Diana Lopez-Soto was named Duin Endowed Fellow for the NDSU College of Engineering.
Diana Lopez-Soto, assistant professor of industrial and manufacturing engineering, has been selected as the new Duin Endowed Fellow in the NDSU College of Engineering.
Lopez-Soto earned her doctorate in engineering sciences in 2016 at Monterrey Tech in Mexico. Before joining NDSU faculty in 2022 she worked in industry as a visiting researcher at Purdue University’s Regenstrief Center for Health Engineering and as a professor and researcher for the Monterrey Tech industrial engineering department.
“It is such an honor to be named the Duin Endowed Fellow,” Lopez-Soto said. “I greatly admire Spencer and Carol. Their contribution goes beyond funding. In many parts of their lives they are role models. I can’t thank them enough for their kindness and support.”
Lopez-Soto’s research interests include healthcare systems engineering and analytics, process analysis and improvement, operations management and supply chain efficiency.
Spencer Duin graduated from NDSU in 1966 with a degree in industrial engineering. The Graceville, Minnesota, native enjoyed a distinguished 40-year career at Westinghouse and Eaton Corp.
He has a long record of service to NDSU and the College of Engineering as a trustee of the NDSU Foundation, chair of the Foundation’s investment committee and a founding member of the College of Engineering Advisory and Advancement Board.
Duin received the College of Engineering’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2017, an honorary doctorate from NDSU in 2018 and the Distinguished Service Award from the NDSU Foundation in 2023.
He and his wife Carol established the Spencer G. and Carol A. Duin Endowment Fund to support NDSU Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering faculty in 2018. The money is used by faculty to provide students transformational learning experiences, enhance academic programs and advance research.
"My engineering degree from NDSU opened doors to many opportunities and a successful and very satisfying career,” Duin said. “Carol and I established the endowed fellowship to increase support for College of Engineering faculty and to acknowledge the value of my NDSU education.”
“Spencer and Carol’s generosity allows us to hire, and keep, top faculty talent like Dr. Lopez-Soto,” said Alan Kallmeyer, interim dean of the College of Engineering. “Her demonstrated excellence as a teacher and researcher provides our students the collaborative, interdisciplinary, hands-on education that prepares them to be project-ready graduates ready to meet the workforce needs of our state and region.”
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