Degrees/Credentials

2007 – M. Div. – St. Bernard’s School of Theology and Ministry 
2001 – Ph.D. Human Resource Management – LaSalle University 
1993 – M.S. Packaging Science – Rochester Institute of Technology 
1976 – B.S. in Business Administration – SUNY Empire State College 

Current Role/Title/Years at RIT: Current Roles: Assistant Professor, Center Professional Development (CPD) and NTID Communication Trainer and Presenter, Lean Six Sigma Curriculum Program Developer and Instructor; Years at RIT: 19. 

Areas of Interest, Scholarly Work, Research—
2011 Co- authored journal article with Dr. Frank Johnston: “How Positive Psychology Addresses Anxiety and Stress in a Cultural Diverse Workforce,” at the American Psychological Association Conference in Washington, D.C.
2011 Co-presented with Dr. Frank Johnston at the New York State Psychological Association Conference “How Positive Psychology Addresses a Culturally Diverse Workforce” in NYC.  – This highly recognized presentation showed how performance issues can be solved for the culturally diverse worker by identifying the employee’s strengths, improving communication, and by instituting a Lean Six Sigma methodology.
2010 Published Training Manual System: Leadership Development Curriculum from the Ground Level – This train-the-trainer manual system assists employment agencies for transitioning ex-felons back into the workforce training them using 15 Lean Six Sigma problem–solving tools. 
2008 Published a Substance Abuse Article for a Monroe County Non-Profit Agency.
2001 – 1995 Published ten articles regarding Supply Chain Management in nationally recognized packaging trade magazines.
1994 Published Textbook Author: Packaging Sales: An Innovative Problem-Solving Approach – Top Ten Bestseller List on IOPP publishing.
Boards and Professional Affiliations—

• Rochester Leadership Institute Member
• Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt with a Concentration in Human Engineering
• Certified NYS OASAS Approved Educational Trainer and Provider #0522 for Workforce Development
• Authorized OSHA General Industry Outreach Trainer
• Educational Committee Member for the Rochester Area Group of Psychotherapists

Honors and Awards

• 2011 Rochester Institute of Technology’s Eisenhart Teaching Nomination – RIT’s highest teaching award
• American Management Association Trained Instructional Designer Certificate
• American Management Association Train – the – Trainer Certificate
• Keynote Speaker at the New York State Corrections Conference

Ph.D., Michigan State University ; M.S., B.S., Universidad de los Andes, Bogota, Colombia

Research interests include:  Packaging technologies based on plastic materials.  Bio-based plastics and composites. Nano-technologies applied to packaging systems. Microcellular plastics. Design of Experiments (DOE).

Carlos A. Diaz, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering Technology/Packaging Science Department.  He joined RIT in July, 2012 and previously was a research associate in the School of Packaging Science at Michigan State University.  His research interests include packaging technologies based on plastic materials, bio-based plastics and composites, nano-technologies applied to packaging systems,  microcellular plastics and design of Experiments (DOE).  Diaz is an active member of the Society of Plastic Engineers (SPE); the Institute of Packaging Professionals (I0PP); and MSU Packaging Alumni Association.  He was the guest speaker at the Spring 2011 Packaging Seminar Series, School of Packaging, Michigan State University. “Microcellular PLA/Cellulosic Fiber Composites Foamed with Supercritical CO2 Through a Continuous Extrusion Process.”   He won Best Student Paper Award-SPE-ANTEC 2009, Vinyl Division C.A. Diaz and L.M. Matuana, and was awarded the best master thesis in the mechanical engineering department awarded by the alumni association of mechanical engineers, CIMANDES, May 2006, Bogotá, Colombia.

Changfeng Ge, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the college's Packaging Science Department and is also the director of APC Center for Packaging Innovation at RIT. Ge has been at RIT for since 2005. Previously, Ge served as the technical director for Pack Solutions Pte Ltd and Senior Engineer in Singapore Institute of Industrial Research , in Singapore. His areas of interest include: barrier packaging material development - nano incorporated adhesive; Smart packaging - RFID application in packaging, active packaging; transport packaging design - cushion foam design and packaging simulation - finite element analysis (FEA) to predict packaging performance. Ge's scholarly work includes:

• Book

Changfeng Ge, Package Structural & Mechanism Design with SolidWorks. SDC publications

Selected peer-reviewed journal publications include:

• Changfeng Ge, Daniel Goodwin, Compression strength formula for bliss cases and wrap-around boxes, Journal of Applied Packaging Research, Vol 4/No.3 October 2010 ,DEStech Publications, Inc, USA
• Changfeng Ge, Adding Barrier-shrink-film to a PET bottle to improve barrier properties, Journal of Applied Packaging Research , Vol 4/No.2, July 2009, DEStech Publications, Inc.(USA)

• Changfeng Ge, Application of finite element analysis to predict the critical Top-load of a corrugated box, Journal of Applied Packaging Research , Vol 3/No.3, July 2009, DEStech Publications, Inc.(USA)

• Changfeng Ge, Daniel Goodwin and Dennis Young, Using the C-e Pairs to Develop Conventional Cushion Curves and Cushioning Specifications, Journal of Applied Packaging Research, September 2007 ,DEStech Publications, Inc, USA
• Changfeng Ge, Model of Accelerated Vibration Test, Journal of the Packaging Technology and Science, John Wiley & Sons Ltd 13:7-11, 2000, UK
• Changfeng Ge, Efficient Packaging Design in Logistics, Journal of the Packaging Technology and Science, John Wiley & Sons Ltd, September / October 1996, UK
• Changfeng Ge, Analysis and Testing of the Corrugated Board Cushioning (2), Pack Report, December 1992, Germany

Selected Patent:
Zhou Xiangxing, Changfeng Ge, Ma Ximing, Self-balancing Vibration Conveyor with complex Bed. Patent No: 52112, PR China,1989.December

Ge has been awarded the following major research contracts as PI since 2006:

• Packaging Design of Daguerreotypes, awarded by SAT(Save America’s Treasures) in 2010

• Protective and flexible packaging for critical space hardware, awarded by NASA in 2008, USA
• Packaging evaluation and development for apple, awarded by Premier Apple Corporation in 2007, USA
• Nano incorporated adhesive for enhancing moisture barrier for multi layer packaging, awarded by American Packaging Corporation in 2006,USA

Ge also holds the title of Co-Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Applied Packaging Research, United States. He is also Chair of ASTM D10.13 division and co-chair University Liaison, ASTM D10.
Ge was awarded the SISIR Silver Individual innovation award for Cost Optimization Packaging System in Singapore. He was awarded as CAST outstanding faculty scholar in 2009-2010 at RIT.
Ge’s Research interests include: Packaging Performance Prediction using mathematic modeling, Barrier packaging material development and Transport packaging design.

Daniel L. Goodwin, Ph.D., is a full professor in the Packaging Science Department. He also serves as the Director of Research for Packaging Science. Goodwin joined RIT in 1975 and previously served as the Chair of the Packaging Science Department. His research is focused on packaging for distribution — research in field measurement, laboratory simulation of the transportation environment and performance testing of product/package systems. Goodwin is also interested in shock and vibration research — cushion performance, compression strength of shipping containers, fatigue damage boundary and dynamic stack resonance testing as well as packaging and the environment — source reduction, recovery technologies and package costs. He is an active member of the International Association of Packaging Research Institutes, the International Journal of Packaging Technology and Science, the American Society for Testing and Materials, the International Safe Transit Association and the Institute of Packaging Professionals.

Research Interests include: Packaging for distribution — research in field measurement, laboratory simulation of the transportation environment and performance testing of product/package systems.

Deanna M. Jacobs is a professor in the Packaging Science Department and serves as the graduate program chair for Packaging Science. Jacobs has been at RIT for 24 years.

Her research interests include the life cycle issues in packaging systems, packaging and sustainable consumption, and packaging systems optimization. She has served on the board of The GreenerPackage, Institute of Packaging Professionals, Monroe County Department of Environmental Services (Recycling Advisory Committee) and is a member of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, the International Society for Industrial Ecology, and the Technical Association of Pulp and Paper Industries. Jacobs was inducted into the Pi Alpha Kappa Honorary Society of Institute of Packaging Professionals and earned a KUDOs Award for Student Support.

Research interests include: Life cycle issues in packaging systems, packaging and sustainable consumption, packaging systems optimization.

Dan Johnson is a professor and the department chair of the Packaging Science Department. He has been at RIT for 18 years, as the Manufacturing Program Chair as well as the Director of the Manufacturing Management and Leadership program.

Research interests include: Production Operations, Process/Supply Chain Strategy, Integrated Process/Product/Technology Development, Design for Manufacturing and Assembly, Academic Operations Management, Facilities Planning, Logistics, Material Handling, Lean Manufacturing, Toyota Production System, Statistical Quality Control, Six Sigma, Anti-Counterfeiting Techniques in Manufacturing.

Thomas Kausch is a lecturer in the Packaging Science Department. He is also the Manager of the department's Packaging Labs. Kausch has employed by RIT since 2007. He is primarily interested in package distribution research and testing. Kausch is an active member of the Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP), Advisory Board, Past-Presidents and the International Safe Transit Association (ISTA) Member, Cert. He is a Certified Packaging Laboratory Professional (CPLP), an IoPP Certified Packaging Professional (CPP), a Fellow - IoPP College of Fellows, holds nine U.S. Patents and four European Patents.

Research interests include: Package Distribution Research and Testing.

Ph.D., Washington State University, Pullman, Washington

Campus Address:  2472 Slaughter
Campus Telephone:  585-475-6978
Email:  kknmet@rit.edu
Research Interests include:  Correlation of quality and shelf life of packaged foods with packaging material characteristics.

Kereilemang Khana Nthoiwa, Ph.D., is a postdoctoral associate in the Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering Technology/Packaging Science Department.  She joined RIT in July 2012 and was previously a postdoctoral researcher in the Packaging Science program a the University of Wisconsin-Stout, where she taught classes and conducted research and industry projects on food packaging.  Her research is focused on packaging technologies for shelf stable foods, particularly performance of plastic packaging materials during processing using novel food processing techniques (such as microwave and high pressure sterilization) and during long term storage. Additionally Nthoiwa is focused on the correlation of quality and shelf life of packaged foods with packaging material characteristics as well as the development and evaluation of antimicrobial packaging for food applications. She is a professional member of the Institute of Packaging Professionals (IOPP), Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) and International Microwave Power Institute (IMPI). 

Karen Proctor is a professor on the faculty in the Packaging Science Department. She has been at RIT since 1983. This includes tenure as chairs of both the graduate and undergraduate programs. Previously, Proctor was a packaging professional at both the Xerox and Amway Corporations. Additionally, she actively consults for various companies. Her areas of expertise include distribution, process control, sustainable packaging innovation, and packaging at the point of purchase. She has the distinction of developing and teaching the first packaging class designed for the RIT course titled Space Tourism. Karen spent the 1991 school year in Melbourne, Australia where she helped develop the first packaging degree program in Australia at the Victoria University. In 2007, she was a Visiting Professor in the Packaging Engineering Program at The State University of New Jersey-Rutgers, Biomedical Engineering. She also developed the RIT Packaging Science Executive Leader International program. In 2006 - 2007, Karen was on sabbatical at the Colgate-Palmolive Corporation as Director of Homecare Packaging and a member of the Colgate Sustainable Packaging Taskforce (August 2006 - July 2007). She was instrumental in the development of the Global Sustainable Packaging Strategy for Colgate-Palmolive. Her most recent developmental activities at include working with the RIT Golisano Institute for Sustainability (www.sustainability.rit.edu) to expand and develop packaging related research projects in sustainability. This includes two recent undergraduate research projects to utilize the Wal-Mart Scorecard to design more sustainable innovative packaging. In addition, she is consulting for a number of companies to meet the sustainability issues in packaging mandated by global retailers. Her goal in the Packaging Science Program is to enhance the educational environment of sustainable packaging innovation through the use of applied tools. Proctor is an active member of many packaging professional associations; American Society for Testing and Materials, Institute of Packaging Professionals, International Association of Packaging Research Institutions, International Safe Transit Association, National Institute of Packaging, Handling and Logistics Engineers, and Women in Packaging.

Currently, she is the Educational VP for International Safe Transit Association and is actively involved in the development of packaging standards to reflect "good sustainability practices" in the Wal-Mart supply chain: Sam's Club test procedure development program (www.ista.org/SamsClubProject.htm). Karen is a packaging sustainability advocate for designing "Just Right Packaging" to meet the supply chain requirements. Over her extensive career, Karen has received many honors and awards from her affiliations in professional organizations.

Research interests include: working with the RIT Golisano Institute for Sustainability (www.sustainability.rit.edu) to expand and develop packaging related research projects in sustainability.