Annie came to Metz through a different route. A French major from the University of Tennessee Knoxville, she was assigned to Lycée Robert Schuman, a high school near the Technopole. Her days were spent in the classroom teaching English to children, and her evenings were spent grading papers and occasionally visiting local friends. That night, she planned to meet a friend at the CROUS cafeteria, never imagining she would meet her future husband.
For most, it was just another Tuesday at the CROUS. For Guilhem and Annie Denozière, it was the beginning of a decades-long international love story that started that fateful day in a cafeteria in Metz. After several years of dating in France and then in the United States, the couple married in a 12th-century church near Guilhem’s village (population 150). The international wedding was such a novelty that it made the front page of three local papers. The couple honeymooned in Metz, revisiting the city that had brought them together. It was their last trip there until now.
Twenty-four years later, their son, Owen, is about to enter the same doors at Georgia Tech-Europe as a student participating in Georgia Tech’s First-Year Semester Abroad (FYSA) program.
Owen Denozière chose Georgia Tech over rival UGA after campus tours convinced him it was the right fit. When he learned about the First-Year Semester Abroad (FYSA) program at GTE, the decision to return to Metz, the site where his family’s story began, was straightforward. Georgia Tech’s FYSA program offers students the opportunity to begin their degree programs in a living-learning cohort abroad. This curated learning experience is focused on encouraging independent living while supporting first-year learning and resource needs in an immersive, international environment.
“I have always dreamed of traveling the world. When I heard that I could spend this very first semester abroad, it was just a no-brainer,” Owen says. “It was the same place they found love. I feel like it’s going to be an amazing travel experience. I like the idea of independence, being able to jump around every weekend and let the spontaneity take me where I want to go.”
Owen’s parents share his excitement. “The expression in French is 'les voyages forment la jeunesse,' which translates roughly to ‘travel shapes young minds.’ From my perspective, this is a unique opportunity for him to become an independent young man, to experience different cultures and to seize every chance to explore,” says Guilhem.
Annie’s hopes are in the transformative potential of the learning experience:
“He’s already a wonderful young man, but I’m excited to see the growth that will come. When I studied abroad and came home, I felt like I was a new person. I can’t wait to see who that person is going to be when he comes back and get to know him all over again.”
Beyond personal growth, Owen has his eye on Georgia Tech’s International Plan, a degree designation that demonstrates a graduate has participated in a series of international studies designed to support the development of the intercultural competencies essential for success in a global workplace. Owen is eager to build the kind of international professional network that the intimate GTE environment uniquely enables through smaller class sizes and proximity to European engineering students in the Technopole and student housing.
This fall, Owen begins his own Metz chapter: his first semester at Georgia Tech, his first time living alone and abroad, and his first chance to explore the city where his family's story started. The family plans to visit Owen in Metz, perhaps even squeezing in a Christmas ski trip in the Grand Est mountains. Annie and Guilhem already know their first stop: the CROUS café. It’s been more than two decades since they first stood in line together, but some moments in life are meant to be lived and enjoyed again, across generations.
]]>Twenty-four years later, their son, Owen, is returning to Metz to begin his own Georgia Tech journey through the First-Year Semester Abroad program at Georgia Tech-Europe. Drawn by the chance to live independently, travel widely and build an international network, Owen is stepping through the same doors that shaped his parents' lives. For the Denozières, the return is both a new chapter and a homecoming, and their first stop is already planned: the cafeteria café where it all began.
]]>SAINT-AVOLD, France. On a June afternoon at the Lorraine American Cemetery in Saint-Avold, 250 Georgia Tech-Europe (GTE) students stand looking over a field of 14,246 white marble headstones, one for each U.S. service member buried beneath. Silence surrounds the group as Matthew Ramsey, a Georgia Tech undergraduate, leans a wreath against the tombstone of his great-grandfather, Staff Sergeant Russell Wilson, an Army infantryman killed in the Battle of the Bulge. Ramsey performs the familial ceremony, rubbing sand from Omaha Beach and planting a flag in front of the headstone. "I am the first person in my family to ever get the chance to do so," he shares. Other GTE students witness the moment, connecting to a history that has shaped the world as they know it.
Exploring personal and shared world histories is central to a Georgia Tech-Europe education. Situated in one of the most contested landscapes in modern Western history, GTE offers students direct access to the trenches, forts, and cemeteries of two world wars. Courses such as Professor Timothy Stoneman’s HTS 2037: 20th-Century Europe, and portions of Professor Jennifer Orth-Veillon’s LMC 3234: Travel Writing, incorporate these sites into their curriculum. This summer, GTE partnered with the University of North Georgia on an immersive military history program featuring Professor Jon Beall’s HTS 3803: War & Leadership, Middle Ages to Present. Across these courses, students move beyond dates and statistics to engage with the human stories of history and reflect on their connections to the past.
Like Matthew Ramsey, Cadet Kyle Gallentine, a UNG cybersecurity major, reported standing in the Lorraine Cemetery brought him closer to his great-grandfather, a WWII soldier. "When I left the cemetery, I felt a strong desire to learn my family's story," Gallentine said. "We still have his uniform, campaign map, photographs, and other keepsakes, but I never truly knew the story behind them."
After the Lorraine Cemetery visit, Orth-Veillon, Stoneman, and Beall led an overnight trip to the Meuse region. Nicolas Czubak, official historian of the Verdun Memorial Museum, guided the group through the Meuse-Argonne cemetery, the Butte de Vauquois, and the Montsec Memorial before reaching Verdun itself, France's most symbolic WWI battlefield. For Peter Kobes, a mechanical engineering major, the cemetery reframed how he thought about war’s cost. "By resting at the place they fell, these soldiers let strangers like me stop and reckon with their loss," he wrote in a photo essay assigned for the trip.
The students’ second trip to Belgium carried a different weight, as it was inspired by Orth-Veillon’s own family history. Her grandfather, Dr. William J. Hagood Jr., served as a battalion surgeon with the 335th Infantry Regiment, 84th Division, during the Battle of the Bulge. Orth-Veillon interviewed him before his death in 2009 and has since drawn on an archive of over 500 of his wartime letters. That research led her to Jacques Bourguignon, 104, a former Belgian resistance fighter who sheltered Hagood's medical unit in his family's cellar in Marche-en-Famenne over Christmas 1944. "On Christmas Eve, they sheltered there with about fifty others, including neighbors, other soldiers, and even German prisoners," Orth-Veillon shares. The two men remained friends by letter until the 1960s.
The highlight of the trip came when thirteen students from Orth-Veillon's, Stoneman's, and Beall's classes spent the morning with Jacques Bourgignon at his retirement home. Bourguignon, an active member of the Lion’s Club and current president of Marche-en-Famenne’s motorcycle club, told them the story of his life, focusing on the resistance, which he joined at age 17.
“Were you afraid during your missions?” asked the students.
“We weren’t scared,” he replied, chuckling. “We were crazy. I joined the resistance because I wanted to do something to fight back. It felt like the only human way to respond.”
“What do you want to say to people today?”
“Try to do as much good as possible in life. I am grateful to the Americans for the liberation of Belgium. After years of occupation and suffering, seeing them arrive was unforgettable.”
They also visited Bastogne War Museum to commemorate the Ardennes Offensive, during which 89,000 American soldiers were killed or wounded between December 1944 and January 1945. For Tucker Messer, a rising second-year business administration major, the visit brought a family story to life: his great-grandfather, Oscar Messer, fought there with the 10th Armored Division's 61st Armored Infantry Battalion. "Walking around the scene of the heavy fighting, I realized how fragile human life is and how one small thing changes history," Messer said. "If a random German teenager fighting in the battle had aimed better and killed my great-grandfather, I would not be here."
"Few academic programs place students directly inside the geography of the history they study," said Beall, who guided the group through Stavelot, a resistance stronghold during the Ardennes Offensive. Learning deepens when students stand where history happened and connect their identities to the people and events that shaped it. As Orth-Veillon, Stoneman, and Beall suggest, they leave with more than a photograph or final assignment; they carry a lasting relationship with the past that shapes how they see the world and their place within it.
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Georgia Tech-Europe is the European home of the Georgia Institute of Technology, one of the world’s leading research institutions headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. From electrical, mechanical, and aerospace engineering to computer science, the Metz site offers undergraduate and graduate programs that prepare students to address global challenges. It also advances cutting-edge research through an international laboratory developed in partnership with the CNRS and the Lafayette Institute.
For many students, a visit like this one is a turning point. Seeing real labs, meeting real researchers, and imagining themselves in that world can transform an abstract future into a concrete goal. Early exposure to university life helps young learners connect their current studies to what lies ahead, strengthening motivation and opening conversations about the paths available to them.
The day was packed with hands-on discoveries. Students tackled robotics workshops, toured active research facilities, and spoke with professors, researchers, and current students who shared their own journeys into STEM. A stop at the Makerspace introduced them to the world of design and prototyping, where ideas become physical realities. The program wrapped up with a cultural and sports session, a reminder that college life is about more than academics.
For the students at Lionel Terray Middle School, April 2 may have been just another school trip, or it may have been the day that sparked curiosity about a future career in STEM. That is the power of programs like “Destination Grandes Écoles”: they plant a seed of curiosity that can grow into a career, a discovery, or an innovation that changes the world.
]]>Through this collaboration, students at IE University will have the opportunity to pursue a dual master’s degree, earning both the master’s in computer science & business technology from IE University and the Master of Science in Computer Science from Georgia Tech.
“This collaboration reflects how engineering education is evolving—more connected, more applied, and increasingly global,” said Ikhlaq Sidhu, Dean at IE School of Science & Technology. “Students need both technical depth and the ability to operate across systems, industries, and regions. This kind of structure makes that possible.”
Georgia Tech-Europe is Georgia Tech’s flagship international instructional site, located in Metz, France. Georgia Tech ranks among the world’s top public research universities. The partnership between IE and Georgia Tech‑Europe provides students with access to world-class STEM education, hands-on research opportunities, and connections to industry and entrepreneurial ecosystems across Europe.
“"Georgia Tech-Europe’s partnership with IE University reflects a shared commitment to innovation, entrepreneurial thinking, and global impact, bringing together two institutions dedicated not only to preparing students for a rapidly changing world, but to shaping it," said Abdallah Ougazzaden, President of Georgia Tech-Europe.
The agreement establishes a framework for collaboration across graduate education, student mobility, faculty exchange, and research. Undergraduate students in the final year of IE University’s bachelor’s in computer science & Artificial Intelligence may be recommended for admission to Georgia Tech’s graduate program, in accordance with its standard admissions requirements. Following acceptance, will complete the master’s in computer science & business technology at IE University before continuing to the Master of Science in Computer Science at Georgia Tech.
The program includes a multi-campus international academic experience: students will begin their Master of Science studies at Georgia Tech-Europe in Metz during the fall term and complete the program at Georgia Tech’s Atlanta campus in the spring. Each institution will award its respective degree upon successful completion of its academic requirements.
The agreement also promotes faculty and researcher exchanges, the development of joint research projects, and coordinated support for students throughout admissions, mobility, and academic progression.
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Through this collaboration, students at IE University will have the opportunity to pursue a dual master’s degree, earning both the master’s in computer science & business technology from IE University and the Master of Science in Computer Science from Georgia Tech.
]]>The latest edition of Le Mensuel Grand Est, the premier magazine covering the economy, politics, and culture of the Grand Est region, highlights individuals who play a key role in the growth and economic development of the region. For over 20 years, Ougazzaden has contributed to the international reputation of the Georgia Institute of Technology through his research, publications, and leadership at Georgia Tech-Europe.
Ougazzaden is a professor in the Georgia Tech School of Electrical and Computer Engineering and serves as president of Georgia Tech-Europe, the Institute’s off-campus instructional site in Metz, France. He is the co-founder and co-president of the Institut Lafayette, a platform for innovation and technology transfer. He played a leading role in the creation of the Joint International Research Lab between Georgia Tech and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), serving as its director for three terms.
Ougazzaden was recognized for his prolific academic career in semiconductor materials and device fabrication for optoelectronic applications, having published more than 500 scientific articles and holding 30 patents. His current research focuses on wide-bandgap semiconductors, two-dimensional materials, and related devices for optoelectronic applications.
In June 2025, the Institut Lafayette was awarded an innovation prize for research collaborations with local industry in intelligent battery-integrated systems. In the same month, Georgia Tech-Europe announced plans to expand its facility to double the number of American students studying in Metz.
Ougazzaden’s recognition highlights the far-reaching impact of Georgia Tech-Europe and its commitment to advancing education, research, and global collaboration in the region. As the campus continues to expand and foster connections with industry and the broader community, it stands as a testament to the value of international partnerships in shaping the future of higher education.
]]>Ougazzaden co-founded the Institut Lafayette and helped establish the Joint International Research Lab between Georgia Tech and CNRS. A leading researcher in semiconductor materials and optoelectronic devices, he has published over 500 papers and holds 30 patents. Recent milestones include an innovation prize for Institut Lafayette’s industry collaborations on battery-integrated systems and plans to expand Georgia Tech-Europe in Metz to accommodate more American students. His work underscores the role of international partnerships in advancing research, education, and regional economic development.
]]>In the basement of the Louvre, scientists at the Center for Research and Restoration of the Museums of France (C2RMF) work at the frontier of cultural heritage preservation. Their challenge is to find non-invasive ways to probe ancient and precious artifacts to understand their structural integrity and optimal restoration paths.
Although cultural heritage scientists already use an array of advanced scientific techniques, the data from these methods cannot yet be fully integrated to provide a comprehensive, multidimensional view of each artifact. Without a holistic view of structural integrity and design, decision-making about conservation remains complex and risk-laden.
This challenge is one that Alexandre Locquet, Georgia Tech-Europe professor and research scientist at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), and Georgia Tech-Europe Professor David S. Citrin will address in an upcoming Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Networks research grant project, UNVEIL (Unified Nondestructive Evaluation of Historical Artifacts), as part of the IRL 2958 Georgia Tech-CNRS, a joint research partnership between Georgia Tech and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, where Locquet and Citrin lead the Terahertz NDE and nonlinear dynamics group.
As coordinator of UNVEIL, Locquet will head a consortium of 21 European organizations, whose diverse areas of expertise will combine to advance nondestructive evaluation methods for cultural heritage preservation. With a budget of 3.7 million euros, the project brings together partners such as the C2RMF, with its advanced techniques in cultural heritage science, and the IRL 2958 Georgia Tech-CNRS.
UNVEIL's goal is not only to integrate data across multiple techniques to understand cultural artifacts, but also to introduce advanced, engineering-grade methods (e.g., terahertz imaging, ultrasound, and infrared thermography) into cultural heritage science. This dual approach will provide new insights to guide conservation and restoration work, from uncovering an artist's first sketches, hidden inscriptions, and signatures to detecting structural weaknesses invisible to the naked eye.
The UNVEIL project will combine data from these non-invasive methods to create a 3D augmented-reality digital twin that shows an artifact's structural integrity and layers, revealing hidden elements, such as inscriptions and underdrawings. Collaborations with European museums and heritage institutions will bring these advances to the public, offering interactive 3D exhibits that allow visitors to explore artifacts beyond their visible surfaces.
Locquet’s research focuses on terahertz (THz) imaging and spectroscopy for nondestructive evaluation. THz imaging has already demonstrated unique scientific advancements in examining cultural heritage objects, such as deciphering illegible inscriptions on an 18th-century funerary cross, reconstructing the stratigraphy of ancient paper stacks, and revealing hidden signatures and underdrawings beneath layers of paint. These results demonstrate the potential of THz imaging to uncover details inaccessible by other means. As coordinator of UNVEIL, Locquet's role extends well beyond research. He will guide the consortium as a whole and ensure the integration of all techniques into a unified approach for cultural heritage diagnostics and restoration.
The UNVEIL project will begin in March. Locquet and his team are currently seeking doctoral students in physics and electrical and computer engineering to join the multidisciplinary research team. Interested students are encouraged to send their CV and a letter of interest to alocquet@georgiatech-metz.fr and learn more about UNVEIL.
First-year undergraduate students studying at Georgia Tech-Europe in the First Year Semester Abroad (FYSA) program showcased their learning outcomes at a film festival on Dec. 2, in Metz, France. The event served as the culminating activity for the FYSA course, Communication and Culture, led by Jennifer Orth-Veillon, FYSA faculty director at Georgia Tech-Europe. The course offers a chronological, comprehensive exploration of European history and society through guided tours of key historical sites.
Orth-Veillon explains that the film project provides a framework for students to reflect on their intercultural communication experiences and make connections between places, cultural identities, and histories. The course is designed to foster adaptive skills and confidence in navigating uncertainty and unfamiliar situations in an international setting. For the first eight weeks, students participate in hands-on experiential learning about international travel. With guidance from Orth-Veillon, they plan trips, navigate public transit, and deal with unexpected travel challenges. Later, they use these skills during independent travel.
For Jayson Gonzalez, a student in the program, this marks his first experience traveling outside of the U.S. The experience has broadened his perspective and helped him move beyond cultural stereotypes and initial apprehensions about engaging with people in an unfamiliar culture. Tommy Vo, another first-year student, noted that the film project required him to “talk to people and understand their culture from their point of view.” He emphasized that this method is more effective for learning than simply reading about cultures in textbooks.
Both Gonzalez and Vo credit their experiences with helping them gain the self-confidence to live independently for the first time.
“I’m sustaining myself, and I’m enriching myself,” Gonzalez said.
Orth-Veillon views the FYSA program as often transformative for students. “They have a richer vision of the world and more confidence in their abilities to navigate cultural differences and ambiguity,” she said. According to research from the Forum on Education Abroad, 90% of education abroad alumni surveyed reported that their experiences helped them build job skills, including adaptability and intercultural communication, which significantly affected their overall career trajectory.
As the FYSA program comes to an end, Vo shared his mixed feelings about leaving Metz.
“I want to stay and continue experiencing all these things. But I also know there’s way more in the world to discover and explore,” he said. Gonzalez echoed the sentiment. “This world is so much bigger than any of us, any of our problems, and it is worth seeing,” he said. “The reason our degrees and careers are meaningful is that they contribute to this world. I don’t think any program could have shown me that better than this one. To experience all that while also furthering my academic enrichment has been the most rewarding thing.”
Orth-Veillon’s vision for the film festival project stems from her interest in sharing the transformative learning outcomes of cohort travel more broadly with the Georgia Tech community. Georgia Tech-Europe recently celebrated 35 years of operation and is hosting its fifth FYSA cohort. To learn more about Georgia Tech-Europe and the FYSA program, visit firstyearabroad.gatech.edu.