While honor societies normally help promote student achievement and success, they can be especially helpful during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Jose Macedo, who recently became president of Alpha Pi Mu (APM), an honor society for students in industrial and systems engineering.
“In times of crisis it is always important to have members of society who have experience and value service to the community and can assist and cooperate in solving problems and helping others,” said Macedo, a professor in the Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering Department. “Industrial engineers are especially suited for this because of their understanding of operations, processes, economic analysis, information systems, organizations and management.”
Macedo, who has been a member of APM since 1990, will serve a 2-year appointment as president of the Executive Council at the national level. He had previously served as vice-president for Region VII, which includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
“I was thrilled to be able to serve the industrial engineering profession,” he said. “Alpha Pi Mu recognizes industrial engineering students who have achieved high academic standing and encourages integrity and humble service to the profession and to humanity.”
Alpha Pi Mu was founded at Georgia Tech university in 1949 and currently has several dozen chapters. The position brings visibility to Cal Poly and marks a prestigious achievement for Macedo, who has been involved with the society for 30 years.
As president, Macedo will preside the meetings of the Executive Council, appoint awards committees for student scholarships and outstanding chapter awards. He will also develop strategic initiative in collaboration with the council.
Like the mission of the society itself, Macedo said he’s happy to help serve students in the field.
“It is worthwhile to work for an organization, like APM, that recognizes young engineering students who have achieved high academic standing, and helps develop their leadership skills, encourages integrity and humble service to the profession as well as to humanity,” Macedo said.
