When global headlines focus on clogged ports, container shortages, or supply disruptions, people often wonder: how does the world keep goods moving? For Professor Michael Haughton, the answer is both deeply analytical and profoundly human. As the CN Fellow in Supply Chain Management at Wilfrid Laurier University's Lazaridis School of Business and Economics in Canada, Professor Michael Haughton has dedicated his career to understanding how goods flow through international gateways, across borders, and along the networks that keep the global economy humming.

Early Roots: Kingston College and UWI
I knew Michael Haughton by sight prior to him entering KC, he was the kid looking over the walls and fences of various homes where he lived in West Kingston and where I would visit various families or run the occasional errands.
We both entered KC in 1976 as members of class of '81. His Form 1 Burgess was located on the ground floor of the building shared with 1 Smith, my Form 1Clark, Vice Principal Bruce's office and various other administrative offices including the school nurse's office.

You, the reader will not have to look too closely in the picture of him on the second row of the 1 Burgess to see that his facial features have remained largely intact. 
At KC, Michael quickly earned the nick name "Pala". To this day, he still claims the nick name to be a play on the great Brazilian Edson Arantes Do Nascimento own nick name "Pele". I cannot recall ever seeing much of the vaunted football skill, what I remember most from these early days of long ago was that he was a keen player of "money football".

Michael's academic capability was quickly demonstrated but more important, anyone observing Michael from forms first through fifth would see the core elements that would propel Michael to the path and career he has had: a capacity for consistent hard work, a will to succeed and a love for understanding how things work.

By sixth form (see picture), Michael's reputation had been so cemented that the 1983 school magazine joked: "Nearing A-Levels, Pala rented a certain class and only left when the evening hours and loneliness of the school was beginning to get to him". This was a pattern, as you shall see, continued throughout his undergrad and post-graduate journeys.

Michael enrolled on to the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona campus, in 1983 where he pursued a double major in Economics and Accounting. What stays in my memory of those times is passing by the building on the UWI campus called the Old Education Lecture Theatre at nights and seeing Michael diligently working away, or those nights he either stayed too late or wanted to attend a social event, of which there were many, and he would stay with myself or Robert "Part Time" Taylor -Class of '79. He graduated with First Class Honours in 1986, a distinction that reflected both his analytical ability and his determination. The combination of economics and accounting provided him with a rare balance of macro-level insight into systems and micro-level attention to measurement and detail—skills that would later define his scholarly career in supply chains.

In 1987, as the Department of Management Studies geared up to expand its footprint and academic offering, Michael was awarded a USAID scholarship to do a master's degree, he chose Penn State. At Penn State, Michael joined the Department of Business Logistics, immersing himself in a program that combined analytical rigor with applied industry focus.

Upon completion of the master's degree, Michael returned to UWI and was appointed Lecturer in Management Studies where he quickly became recognized for his organized, systematic approach to teaching as well as the clarity of his exposition and his ability to relate to students, peers and leaders in the department. Beyond teaching a few classes for him in his relatively few absences, the memory that stands out the most during this period is discussing and listening how much thought he was putting into optimization and statistical analysis including various statistical packages becoming available as personal computers became more widely available.

After 5 years as a Lecturer, in 1993 Michael applied for and received a Fulbright Scholarship and enrolled in doctoral studies. His doctoral research sharpened his skills in stochastic modeling, vehicle routing, and logistics system performance, areas that became central to his later body of work.

At Penn State during the doctoral program, Michael was an active member of Penn State's Center for Logistics Research, where he engaged in seminars, colloquia, and benchmarking studies with corporate partners. During this period, he contributed to collaborative projects on import process performance and vehicle routing under uncertainty, presenting findings to both academic audiences and industry sponsors.

Upon completing his Ph. D in 1996 Michael returned to the UWI.  His research output during this period charted a coherent program of inquiry into how logistics and transportation systems cope with uncertainty, particularly when customer demand is uncertain and operational failures threaten efficiency. He explored the role of route re-optimization, modeling its effects on dispatch stability, travel distance, and overall system nervousness, while also comparing strategies to mitigate shortages under uncertain demand. He consistently examined the value of advance information—whether from customers or customs authorities—demonstrating how better data could enhance vehicle routing performance and import process efficiency. Across conferences and seminars from the mid-1990s through the early 2000s, his work connected rigorous mathematical modeling with applied logistics problems, offering frameworks to quantify the benefits of reforms in customs, ports, and routing strategies that remain central to improving global logistics performance.

After moving to Canada in 2001 and joining the faculty at Wilfrid Laurier University, Michael built a research career that has combined quantitative modeling, applied logistics, and engagement with industry. In 2015, he was appointed the inaugural CN Fellow in Supply Chain Management, a role created through a partnership with Canadian National Railway. The fellowship underlines his reputation as a bridge-builder between academia and industry.

Research that Moves
Supply chains are often invisible—until they fail. Michael's research brings them into focus. His work can be grouped into three key areas:

1. Gateways and Cross-Border Flows

Michael investigates the "interfaces" of the supply chain—ports, terminals, and border crossings—where small inefficiencies can ripple into big disruptions. His models evaluate how customs processes, infrastructure, and staffing impact delays, costs, and overall system performance.

2. Capacity and Routing Optimization

How can trucking firms or carriers better use limited capacity? Michael develops models for vehicle dispatch, routing under uncertainty, and alliance structures in the trucking industry. He explores how information and collaboration can lead to more efficient use of resources.

3. Information as a Strategic Asset

A consistent theme is the value of information—how advance load information or shared data among partners can transform operational performance. Michael quantifies these benefits using advanced mathematical modeling and optimization techniques.

A Teacher at Heart

While his research garners international recognition, Michael is equally celebrated for his impact in the classroom. His teaching style blends rigor with relevance: mathematical models are paired with real case studies, ensuring that students see how theory applies to the trucks on the highway, the ships at sea, and the packages at their doorstep.

His textbook,  Supply Chain Managerial Processes and Models for Transportation and Facilities Resources (Second Edition, 2024), has  become staples in Laurier classrooms and beyond. This work integrates strategic, tactical, and operational decision-making, written with a balance of technical depth and accessibility.

His excellence has been formally recognized: in 2023 he received the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals Teaching Award, and in 2024 the Decision Sciences Institute honored him with the Instructional Innovation Award.

Selected Publications

• Supply Chain Managerial Processes and Models for Transportation and Facilities Resources (2nd ed., 2024) — A textbook bridging theory and practice.
• The Benefit of Advance Load Information for Truckload Carriers (2014, with H. Zolfagharinia) — Demonstrating efficiency gains through better data.
• A Robust Optimization Model for Efficient and Green Supply Chain Planning (2018, with Jabbarzadeh & Pourmehdi) — Linking sustainability with cost performance.
• Flow Control in Capacity-Constrained Queueing Systems with Non-Stationary Arrivals (2013, with S. Isotupa) — Applying queueing theory to border crossings.
• What is the Right Size for Truckload Carrier Alliances? (2025) — Examining the structure of alliances in dynamic freight markets.

Influence Beyond Academia
Michael's work is not confined to journals. He has received grants from the Social Science Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), and the Ontario Centers of Excellence to pursue projects relevant to both policymakers and industry. He has also been a Fulbright Visiting Research Chair at Arizona State University's Center for Transborder Studies, highlighting the international significance of his research.
Media outlets regularly seek his expertise to explain the challenges behind supply chain disruptions, from pandemic shortages to border delays. His insights help bridge the gap between academic models and public understanding.

Looking Ahead
The challenges facing supply chains are evolving. Sustainability is no longer optional; resilience against shocks—whether pandemics, climate events, or geopolitical crises—is paramount. Michael's current research explores green logistics, real-time information systems, and resilient network design. These areas promise to define the future of global supply chains, and Fortis alumni can take pride in knowing that one of their own is at the forefront.

Sidebars
By the Numbers

• 2015: Appointed CN Fellow in Supply Chain Management.
• 30+ peer-reviewed publications in top journals.
• 3 major research grants from SSHRC and NSERC.
• 2 international teaching awards in consecutive years.
• 1 Fulbright appointment at Arizona State University.

Career Highlights

• Senior Lecturer, University of the West Indies (pre-Laurier).
• MSc and PhD from Pennsylvania State University.
• Inaugural CN Fellow in Supply Chain Management at Laurier.
• Fulbright Visiting Research Chair at ASU's Center for Transborder Studies.
• Advisor to industry and government on supply chain efficiency and border logistics.

Recent Awards

• 2023 Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals Teaching Award.
• 2024 Decision Sciences Institute Instructional Innovation Award.

Final Word
Professor Michael Haughton exemplifies commitment to research that matters, teaching that transforms, and leadership that connects classrooms to the real economy. His work reminds us that supply chains are not just technical systems but the lifelines of modern society. He has been Fortis in his resilience and his reach, and he has made us proud.