Michael Crum has played a lead role in bringing representatives from the supply chain industry, and, in particular, Iowa State University alumni, into partnership with ISU's College of Business to improve educational programs and enhance learning and career opportunities for students. Through his efforts to connect with business and industry, his students get the benefit of real-world education and the industries have access to fresh young minds. In addition, Iowa State graduates have advantages in the job market.

Crum was instrumental in forging a relationship with Caterpillar, Inc., that makes ISU one of only 13 universities nationwide designated as a Caterpillar strategic partner university. He is an established scholar in supply chain management and transportation economics, with more than 70 scholarly publications and three books, and he has been principal investigator on three U.S. Department of Transportation-funded research projects.