Georgia Institute of Technology President G.P. “Bud” Peterson has named a seven-member search committee that will recommend candidates to fill the vacant position of athletic director. The panel includes current Georgia Tech faculty and staff, alumni and a recent student-athlete.

The committee will advise Peterson on a successor for Dan Radakovich, who resigned on October 26 to accept a similar position at Clemson University. The new athletic director will oversee a department that includes more than 400 student-athletes representing the Institute in 17 varsity sports.

Peterson has selected Stephen P. Zelnak Jr. (IM 1969) to chair the selection committee, a reflection of Zelnak’s steadfast and longstanding commitment to the Institute. A member of the Georgia Tech Foundation Board of Trustees, Zelnak is the former chairman and president of Martin Marietta Materials of Raleigh, North Carolina. The Georgia Tech men and women’s basketball practice facility and the football team meeting room are named in his honor.

Other committee members are: 

• Sue Ann Allen: associate dean for Faculty Development and Scholarship in the College of Engineering and the Institute’s NCAA Faculty Athletics Representative

• Lynn Durham: Georgia Tech assistant vice president, Office of the President (ex-officio)

• Roderick “Roddy” Jones (IM 2011): current graduate student (MBA), four-year football letterman (2008-2011)

• Patrick “Pat” McKenna (IE 1974): vice president for Legal Affairs and Risk Management (ex-officio)

• Steven Swant: Georgia Tech executive vice president for Administration and Finance

• Al Trujillo (AE 1981):  past chair of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association, current member of the Georgia Tech Foundation Board of Trustees and the College of Engineering Advisory Board

“Our search committee represents a wide range of experience across campus, traits that are essential as we search for the ideal candidate to lead our athletic program,” said Peterson. “This is an exciting era in Georgia Tech athletics because of our new facilities and the continuing excellence of our student-athletes.”

A website has also been established for students, faculty, staff and members of the community. The Institute is soliciting input on potential candidates, essential characteristics for the next athletic director and the most important issues facing the Athletic Association. The website can be found at: http://www.gatech.edu/president/ADsearch.

Peterson plans to announce the selection of a search consultant firm in the coming weeks to assist in the recruiting process.