Maria Mayorga, Director of the Operations Research Program, was selected for the 2025–2026 Executive Leadership in Academic Technology, Engineering and Science (ELATES) fellowship. This national program prepares faculty in STEM fields to take on senior leadership roles. ELATES includes in-person sessions, monthly mentoring and a project that supports each fellow’s home university.
Since becoming director in 2023, Mayorga has worked to grow and improve NC State’s interdisciplinary Operations Research Graduate Program. She created events to build community, redesigned communication tools for students and reinvigorated a seminar series with speakers from academia, industry and alumni. These efforts have strengthened student support and raised the program’s profile.
She also reviewed the Ph.D. curriculum to address long graduation timelines. “I plan to change the curriculum accordingly,” she said, “along with implementing other practices that can aid students.” Her plan includes requiring students to begin research by the second year and reducing course requirements. She is also planning on forming an advisory board of alumni and industry leaders to help guide long-term program planning.
Beyond her department, Mayorga plays key leadership roles across the university. She is a member of the Research Leadership Academy (RLA) and helps facilitate faculty hiring efforts in artificial intelligence. She also served as co-chair of the 2025 RLA Symposium, which focused on AI-related research and applications.
Although she brings strong experience to ELATES, Mayorga looks forward to growing in new areas. “There are some areas in which I lack experience but may be important in future roles,” she said, pointing to large-scale budgeting and managing large teams as key goals. She also values the strong peer network that ELATES offers. “The networking opportunities that come from the ‘sisterhood’ would be immeasurable,” she added.
Mayorga hopes to apply what she gains from ELATES to future leadership roles, such as Associate Dean or Vice Provost. Her selection reflects her commitment to student success, interdisciplinary education and institutional innovation. With support from ELATES, she is poised to make an even greater impact in STEM education at NC State and beyond.
Further Recognition and Service
Along with her ELATES acceptance, Mayorga earned the 2025 UPS Minority Advancement Award from the Institute of Industrial and Systems Engineers. This award honors people who create programs that help women, minorities or individuals with disabilities succeed in industrial engineering.
At NC State, Mayorga will take on several new leadership roles. She will serve as the next Chair-Elect of the Research Leadership Academy for the 2025–2026 school year. During that time, she will also lead the University Research Symposium Planning Committee. Then, in 2026–2027, she will step into the role of RLA Chair.