The Robert E. and Georgianna West Russell Chair of Manufacturing Excellence
is one of 43 Chairs of Excellence in the Tennessee Board of Regents Higher
Education System. Housed at Middle Tennessee State University, in the Department
of Engineering Technology and Industrial Studies, it was founded by the
co-owners of Quality Industries of LaVergne, Tennessee. Robert (deceased)
and Georgianna Russell were both graduates of MTSU and established the Chair of Manufacturing
Excellence in 1988.
The Chair works with undergraduate and graduate programs to assist in the matching of students into the workforce by
improving curriculum areas and increasing the dialog between industries and education regarding employment needs. The Chair serves on all Engineering and all Technology
Industrial Advisory councils to assist the department in establishing common goals that would benefit all programs in the department.
Dr. Charles Perry, former IBM Engineer and Manager, is the current Interim Chairholder of the Russell Chair of Manufacturing Excellence.
Charles Perry
The Russell Chair has the unique position of housing the Tennessee Venture Capital Network (TVCN) office within its functions. Formerly a joint funding source for the
private research makes it an important link from public research institutions within the Board of Regents to private industries. This confidentiality is referenced in the Tennessee
Codes Annotated section 10-7-504(10)(A).
Mission
The Russell Chair of Manufacturing Excellence was founded to enhance the quality of manufacturing education, support the existing manufacturing concerns, and attract new manufacturing
activity to the Middle Tennessee region.
Objectives
- Continuously improve the image of MTSU and the Industrial Studies Program.
- Develop and maintain adequate diversity in study areass to ensure a multidimensional student body in terms of experience, interests, and abilities.
- Involve faculty members actively in industrial programs to ensure the continuous improvement of their cutting-edge skills and the relevancy and immediacy of the materials
they impart to the student body.
- Make Middle Tennessee State University an institution of choice for those wishing to pursue excellence in manufacturing.
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