Biography

Bill Hicks joined the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering (ISE) as a full-time faculty member in August 2023 after spending two years as an adjunct lecturer.

Prior to joining ISE, Hicks worked for the Tennessee Manufacturing Extension Partnership (TMEP), a part of the UT Center for Industrial Services (UT CIS), for 17 years. During this time, he served Tennessee manufacturers first as a technical consultant then later a project manager for the East Tennessee region (including Knox County and the surrounding counties). Hicks also spent five years with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in various process/continuous improvement roles.

Hicks learned lean manufacturing from spending 10 years in the Toyota Production System. This time was split between TOYODA TRW Automotive (now JTEKT) and TRW Koyo Steering (also now JTEKT). He spent two additional years in tier one automotive parts manufacturing with TRW and BTR.

Hicks is a First Gen student and former participant in the Cooperative Engineering (Co-Op) program through the Office of Engineering Professional Practice.

Education

• BS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 1991
• MS, Engineering Management, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 2027

Courses Taught

• Senior Capstone Design I and II
• Introduction to Lean Systems
• Facility Design & Material Handling
• Survey of Engineering Entrepreneurship
• ISE Curriculum for the Governor’s School for Science and Engineering (GSSE)

Professional Services

• Faculty Advisor, Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME)
• Director, Engineering Entrepreneurship Program
• Order of the Engineer

Awards & Recognitions

• Outstanding Professor Award, UT Knoxville Department of Industrial & Systems Engineering, 2026
• Faculty Fellow, Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (ACEI), 2025 and 2026
• Vice-President’s Award, Institute for Public Service, 2019
• Pi Tau Sigma, the National Honorary Mechanical Engineering Fraternity 1989 – present