Dear Colleagues,
As the representative of the WDSI Board, it is my great pleasure to extend a warm welcome to the 2023 Western Decision Sciences Institute (WDSI) Conference in Portland, Oregon. Hosting this event is an honor as we continue our journey into the next 50 years after celebrating our 50th anniversary last year. We are grateful for your presence, and we extend a sincere welcome to our new members, hoping they will become an integral part of our organization and support WDSI and DSI.
The Covid-19 pandemic has presented many challenges, and unfortunately, one of the greatest losses our organization has suffered was the passing of our dear friend and past president, Dr. Karen L. Fowler. Karen was an integral part of our community, and her leadership during her tenure as WDSI president in 1999-2000 was greatly appreciated. Her dedication and commitment to our organization were unwavering, and her passing is a significant loss to all of us. Her legacy will continue to inspire and guide us, and we will always remember her contributions to our community. As we gather for this year's conference, we take a moment to remember Karen and the impact she had on our organization.
I am honored to serve as this year's Program Chair and am looking forward to continuing the celebration of our professional achievements while building stronger and lasting relationships as we embark on this journey together. Over the past 50 years, WDSI members have made significant contributions in research, teaching, and practice, impacting many disciplines. Our conference provides an opportunity to share our ideas and exchange thoughts on how to continue charting our journey forward to reach new heights. At WDSI, every individual's contribution is voluntary, and we pride ourselves on creating genuine connections, building a community, and prioritizing the experience. Our vision is to continue fostering these relationships and creating value for our current and future members. We hope that this conference will allow our members to reflect on and celebrate their past accomplishments, renew friendships, and extend their networks.
We are delighted to come together for this year's conference. Our aim is to provide our members with a platform to reconnect, inspire one another, and generate new ideas. I extend my deepest gratitude to all those who have worked tirelessly to bring this event to fruition, including Past President Omer Benli, Immediate Past President Theodore Byrne, and current President Salem Boumediene, for their outstanding leadership of WDSI. I would like to extend my special thanks to WDSI Treasurer Sheldon Smith for his invaluable guidance, WDSI Director of Information Systems Khosrow Moshirvaziri for his exceptional support, President-elect Pia Gupta for her guidance and camaraderie, as well as Stan Griffis and Seong-Jong Joo for their assistance and motivation. I would like to thank Eldon Li, Mahyar Amouzegar, David Yen, Albert Huang, Omer Benli, and many other WDSI colleagues for your continued mentorships. I also express my appreciation to my dear colleague Shuo Zeng for his assistance in organizing the conference program.
I thank all the Track Chairs, Awards Committee members, Vivian Landrum, Executive Director of DSI, our parent organization, and our financial sponsors for their contributions. Finally, I want to thank you, our conference participants, for your contributions, which form the foundation of this conference.
As we gather in Portland, let us build on our past achievements, look to the future with optimism and determination, and create a brighter future for WDSI and our profession. Together, we can make the most of this opportunity to learn from one another, share our experiences and ideas, and strengthen our professional relationships.
Thank you, and I look forward to seeing you at WDSI 2023 in Portland.
Sincerely,
Yuanjie (Ed) He
California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
WDSI 2023 Vice-President, Program Chair