Dear colleagues,

It is a pleasure to serve as President of the Midwest Decision Sciences Institute (MWDSI). Thank you for your trust and for the opportunity to work with you in this role. I would also like to thank Dr. Jeong Hoon Choi for his leadership as our past president.

MWDSI is the largest region of the Decision Sciences Institute, covering 15 states from the Dakotas to Western Pennsylvania. I would like MWDSI to continue to be a welcoming place where faculty, students, and practitioners can share their work, learn from one another, and develop lasting professional relationships. Our annual conference provides an opportunity to discuss research and teaching, receive constructive feedback, and connect with colleagues who share similar interests. I would also like to encourage more students and early-career faculty to participate and become involved in MWDSI activities.

I invite you to join us for the 2027 MWDSI Annual Conference at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, on April 9–10, 2027. Dr. Chia-Ching (Edward) Chou will serve as the program chair. Whether you are presenting your research, bringing students to the Student Case Competition or Student Paper Competition, serving as a reviewer or session chair, or attending to exchange ideas, your involvement contributes to the conference and to our organization.

I am grateful to our board members, conference organizers, reviewers, and volunteers for the time and effort they contribute to MWDSI. I look forward to working with them and with our members in the coming year. Please feel free to reach out with your ideas and suggestions.

I hope to see you at Central Michigan University in April.

Warm regards,

Sourish Sarkar

President, Midwest Decision Sciences Institute, 2026–2027

Penn State Behrend