Georgia Tech has a history of leadership in blending the traditional academic disciplines to solve difficult problems and advance the frontiers of knowledge.

A recent commitment from James L. Oliver II (ID 1965, ME 1967) will further this vital work by establishing an endowment for the unrestricted support of an Interdisciplinary Design faculty member to be jointly appointed by the deans of the Colleges of Architecture and Engineering, with a mandate to promote design education across disciplines.

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During the initial phase of the commitment, to be funded through annual gifts, the position will be structured as a term-professorship known as the Interdisciplinary Design Professor. Appointments to the position may include, but not be limited to, a visiting professor, professor-of-the-practice, or tenure-track professor, depending on institutional needs. Appointments will be made for a one-year term, at the end of which the professor will be eligible for reappointment under the same terms.

When the supporting endowment is fully funded, the position will have the potential to transition to a traditional tenure-track faculty chair, or may be structured as a visiting chair or professor-of-the-practice.

“The primary goal of the Interdisciplinary Design Professor, the first such position to be shared between the Colleges of Architecture and Engineering, is to advance the study of design across the various disciplines within the two colleges,” said College of Architecture Dean Alan H. Balfour. “This pivotal member of the Georgia Tech faculty will lead interdisciplinary research pursuits and actively create a new breed of multidisciplinary professionals able to tackle the most complex issues.”

Balfour said the Interdisciplinary Design Professor may accomplish these goals by:

- structuring common courses in design theory and practice for undergraduate and graduate students across disciplines,

- implementing a graduate fellowship program to engage graduate students in the teaching of the common undergraduate design courses,

- offering a design certificate or other specialty degree designation for students earning their degrees in all appropriate disciplines, and

- attracting outstanding design faculty to the Institute.

“We will be looking to the Interdisciplinary Design Professor to help Georgia Tech attract a more diverse student population while also recruiting outstanding faculty and industry leaders from within and beyond the Institute,” said College of Engineering Dean Don P. Giddens. “This position will also collaborate with students from various disciplines on meaningful projects to enhance learning and promote effective problem-solving. Jim Oliver is to be commended for bringing focus and resources to the rapidly expanding field of interdisciplinary design.”

Oliver, who holds a master’s degree in engineering and design from Stanford University, is founder and president of AvL Technologies, which specializes in the design, development, and production of mobile satellite antenna/positioner systems.

“With a background in both design and engineering, I firmly believe that design is an ability that can and should be taught,” said Oliver. “Georgia Tech already teaches the analytical, engineering, and management skills that students need to become successful professionals, but I wanted to create a new focus on the need for instruction in design across all disciplines. Understanding and training in the design process will help Georgia Tech graduates perform better by having an ability to design in addition to analyzing and managing. I believe good design is important not only in products and buildings, but also in software, distribution systems, airplanes, customer service systems, new chemicals, infrastructure building, energy conservation and creation, etc.”

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