Abstract:

Professional associations serve as catalysts for innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and professional growth. INFORMS, with its diverse scope spanning operations research, management science, analytics, AI, applied mathematics, and beyond, plays a vital role in advancing these fields and shaping real-world decision-making.

In this talk, Elena Gerstmann, Executive Director of INFORMS, will explore the organization's impact--highlighting key initiatives, upcoming plans, and the ways INFORMS is driving progress across industries. She will also engage the Northwestern community in an interactive discussion, gathering insights on how we can collectively advance smarter decisions for a better world.

Bio:

Elena Gerstmann, PhD, FASAE, CAE (she/her), is the Executive Director of INFORMS, the leading organization for advancing the science and technology of decision-making to save lives, save money, and solve complex problems.

Before joining INFORMS, Elena was a Principal at Avenue M Group and previously served on the executive teams at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

Elena holds a PhD in social psychology from Rutgers University. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Council of Engineering and Scientific Society Executives (CESSE) and is a past board member and Fellow of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE).

Beyond her professional work, Elena and her wife are the proud parents of two young adults, one happy dog, and one ornery cat. They are also co-founders of SocialOffset, a nonprofit that helps travelers align their spending with their values.