Dr. Ragu Athinarayanan, a professor at Purdue University's School of Engineering Technology, brings nearly three decades of experience in higher education to his current role. Over his 17 years as a Department Head and Associate Dean, he led the development of numerous research initiatives and academic programs aligned with state and national priorities. Notably, he spearheaded the creation of Purdue's **BS in Smart Manufacturing Industrial Informatics**, designed to equip students with the skills needed for **Industry 4.0** and digital transformation in manufacturing. In addition to his academic leadership, Dr. Athinarayanan directs the **Smart Manufacturing Innovation Center** at Purdue, advancing the adoption of smart technologies to enhance energy productivity and efficiency across U.S. manufacturing industries.