LGBTQ+ Research in ORMS – A Webinar by the PRIDE Forum

Lea Ricard (Host)

Tyler Perini

(Host)

Priyank Arora

• Priyank Arora (he/him): Dr. Priyank Arora is an associate professor of management science at the Darla Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina. Dr. Arora is interested in advancing the understanding of operational decision-making within and across organizations that are motivated by social and environmental considerations such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. His current research interests fall under the umbrella of socially responsible operations—specifically, nonprofit operations, and equitable and sustainable operations. Besides his research, Dr. Arora is passionate about promoting visibility and inclusion of LGBTQ+ individuals in university campuses, firms, and society at large. He is the founding president of the INFORMS PRIDE Forum.

Billur Aksoy

• Billur Aksoy (she/her): Dr. Billur Aksoy is a behavioral and experimental economist who studies topics related to public and labor economics. Her research primarily focuses on economic issues related to identity economics, social preferences, and discrimination. She is also interested in understanding human interaction with technology and its impacts on economic and educational outcomes. Currently, she is an Assistant Professor of Economics and the Graduate Program Director at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Dr. Aksoy obtained her PhD from Texas A&M University in May 2019.

Yaren Bilge Kaya

• Yaren Bilge Kaya (she/her):  Dr. Yaren Bilge Kaya holds a PhD in Industrial Engineering from Northeastern University’s Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department. During her PhD studies, she has received several notable awards for her outstanding contributions to the field of industrial engineering, including the 2021 Northeastern University College of Engineering Outstanding Graduate Teaching Award, the 2023 Northeastern University College of Engineering Outstanding Graduate Research Award, and The Best Paper with Student Presenter Award at the Association of Computing Machinery Conference on Equity and Access in Algorithms, Mechanisms, and Optimization. Currently serving as a lecturer in the Industrial Engineering and Operations Research Department at Columbia University, Dr. Kaya imparts her expertise through teaching courses on healthcare and public sector operations research, optimization, and simulation modeling.

Sulaimon Giwa

• Sulaimon Giwa (he/him): Dr. Sulaimon Giwa is a College Member of the Royal Society of Canada and the interim dean and associate professor of social work at Memorial University in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador. His research interests include critical race and anti-Black racism; race and sexuality; LGBTQ+ migration, settlement, and integration; intersectional stigma and human rights; critical social work pedagogy; and the criminal justice system. He is a leader in advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in the community, at Memorial University, and across various government and non-governmental organizations. Dr. Giwa's creative research projects and collaborative partnerships aim to address important social issues and advocate for policies and actions that promote equity, justice, and well-being for every member of society. He is a sought-after speaker and consultant who shares his expertise and insights with policymakers, practitioners, and community leaders to help them make better decisions and achieve positive social change.