Dr. John Via, P.E., has been appointed Director of the Engineering Management Program and Associate Dean of Engineering of Online Programs, effective October 1, 2012.
Via has more than 28 years of industrial experience working for a variety of companies, in addition to 22 years of engineering and management experience in the pharmaceutical industry. He graduated from Drexel University, receiving both his M.S. in Chemical Engineering and M.S. in Engineering Management. Via also received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Virginia, a Master of Engineering Science from Lamar University, a M.S. in Manufacturing Systems Management, a Master of Liberal Arts and a Doctor of Engineering in Engineering Management from Southern Methodist University. He also completed the Program for Management Development at Harvard Business School.
Via’s career includes teaching as an Adjunct Associate Professor in Engineering at Texas Christian University and assisting with the start-up of their undergraduate engineering program. He was appointed an Adjunct Professor in Engineering Management at Southern Methodist University in 2004 and has taught in their Executive MS Engineering Management Program for the past 8 years. Additionally, Via’s work history includes six years of engineering experience in the chemical industry with Goodyear Tire & Rubber and Fischer & Porter Company. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Manufacturing responsible for global manufacturing of all of Alcon's surgical products.
Via will succeed David Reifschneider, who served as interim director of the Engineering Management Program since January 2010. Reifschneider will resume his appointment as Assistant Director.