An Engineer's Story: Professor Yih
At Purdue, I have had the privilege of learning from Professor Yih. Beyond teaching technical concepts, she has shared invaluable life lessons that have left a lasting impact on me. She is an incredibly accomplished professor who genuinely cares about her students and colleagues. Her career and character set a powerful example of what is possible in the field of engineering. I am honored to share her inspiring story with you.
Background
Professor Yih was born and raised in Taiwan. She believes that she has always possessed the “engineering mindset.” She recalls that, as a child, she would map out her route through the grocery store to make it as efficient as possible, minimizing the time spent carrying heavy items. Industrial engineering concepts were deeply rooted in her from an early age.
She received her BS in Industrial Engineering from National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan in 1984. During her ungraduated studies, she was one of few female students. Since she arrived at the campus, everyone knew who she was. This brought immense pressure and a feeling that failure was not an option. She quickly gave the men a run for their money, earning the nickname "curve killer" for consistently setting a high standard during her academic career.
Professor Yih attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison with the support of her parents. She received her Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering in 1988, defending her thesis on AI-based scheduling in manufacturing. She found it challenging to publish her research because very few truly understood her work at the time. In fact, she had to add an additional chapter in her dissertation with a non-AI approach to demonstrate that the new idea worked well.
Professor Yih, growing up with both parents being educators, always knew that she wanted to teach. She accepted the assistant professor position at Purdue University after her PhD degree and has remained at Purdue ever since and has built a distinguished academic career.
Currently, Professor Yih is the Tompkins Professor at the Edwardson School of Industrial Engineering. In fact, she made history as the school’s first tenured woman professor. She teaches IE 383: Integrated Production Systems where she has tailored the curriculum to focus on relevant concepts that industrial engineers face in the real world. Additionally, Professor Yih is Director of Smart Systems and Operations Laboratory and leads cutting-edge research in her field.
Engineering Projects and Accomplishments
As previously mentioned, Professor Yih’s initial research and interest lays in manufacturing. However, over time, she extended her work to healthcare. At the time, industrial engineers were not commonly found in the healthcare realm, but Professor Yih recognized that IE skills were needed in the field. She took a sabbatical and conducted research in the VA hospital. She discovered a significant need for industrial engineering to improve healthcare delivery systems. After this experience, she further expanded her work into Global Development where she is able to make a direct impact on people’s lives in the most vulnerable communities in the world.
Professor Yih worked for a hospital in Kenya focusing on the treatment of HIV patients. HIV was prevalent in western Kenya at the time as 50% -70% of people in the small towns were infected. It was discovered that HIV antiviral medications would only be effective if patients were properly nourished. To address this issue, Professor Yih designed a nutrition information system and a food distribution system which saved the lives of 38,000 HIV patients. Since its implementation, the system has proven to be self-sufficient and has expanded without her direct involvement. She is proud to say that she has built these systems so that they can run without her.
Throughout her career, Professor Yih has worked on countless projects, but she considers her most rewarding project to be in Humanitarian Supply Chain. She has a partner who is a first responder and works on the frontlines of disasters across the world. Since 2015, they have weekly meetings to strategize and develop solutions for delivering critical humanitarian commodities to people in crisis. Through this partnership, her last-mile solution was implemented to support over million people affected by drought and conflicts in South Sudan and Ukraine.
In 2025, Professor Yih was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering, the highest honor for an engineer, for her groundbreaking contributions to the field of Humanitarian Supply Chain. She describes this accomplishment by saying, “I would have never dreamt of this, but the dream came true.”
Outside of Engineering
Professor Yih has always loved to dance. She started her ballet training in college and had a chance to perform with the Lafayette Ballet Company.
Professor Yih discovered ballroom dancing, which she describes as "the most beautiful art form and partnership." She explains, "When I do something, I don’t just do it." Embracing this philosophy, she began competing as an amateur, eventually turning professional, and becoming a judge. Her dedication has earned her numerous accolades in the ballroom dancing world. One of her most outstanding awards being earning USA Dance National Vice Champion.
On a personal note, Professor Yih met her husband through ballroom dancing, and she enjoys sharing her passion with him. In 1996, Professor Yih founded the Purdue Latin and Ballroom Dance Team. She continues to coach the team with her husband and foster a community that has become a significant part of her life. Notably, the team performed on the popular TV show "Dancing with the Stars" in 2010, and placed first at the USA Dance National Championships in 2024.
Her Advice
Her Goal for Women Engineers
When asked about her hopes for the future, Professor Yih says, "I want women to be accepted both above, on, and below average." She goes on to explain “Mathematically, it’s not feasible to have a population where everyone is above average of the population”, she emphasizes. A woman should not always need to be exceptional or outstanding to feel like she belongs in engineering.Her Advice to Women Engineers
Professor Yih describes that an engineering degree provides the framework for people who want to solve problems. Engineering is worth exploring because problem-solving skills are applicable everywhere. “Engineering prepares you to identify a problem, find alternatives, evaluate them, and make tradeoffs to find the best solution.”Professor Yih also encourages women engineers to embrace being different. She explains that being a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field may present challenges, but it also offers a unique sense of freedom. She shares that being a minority in the field frees her from feeling pressure to conform. She does not feel the need to act or dress like her peers because her difference is her strength. Professor Yih encourages women: embrace being different!
Sophia Jarc, IE '26
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