Georgia Tech has named Kim Cobb the ADVANCE Professor for the College of Sciences. Cobb is a professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.

ADVANCE is a Georgia Tech program to help ensure that women and minorities achieve the highest level of success in academia. ADVANCE professors have been pillars in Georgia Tech’s efforts to build institutional capacity to achieve that goal.

Cobb’s research aims to “uncover the mechanisms of global climate change, both natural and anthropogenic, in order to inform projections of future climate change.” Primarily, her group generates high-resolution records of past tropical Pacific climate variability from corals and cave stalagmites. By combining climate models and data, her lab characterizes natural climate variability in the tropical Pacific and identifies climate trends associated with anthropogenic climate change.

Cobb is passionate about advancing diversity, equity, and inclusiveness in academia and beyond, says College of Sciences Dean Paul M. Goldbart. “In Kim we have a thoughtful, experienced champion who will bring her energy and commitment to these critical, intersecting issues,” Goldbart says. “I thank her for her willingness to take on the vital role of College of Sciences ADVANCE Professor, and I look forward with excitement to working with her and our other ADVANCE colleagues to make Georgia Tech the premier destination for women in STEM – science, technology, engineering, and mathematics – fields.”

“It is a profound honor to join a team of such accomplished women in advancing Georgia Tech’s goals,” Cobb say. “Being a part of the ADVANCE team gives me a chance to translate one of my deepest passions – diversity in STEM – into concrete actions within the College of Sciences and beyond.”

The ADVANCE appointment includes funding to support Cobb’s activities during her tenure as ADVANCE professor as she works to promote gender equity and other initiatives critical to the success of women faculty.

As an ADVANCE professor, Cobb will advise and collaborate with Institute leaders on issues vital to the success of women faculty, as well as formulate strategies and initiatives for hiring, promoting, and retaining women faculty. With other ADVANCE professors, Cobb will help develop a network committed to the success of women faculty.

“I greatly look forward to engaging with faculty, staff, and students across the College of Sciences toward creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment at Georgia Tech,” Cobb says. “I will work hard to foster such engagement, as I believe it is key to achieving our most ambitious goals as an institution.” 

Figure Caption

Kim Cobb shared her research and perspectives on climate change at the Atlanta Science Tavern meeting in Manuel’s Tavern on Aug. 27, 2016. Photo by Maureen Rouhi

Matt Barr

Science Communications Intern, College of Sciences