Steven Butt
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5314 USA
- Ph.D., Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, Pennsylvania State University
- M.S., Industrial Engineering and Operations Research, Pennsylvania State University
- B.A., Mathematics and Chemistry, Earlham College
- Operations research
- Vehicle routing and scheduling
- Employee scheduling and rostering
Dr. Steven Butt is the dean of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Western Michigan University, where he also serves as a professor of industrial and entrepreneurial engineering. With nearly 30 years of experience in industrial engineering, operations research, product development and medical engineering, Dr. Butt has made significant contributions to both academia and industry.
He earned his bachelor’s degrees from Earlham College in Richmond, Indiana, and received his M.S. and Ph.D. in industrial engineering and operations research from Penn State University. At WMU, Dr. Butt has held several leadership roles, including chairing two academic departments within the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He also holds a faculty appointment in medical engineering at WMU’s Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine (WMed).
Dr. Butt’s research portfolio includes collaborations with federal, state and industry partners such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), International Maritime Organization, Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning, Haworth, Bronson Hospital and Stryker. His work has addressed a wide range of challenges, including:
- Developing staffing standards for air traffic controllers
- Creating workforce scheduling models for hospital nursing staff
- Conducting task seating research for product design
- Evaluating hospital and EMS equipment through WMU’s Human Performance Institute
He has also led several strategic academic initiatives, including the development of the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership (AMP) Lab @ WMU in Grand Rapids, the launch of graduate and undergraduate international programs, and the expansion of dual enrollment opportunities and transfer agreements with both two-year and four-year institutions.
In addition to his academic and research leadership, Dr. Butt has played a key role in securing funding for endowed professorships, student scholarships and state-of-the-art equipment—enhancing the college’s ability to attract top faculty, support student success and advance cutting-edge research and education.
Over his tenure at WMU, Dr. Butt has secured more than $4 million in external research funding and authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications. In recognition of his professional achievements, he was named a Fellow of the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers.
Awards
- Director's Award for Teaching Excellence, University of Auckland
- Tau Beta Pi - Outstanding Faculty Award, WMU College of Engineering and Applied Sciences
Professional memberships
- Institute for Operations Research and Management Science (INFORMS)
- Institute of Industrial Engineers (IIE)
- Operational Research Society of New Zealand (ORSNZ)
- American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)