Abey Kuruvilla - University of Wisconsin Parkside

Dr Abey Kuruvilla completed his PhD in Industrial Engineering from the University of Louisville, KY in 2005. He is currently a Full Professor in the Department of Business. He also serves as Executive Director for International Affairs. He teaches Operations Management both at the undergraduate and graduate levels at UWP and Cross-Cultural Communication and Negotiation in his overseas appointments. Dr Kuruvilla has held Visiting positions at Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences, Finland; University of Calabria, Italy, University of Salento, Italy and the St Petersburg State University of Economics, Russia. He has worked on over 400 community-based projects with his students over the last decade and received the biennial Community Engaged Learning and Research Award of UWP in 2013. He has also led multiple studies abroad visits with over 100 students to Italy, the Caribbean, Central America and Brazil for which he has helped raised significant amounts of student scholarships. Dr Kuruvilla has held board appointments related to his primary area of research of Ambulance Diversion and has served as a consultant for various Fortune 500 companies having issues with cross-cultural projects. In his additional role in International Affairs, he has helped build multiple worldwide partnerships for the University, facilitating student and faculty mobility. Dr Kuruvilla also founded the annual International Conference on Sustainable Globalization which brings in academia, industry and policymakers from multiple countries to discuss issues related to sustainability. Dr Kuruvilla loves to travel and take risks. He met and married his lovely wife Asha in 6 days. He lives with her, his twins, and his parents, in Racine, Wisconsin.

Areas of Expertise

Ambulance Diversion
Cross Cultural Communication
Sustainability
Cross Cultural Negotiation

Teaching Interests

Dr. Kuruvilla has been teaching Operations Management both at the undergraduate and graduate levels in the Department of Business since Fall 2008. Prior to this appointment, he taught briefly at Oakland University, Lawrence Tech University, and Wayne State University in adjunct positions. He also taught Operations Research at University of Louisville as a graduate student, and currently teaches in the collaborative University of Wisconsin online Sustainable Management program. Dr. Kuruvilla has been invited to deliver lectures and continues to hold visiting positions at Mikkeli University of Applied Sciences, Finland; University of Calabria, Italy, and University of Salento, Italy.

Research Interests

Dr. Kuruvilla's primary research interests are Ambulance Diversion in Emergency Medical Systems and Sustainable Tourism Management. He has presented his research in various conferences worldwide and his work is published in European Journal of Business Research, International Journal of Information Systems in the Service Sector, Asian Forum for Business Education Journal and the Journal of Current Research in Global Business. Dr. Kuruvilla has also developed a new research interest in the area of Human Aspects of Operations Management, particularly cross-cultural communication in virtual projects. An integral part of his research work involves students. Both his undergraduate and graduate students have presented research at significant events in the State of Wisconsin and on the National level.

Consulting Interests

Dr. Kuruvilla is a consultant for Aperian Global, helping several global companies like Kohler, Navistar, John Deere, Accenture, and Michelin with productivity and cross-cultural issues while offshoring operations. Dr Kuruvilla has also served on the Scientific Advisory Board of the King County Healthcare Coalition, Seattle as a subject-matter expert in Ambulance Diversion issues. In the last four years, he has worked on over 150 projects with his students, helping local companies in the area improve their operations.

(2020) Optimal Pathways for Technology Integration towards Blended Learning - Case Study of a Non-Traditional School in Illinois, United States. International Journal of Information Systems and Social Change
(2020) Puoi fare lo sconto? (Can You do a Discount?) – A New Model for Experiential Business Study Abroad.. Business Education Innovation Journal, 49-56 8 pages. pp.
(2020) Logistics and Sustainability: A Comparative Analysis of a Global Logistics Corporation and a Global Tractor Producer. International Conference on Sustainable Globalization, 220-226 pp.
(2019) LIVING THE WISCONSIN IDEA: HOW DOES THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-PARKSIDE INSPIRE LIFELONG LEARNING FOR TODAY'S STUDENTS?. St. Petersburg State University of Economics (St. Petersburg), 637-641 pp.
(2018) Is recycling worth it? . Mahatma Gandhi University, 402 pp.
(2018) Usage of Assistive Technology in Higher Education . Mahatma Gandhi University, 401 pp.
(2016) Barrier Free Tourism in Tourism destinations of Kerala, India: An Access Audit. California Business Review
(2016) THE SOUND OF A HEARTBEAT: Of Life and Friendships and Students. Common Ground Publishing
(2015) Role of Social Media as an influencer in Travel decision making among foreign tourists visiting Kerala. International Society of Travel and Tourism Educators, 59-71 pp.
(2015) A New Algorithm for Minimizing Makespan on Identical Parallel Machines. International Journal of Operations Research and Information Systems (IJORIS)
(2012) Best Practices in Initiating Online Programs at Public Institutions. Business Education Innovation Journal, 121-127 pp.
(2012) Greening the Supply Chain in Corporate America: New & Improved Directions. International Journal of Business & Management Studies, 1-10 pp.
(2012) "Student Perceptions of Community Engaged Participatory Learning Projects in Business Classes". European Journal of Business Research, pp. 121-127 pp.
(2010) "The Online Education Journey: Experiences of UW Parkside's Business Department". Asian Forum on Business Education, 275-282 pp.

Departmental Service

(2012) Committee Member — Entrepreneurship and Strategy Faculty Hiring Committee

University Service

Chairperson — International Initiatives Foundation Board
Special Institutional Assignment — Special Assistant to Chancellor for International Relations
Committee Member — Talent and Economic Development Committee
(2016) Chairperson — Italian Foundation Board
(2015) Committee Member — Provost Search and Screen Committee
(2015) Special Institutional Assignment — International Affairs
(2012) Chairperson — Chancellor's task force to improve processes at HR department.

Professional Service

(2019) Program Organizer — International Conference in Sustainable Globalization
(2018) Program Coordinator — International Conference on Sustainable Globalization

Public Service

(2021) Program Coordinator — Community Engaged Projects
(2011) Guest Speaker — Adventures in Lifelong Learning

UW System Service

(2016) Committee Member — UW System Strategic Planning Committee - Global

Abey Kuruvilla, PhD