Nimbarte named director of Statler College online programs

Ashish Nimbarte, professor and chair of industrial and management systems engineering has been named director of Statler College online programs.

Ashish Nimbarte, professor and chair of the industrial and management systems engineering department in the Statler College of Engineering Mineral Resources at West Virginia University, has been named director of Statler College Online Programs. His appointment began March 2025.

Story by Paige Nesbit, director of marketing and communications
Photos by Kaley LaQuea

Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources

“The Statler College has always been at the forefront of technological innovation, with faculty members leading exciting and innovative teaching and research endeavors,” Nimbarte stated. “As the director of the Statler College Online Programs, I aim to leverage the expertise of our faculty to develop and offer programs in traditional and non-traditional engineering disciplines.”

The focus will be on developing and offering programs that meet the emerging needs to provide unique opportunities for individuals seeking professional growth or career transition by enhancing their skills and capabilities.

“My goal for the coming years is to enhance the online offerings of the Statler College by exploring opportunities for developing interdisciplinary programs collaboratively offered by multiple units at both the undergraduate and graduate levels,” Nimbarte explained.

Nimbarte and department faculty collaborated to spearhead the creation of the master’s degree in engineering management which was launched in fall 2022, and the doctoral program in occupational safety and health, which was launched in fall 2023. These two new programs, along with the existing master’s degree program in safety management in the IMSE department, have contributed significantly to the 40% growth in the number of online students in the Statler College over the last five years.

“Dr. Nimbarte is an excellent choice for this position. He oversees most of the online programs in the College and the success he has achieved through the transformation of the IMSE department speaks for itself,” said Pedro Mago, Glen H. Hiner Dean of the Statler College. “I am confident that he will collaborate effectively with WVU Online to establish new online programs that will bring more opportunities for our students and increase enrollment. With Dr. Nimbarte’s enthusiasm, leadership and vision, I am excited about the future of the online programs college-wide.”

In an effort to offer competitive programs at the undergraduate level, the IMSE department recently started a new undergraduate minor in engineering leadership. The department is also in the process of developing minors in sales engineering and technological entrepreneurship — offered in collaboration with the Chambers College of Business and Economics.     

Nimbarte serves as the graduate program coordinator of the industrial engineering and engineering management programs and leads the Pollution Prevention group.

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