With the implementation of the Georgia Tech Strategic Plan well underway, President G. P. “Bud” Peterson has appointed a group of faculty and staff under the leadership of Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Rafael L. Bras to work alongside Institute leaders to continue the implementation of the strategies and goals outlined in the plan.

“We have made a great deal of progress toward the goals articulated in the strategic plan,” President Peterson said. “I am confident that under the leadership of Provost Bras and this group we can continue to do so.”

The purpose of the newly formed Strategic Plan Advisory Group will be to serve as a forum for the continued discussion of strategic issues and to provide counsel to Institute leadership on the alignment, effectiveness, implementation and impact of the Strategic Plan.

“The notion of what constitutes the technological research university of the 21st century continues to evolve,” Bras said. “For example, three years ago very few people were talking about massive open online education, but it is now one of the foremost topics in higher education. We are looking to this advisory group to help ensure that our aim is true.”

The Strategic Plan Advisory Group will meet for the first time next week. Initial members will serve one- to three-year terms, working toward a rotation of alternating two-year terms:

• Gisele Bennett – Director, Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory
• Michael Best – Associate Professor, International Affairs
• Kim Cobb – Associate Professor, Earth & Atmospheric Sciences
• Mark Demyanek – Assistant Vice President, Environmental Health & Safety / Facilities Management
• Jim Fortner – Associate Vice President, Financial Services
• David Frost – Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering
• Ron Johnson – Professor of the Practice, Industrial & Systems Engineering and Managing Director, Tennenbaum Institute
• Fatimot Ladipo – Assistant Director, Federal Relations

The group’s specific responsibilities will include reviewing proposals related to the Strategic Plan, identifying gaps or changing priorities, recommending resource needs, and communicating progress to the campus community.