William Sawaya

William Sawaya, Ph.D., is the Chair and Associate Professor in the Department of Management at Bowling Green State University (BGSU), part of the Allen W. and Carol M. Schmidthorst College of Business. He holds a Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota, with a focus on Operations and Management Science and Strategy. Prior to BGSU, he served as an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University and a Post-Doctoral Researcher at Cornell University. His academic background includes a Master’s in Industrial and Systems Engineering (Georgia Tech) and a Bachelor’s in Manufacturing Engineering (Brigham Young University).

His research interests span decision-making in complex systems, supply chain technology integration, sustainable operations, and quality improvement methodologies. He has published in top journals such as Decision Sciences, International Journal of Production Research, and Business Horizons. He serves as an Associate Editor for Decision Support Systems and on the editorial board of the Quality Management Journal.

Sawaya’s work emphasizes practical applications, including consulting and professional education in supply chain management, strategic sourcing, and lean systems. His recent research explores blockchain adoption in supply chains and digital transformation trends. He has been recognized for teaching excellence, particularly in operations, supply chain, and sustainability courses.

Professional activities include founding the Complex Adaptive Supply Networks Research Accelerator at Arizona State University and advising on freight logistics resilience, notably in pandemic scenarios. His interdisciplinary approach bridges academic research with real-world industry challenges.