The Georgia Institute of Technology has named Professor Ronald H. Bayor chair of the School of History, Technology and Society (HTS) in the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, effective July 1. Dr. Bayor joined the faculty of Georgia Tech in 1973 and attained the rank of Professor of History in 1983. His scholarly reputation and administrative experience make him the ideal candidate to lead the School.

"I am pleased to announce that Ron Bayor will serve in this new capacity," said Dr. Sue V. Rosser, dean of Ivan Allen College. "Ron's body of scholarly work in ethnic history and his ability to work with the faculty to expand its research and build its undergraduate and graduate programs are assets for Georgia Tech."

"I am excited about this opportunity to lead the School of History, Technology, and Society and look forward to making scholarly connections with other Georgia Tech schools and departments," said Bayor. "The School has an outstanding reputation as a leader in the field of science and technology history and sociology, and we will work to further expand that reputation as well as continue our significant contribution to other aspects of historical and sociological research and teaching."

Bayor has been the recipient of several teaching awards at Georgia Tech including the 2006 Geoffrey G. Eichholz Faculty Teaching Award. He is the past recipient of the School of Social Science Excellence in Teaching and the Georgia Tech Outstanding Teacher Awards. Recently, Bayor received the Association for Asian American Studies 2006 Lifetime Service Award for his dedication as editor of the Journal of American Ethnic History and his support of scholars in the field of Asian American Studies. Several of his books have won national awards as well.

Bayor, a historian specializing in urban, ethnic, immigration, and race relations history, is frequently invited to speak at academic conferences and historical society events and to consult on community projects. He has served as the lead historian for the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund and on the City of Atlanta advisory committee for a past planned PBS series about Atlanta neighborhoods.

Bayor is the founding editor of the Journal of American Ethnic History and served as editor from 1981-2004. He currently serves as president of the Immigration and Ethnic History Society. He is the author of several books including "Neighbors in Conflict: The Irish, Germans, Jews, and Italians of New York City, 1929-1941"; "Fiorello LaGuardia: Ethnicity and Reform"; and "Race and the Shaping of Twentieth-Century Atlanta". He is also coauthor of "Engineering the New South: Georgia Tech 1885-1985"; editor of "Neighborhoods in Urban America"; coeditor of "The New York Irish", and editor of "Race and Ethnicity in America: A Concise History" and "The Columbia Documentary History of Race and Ethnicity in America". Bayor is also editor of "The New Americans" by Greenwood Press, a series of 15 books on new immigrants to the U.S. from various countries including Korea, China, Vietnam, India, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica.

Bayor received his doctoral degree in American urban history from the University of Pennsylvania. He completed his master's degree in American history from Syracuse University and his bachelor of arts in history from City College of New York.

Bayor fills the position previously held by Dr. Willie Pearson, who is stepping down from the chair position and will remain on the faculty of HTS.

School of History, Technology and Society
The School of History, Technology and Society (HTS) is dedicated to the ideal of a well-rounded education at a technological university and provides instruction in the social sciences to every student at the Georgia Institute of Technology. The School offers courses in history and sociology leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Science in History, Technology, and Society; Master in History and Sociology of Technology and Science; and Doctor of Philosophy in History and Sociology of Technology and Science. HTS also offers a variety of minor and certificate programs for students in other undergraduate majors.