John W Via III, D.Eng., P.E., CPEM is currently a Professor of the Practice and Associate Director of the Master of Engineering Management and Leadership (MEML) program. Dr. Via received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering (1984) from the University of Virginia, a Master of Engineering Science (1986) from Lamar University, a M.S. in Chemical Engineering (1991) and a M.S. in Engineering Management (1994) from Drexel University, a M.S. in Manufacturing Systems Management (2003) and a Doctor of Engineering in Engineering Management (2002) from Southern Methodist University. Dr. Via also completed the Program for Management Development (PMD76/2001) at Harvard Business School. Dr. Via has over 30 years of experience in the chemical, pharmaceutical and medical device industries, and continues to serve as a consultant. He is a Certified Professional Engineering Manager, and a registered Professional Engineer in Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Dr. Via was an Adjunct Associate Professor in Engineering at Texas Christian University from 1994-1996 and 2004-2005 and assisted with the start-up of their undergraduate engineering program. He was an Adjunct Professor in Engineering Management at Southern Methodist University from 2004-2012. Dr. Via was a Teaching Professor in Engineering Management, Project Management, and Systems Engineering, and in Chemical and Biological Engineering (by courtesy) at Drexel University from 2012-2020. Dr. Via served as Associate Dean of Engineering, Department Head of Engineering Management, Director of the Engineering Management Program, and was the Founding Director of the Vince & Judy Vidas Program in Systems Engineering while at Drexel. He joined the faculty at Rice in 2021. Dr. Via serves on the Board of Trustees for the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Virginia, the College of Engineering Advisory Council at Lamar University, and on the Advisory Board for the Medical Product Development Program at the University of California - Irvine.