Innovating the Impossible
We’re excited to welcome Industrial and Systems Engineering students and professionals from across the Mid-Atlantic region to the home of the Tigers for this year’s conference, themed “Innovating the Impossible.”
Over the course of three days, attendees will engage in hands-on learning, thought-provoking discussions, and meaningful networking that highlight the limitless possibilities of our field.
Whether you’re here to share your research, connect with industry leaders, or explore new ideas, we hope this conference inspires you to push boundaries and imagine what’s next for IISE. Together, we’ll redefine innovation — the Industrial Engineering way.
Thank you for being part of the 2026 IISE Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference!
“Serving as President of Clemson IISE has been an incredibly rewarding experience that’s allowed me to grow as a leader and make a lasting impact on our chapter. Leading our team as we prepare to host the 2026 Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference has shown me just how powerful collaboration can be within industrial and systems engineering. This conference represents the best of Clemson IE — innovation, teamwork, and the drive to ‘Innovate the Impossible.’ I’m incredibly proud of what our chapter is building and excited to welcome students and professionals from across the region to our campus.”
Gillian BanksPresident of Clemson IISE
Join Us
Registration for the Mid-Atlantic Regional IISE Conference will be open from November 1 - January 31
Conference Cost
Early Bird: $65 (November 1- December 1)
General Admission: $75 (December 2 – January 1)
Final Release $85: (January 2 – January 31)
Clemson University’s Conference Center & Inn
The James F. Martin Inn is located on campus and a short distance from many local attractions. The four-story hotel overlooks picturesque Lake Hartwell. In addition to the state-of-the-art conference center and championship golf, guests enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi, a fitness center, and on-site dining. Pet-friendly rooms are available upon request.
Hotel Block Rate: Standard Two Queen per night 139.00
Check In: 3:00 PM Check Out: 11:00 AM
Clemson University’s Conference Center & Inn
240 Madren Center Drive, Clemson, SC 29634
Phone: 864-654-9020
Email: info@stayatclemson.com
“Serving in a leadership position within my university’s chapter has strengthened my ability to lead teams, coordinate large-scale events, and collaborate with peers and professionals across multiple universities. This experience has enhanced my communication, organization, and problem-solving skills—qualities that have translated directly into success during my internships with leading organizations in the engineering and manufacturing sectors. Engaging with professionals and alumni has offered valuable insight into emerging technologies, process optimization strategies, and the evolving role of engineers in driving organizational success.”
Jackson PlasPresident-Elect
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Technical Paper
In partnership with the IISE organization, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference is holding a technical paper competition! The top 3 participants will win awards, and the first-place winner will get the chance to compete in the Undergraduate Technical Paper Competition Global Finals at the IISE Annual Conference & Expo in Atlanta, GA, later this year.
Submission deadline: Sunday, January 11th, 2026, at 11:59 p.m.
Eligibility: To be eligible for consideration:
- Must be an undergraduate student when the nominated paper is written.
- Paper can be projects done for a company as part of a course, internship, or other activity. They may be undergraduate research projects done at the home institution.
- Faculty member may serve as an advisor on a project, but the work should primarily be done by the students.
- Faculty member cannot be a co-author of the paper.
- Only IISE members are eligible to participate.
- Each participating university, including the host institution, may submit up to two papers as entries.
The paper should be written in a professional journal format, including page numbers and a table of contents. Every principal author must make an oral presentation at their respective University Region Conference. The first-place winner will be eligible to compete in the Undergraduate Technical Paper Competition Global Finals at the IISE Annual Conference & Expo on May 31 - June 3, 2026, in Atlanta, GA.
English is the official language of the IISE Annual Conference & Expo. The written document must be submitted in English for judging at the international level. IISE does not provide translation services.
Format: Papers must adhere to the following guidelines:
- 8½-inch x 11-inch paper
- The paper should not exceed 20 pages, including appendices.
- Font should be Times New Roman, point size 11.
- Margins of 1 inch (2.5 cm) all around.
- Single spacing
- Full-text justification
- The following information should be placed at the top of the first page:
- Paper title: 16-point Times New Roman bold and centered.
- Author(s) listing: 12 point Times New Roman bold, centered and include names, university, city, state, zip code and country.
- Text should be organized into sections and subsections, with an introduction and a conclusion section being advisable. A single line should separate paragraphs; no indentation should be used. Font guidelines are as follows:
- Section headings: numbered, 12 point, bold, upper and lower case, left-justified and leave one blank line above only.
- Section sub-headings: numbered, 11 point, bold, upper and lower case, left-justified and leave one blank line above only.
- Regular text: 11 point Times New Roman, full justified and a single line between paragraphs.
- Sub-bullets must be indented.
- Figures, tables and their captions
- Tables and figures, when included in the main text, need to be as close to the point of their introduction as possible. It is noted that figure and table numbering should be independent. Caption guidelines are as follows:
- Figure captions: 10 point Times New Roman, centered and place below the figure, leave one blank line above and below.
- Table caption: 10 point Times New Roman, centered and place above the table, leave one blank line above only.
- Equations should be centered and numbered, with the number in parentheses, positioned flush to the right margin. Preferably, they should be prepared with an equation writer.
Judging Criteria: Papers and presentations will be judged on the following criteria:
- Depth, significance and originality of subject matter
- Excellence of written presentation
- Excellence of oral presentation
Regional Winners: There will be first, second, and third-place prizes given out.
- First Place - $500
- Second Place - $300
- Third Place - $200
Rules: View the complete list of rules and other criteria.
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Schedule
Clemson University February 20-22, 2026 2026 IISE Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference Schedule Friday, Feb. 20 Start End Description Location 3:00 5:00 Company Tours (optional) Various 3:00 5:00 Check into hotels Clemson University Conference Center and Inn 6:00 6:30 Welcome and Intro Death Valley - Memorial Stadium 6:30 7:30 Dinner & Keynote 7:30 8:30 Ice Breaker Activities Saturday, Feb. 22 Start End Description Location 9:00 9:15 Morning Remarks Clemson University Conference Center and Inn 9:30 10:00 Keynote 10:15 11:15 Technical Paper Competition 11:30 12:45 Lunch & Keynote The Owen Pavilion 1:00 1:15 Walk to Clemson Campus Clemson Campus 1:30 2:30 Panels Freeman Hall 2:30 4:00 Career Fair 4:00 6:00 Break/Optional Activity Clemson University 6:30 8:00 Awards Dinner & IISE Presentation The Owen Pavilion -
Additional Information
Dress Code: Saturday Banquet in Death Valley: Business Professional
All other components: Business CasualParking Information: Clemson University has select locations for paid parking by the hour available. Please refer to the Campus Maps for parking information. Parking will also be available at the James F. Martin Inn.
Accessibility Information: We are happy to accommodate any of your accessibility needs. Please indicate in your registration if you require presentation subtitles, accessible parking, special dietary considerations, etc.
Career Fair
The Career Fair provides an engaging environment for meaningful professional connections. Our attendees will have the opportunity to network with industry professionals representing the sponsoring organizations of the 2026 Conference.
This event serves as a platform for companies to recruit emerging talent, strengthen their brand presence, and connect with the future leaders of industrial engineering. For students, it offers a valuable opportunity to engage directly with employers, explore potential career paths, and gain insight into the diverse opportunities within the field.
The Career Fair is an integral part of the conference experience, fostering collaboration between academia and industry while supporting the growth and development of the next generation of industrial and systems engineers.
“Beyond professional growth, IISE has also fostered a strong sense of community and collaboration. Working alongside motivated peers has encouraged knowledge sharing, teamwork, and the exchange of ideas that extend beyond the classroom. The organization’s emphasis on leadership, ethics, and innovation continues to inspire me to approach challenges with curiosity and a commitment to continuous improvement—values that will guide my career for years to come.”
Nea XhindiSecretary
Sponsors
Partner with Clemson IISE as we host the 2026 IISE Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference!
This conference offers a unique opportunity to engage directly with future Industrial and Systems Engineers while showcasing your organization’s commitment to developing the next generation of problem-solvers.
Why Sponsor?
- Connect with 200+ students and professionals from leading ISE programs
- Gain visibility through event signage, social media, and printed materials
- Participate in the Companies & Coffee Career Fair
- Opportunity to host a sponsored session or networking event
- Support Clemson IE’s tradition of industry partnership and excellence
Connect With Us →
President: Gillian Banks, Senior
Vice-President: Julia Ferrante, Junior
President-Elect: Jackson Plas, Junior
Treasurer: Ben Fields, Senior
Secretary: Nea Xhindi, Senior
Conference Chair: Nico Ahues Rodas, Senior
Faculty Advisor: Emily Tucker, Ph.D.
