathematics. "I think there is an advantage to teaching, at a master's level in particular, from a broad base, to give professionals a broad "cultural perspective" if you will. Our master's degree curriculum and our current graduate certificate in MS & E offer this broad base, one which can improve performance in many areas," says Paté-Cornell. "I think it's an important asset." She stresses that MS & E satisfies the diverse needs of industry professionals. "While many students do come, of course, to specialize in a particular research area, we draw engineers and a variety of professionals throughout industry who want to have a wider view of the world. MS & E offers this in a unique way." 
This Autumn, MS & E is announcing a new Graduate Certificate in Engineering Risk Analysis through SCPD, organized by Paté-Cornell. "Of course this opens my particular field to more students, including distance students, which is always exciting. We've worked on space systems, airplanes, marine systems, production processes. It is an area that has application in almost every industry." She also supports the Stanford Advanced Project Management program, as Academic Director for the Mastering the Integrated Program course. Paté-Cornell values the presence of industry students in her own class, as well as in broader MS & E programs. She teaches the popular MS & E 250: Risk Analysis, offered to distance students through SCPD. "I agreed to teach the course in front of the camera very early on, about twenty years ago. For me, the camera disappeared very quickly; it didn't bother me at all. Through the years I have naturally developed my curriculum and materials keeping distance students in mind." Paté-Cornell maximizes student contact wherever possible. "Occasionally—only occasionally, unfortunately—I have had the opportunity to visit students onsite. This allowed me to see how the course was received and how the material was applied directly to their work. More often distance students call during office hours. We've had extremely interesting discussions of how theories and tools from my class have been applied to their work. Clearly this is valuable to me professionally and to the quality of my class." 
Paté-Cornell explains that MS & E faculty and students alike are increasingly taking advantage of collaborative opportunities, crossing traditional discipline boundaries. She describes where the department is now, using a familiar analogy. "We have moved toward creating a new identity, rather than acquiring a dominant culture from one area or another… Let's put it this way: we have no longer just taken off. We are more like a plane that is climbing." |
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