The Office of the Provost has named Georgia Tech-Lorraine President Yves Berthelot as vice provost for International Initiatives and Steven A. Denning Chair in Global Engagement. Berthelot’s appointment is effective August 22, 2012. He will succeed Steve McLaughlin, who has been appointed chair of Georgia Tech’s School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

As an integral member of the Office of the Provost’s leadership team, Berthelot will direct the Institute’s global strategy, international education activities and engagement in research, education, and economic development. He also will collaborate with all campus units to ensure the Institute’s global efforts in education and research meet the highest standards of excellence.

“I am very honored to serve the Institute as the next vice provost for International Initiatives,” Berthelot said. “These are very exciting times for global engagement in higher education. The faculty, students and staff are truly first class at Georgia Tech, and I am confident that, together, we can be creative, bold, and have a positive impact.”

In announcing the appointment, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Rafael L. Bras cited Berthelot’s role in the growth of the Georgia Tech-Lorraine campus, where the mission is to support the Institute’s collaborations in higher education, research and economic development with French and EU partners.

“In recent years, Yves has been dedicated to the strategic growth and increasing international presence of Georgia Tech-Lorraine,” said Bras. “He also fully understands and supports Georgia Tech’s 25-year strategic plan and global positioning strategy, and I am very confident in his ability to move these important initiatives forward.”

One of the five main goals of the strategic plan is to expand Georgia Tech’s global footprint and to ensure that the Institute is graduating good global citizens. More than 40 percent of all Georgia Tech students graduate with international work, study or research experience, which prepares them for leadership roles in their careers and communities. With more than 400 students from the Atlanta campus studying there each year, Georgia Tech-Lorraine plays a significant role in many students’ international experience. The campus offers students from around the world the opportunity to take undergraduate and graduate courses taught in English by Georgia Tech faculty. Georgia Tech-Lorraine is also home to the flagship international joint laboratory between Georgia Tech and the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), the GT-CNRS UMI.

Since the opening of Georgia Tech-Lorraine in 1990, the Institute has added international programs in Singapore and Ireland, and dual degree programs in China, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Korea, South Africa and Mexico.

Berthelot joined the Georgia Tech faculty in 1985, was promoted to associate professor in 1990 and to professor in 1996. A native of France, he has been involved with Georgia Tech-Lorraine since 1997. His main research interests are in the area of acoustic materials and ultrasonic nondestructive testing.