Heather Nachtmann is the senior associate vice chancellor for research and innovation, the Earl J. and Lillian P. Dyess Endowed Chair in Engineering, and a professor of industrial engineering at the University of Arkansas. Nachtmann serves as director of the Maritime Transportation Research and Education Center, a U.S. Department of Transportation University Transportation Center, and the Mack-Blackwell Transportation Center. She previously served as the associate dean for research in the College of Engineering. Her research includes economic and operations analysis of inland waterways, intermodal network optimization, and vulnerability assessment and emergency preparedness for transportation networks.
Nachtmann has published more than 90 peer-reviewed publications and led over $18 million dollars in research grants as principal investigator. Nachtmann has taught in the areas of operations research, engineering economics, and cost analysis. She is a fellow of the American Society for Engineering Management and Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers, a member of the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department Research Advisory Council, and editor-in-chief for The Engineering Economist journal. Nachtmann was recognized with the 2019 ASEM Bernard R. Sarchet Award and the 2018 IISE Engineering Economy Division Wellington Award. She holds a doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh.