Welcome, New Faculty!
The Department of Industrial Engineering at Clemson University is excited to welcome three new faculty members for the 2025-2026 academic year: Dr. Didem Sari Ay, Dr. Feng Ye, and Dr. Cheoljoon Jeong. Their collective expertise spans statistics, optimization, and data science, all of which align closely with the department’s mission to solve complex problems and create human-centered solutions.
Associate Chair Update
As Dr. Divya Srinivasan begins her sabbatical this fall, the department extends sincere thanks for her outstanding service as Associate Chair. Her leadership has been instrumental in supporting faculty, staff, and students and in helping the department thrive. Stepping into the role of Associate Chair for the 2025-2026 academic year is Dr. Yongjia Song, who brings deep experience and a strong commitment to the department’s mission. Dr. Song will provide key support for departmental operations, academic programs, and strategic initiatives.
“Clemson IE continues to grow stronger through the people who make up our community. I’m thrilled to welcome Dr. Sari Ay, Dr. Ye, and Dr. Jeong to the department. Their expertise and energy will further enhance our ability to deliver an excellent student experience and conduct impactful research. We are also fortunate to have faculty like Dr. Divya Srinivasan and Dr. Yongjia Song serving Clemson IE, and I’m confident Dr. Song will bring thoughtful leadership and support to our academic programs in the upcoming year. “
Dr. Kevin Taaffe, Chair, Department of Industrial Engineering
Meet the New Faculty
Dr. Didem Sari Ay
Dr. Sari Ay joins us as a Lecturer. She previously served as an IE faculty member at Alanya Alaaddin Keykubat University in Turkey. She holds a Ph.D. in IE from Iowa State University. Her areas of interest include operations research, probability and statistics, production planning, quality, and simulation. Connect with Dr. Sari Ay on LinkedIn.
This fall, she is teaching:
- IE 8090 – Modeling Systems Under Risk
- IE 3600 – Industrial Applications of Probability & Statistics I
- IE 3860 – Production Planning and Control
Dr. Feng Ye
Dr. Ye joins us as an Assistant Professor. He recently completed his Ph.D. in Industrial and Systems Engineering at Rutgers University, where he conducted award-winning research on offshore wind forecasting, statistical deep learning, and sustainable energy systems. His interdisciplinary work combines physics-informed machine learning with real-world renewable energy applications. He has received multiple best paper awards from IISE and INFORMS and was named a 2024 Outstanding Ph.D. Student by Rutgers ISE. Connect with Dr. Ye on LinkedIn.
This fall, he is teaching:
- IE 3610 – Industrial Applications of Probability and Statistics II
Dr. Cheoljoon Jeong
Dr. Jeong joins us as an Assistant Professor. He earned his Ph.D. in Industrial and Operations Engineering from the University of Michigan. His research includes industrial data science, quality and reliability engineering, and the design and calibration of digital twins. His work focuses on systems such as wind power and smart buildings. He is the recipient of multiple national paper awards and prestigious fellowships, including the Edward P. Fitts and Seth Bonder Fellowships. Connect with Dr. Jeong on LinkedIn
This fall, he is teaching:
- IE 4910 – Engineering Data Analytics
Looking Ahead
This new cohort brings fresh perspectives, innovative research, and valuable teaching experience to Clemson IE. We look forward to their contributions to our students, department, and the broader academic community.
