DONALD RAY WEST, PHD, MBA, MIE, PE
DONALD RAY WEST
Teaching Assistant Professor
PROFESSIONAL BIO
Dr. West received his Bachelor, Master, and Doctorate in Industrial and Systems Engineering from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. A minor in Business from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Master of Business Administration from Strayer University in Washington, DC were also earned.
Previous Teaching Experience
Dr. West has taught since 2004, in the areas of quantitative methods, statistics, quality, linear programming, production control and management science. Some of the specific areas covered included: linear programming, statistical quality control, management decision theory, queuing theory, PERT analysis and transportation optimization. He has also taught solar energy, materials, statics, math, robotics, supply chain, and manufacturing decisions. He has taught at Campbell, Elon, Strayer and North Carolina A&T University. He has taught both undergraduate and graduate students in the traditional and on-line environment.
Work Experience in the Field of Analytics and Engineering
Dr. West practiced management science and engineering with Western Electric, AT&T, Bell Telephone Labs and Lucent technology. Areas of contribution included workplace design, quality, strategic planning, data center operation, software development, disaster planning, and network planning and management. In addition, to participating and managing these areas with a large company, Dr. West managed a small company providing systems solutions to small businesses and towns.
Work Experience in Academia
Dr. West has served as a professor, dean and program director. Serving as undergraduate coordinator, he assists students with advising to assure a timely graduation path.
As for educational philosophy, Dr. West believes the application of the methods is important. Students need to demonstrate the ability to solve business and engineering problems with the tools learned in his classes.
You will find his classes organized with many opportunities to learn and demonstrate your skills. Your Blackboard learning platform will be complete and up to date. General student feedback for classes are well above university, college and department averages.
SAMPLE ACTIVITIES
Dr. West serves the student body and University in three areas - teaching, advising and service.
TEACH - EXPLORE THE UNKNOWN
Teaching is measured by what a student learns, not by what a professor preaches. Dr. West has taught face-to-face in both the graduate and under-graduate environment. Even face-to-face classes are recorded; so that, students can review the material multiple times. Given the price of textbooks his classes use these books to deliver content. The classes have multiple learning objectives and opportunities to demonstrate mastery. Hands-on activities are incorporated when possible. Current areas taught include Six Sigma, project management, and manufacturing decisions. Also, taught in the past have been statistics, production control, materials, solar energy, robotics, statics, statistical quality control, Unix, and linear programming. Currently, his focus is on classes with certification paths, since they are embraced by industry.
ADVISE - DIRECTIONS FOR YOUR JOURNEY
Dr. West serves as the undergraduate coordinator. In this capacity, he reviews graduating seniors to assure that they meet the graduation requirements of the University. Also, he encourages and assists in the obtainment of jobs and entry into graduate school. All of his advised students have an academic audit which provides the needed classes for graduation.
SERVICE - BUILD A BETTER FOUNDATION
In the area of service to the University, he has served as program coordinator (chair) and on various committees. Some of the committees include student success, faculty search, reclassification, and curriculum. Dr. West also did the initial self-study for ABET accreditation of the AET program. In addition, he has served in the faculty Senate.
COURSES
Knowledge for Every Level
HANDS ON - SOLAR DUCK
HANDS ON - SOLAR BOAT
HANDS ON - ROLL CAGE STRENGTH
