Registration for the undergraduate Student Government Association’s Home for the Holidays initiative is open through Thursday, Nov. 19.
The annual tradition allows undergraduate and graduate students who may not be able to spend the holiday at home to be matched with a local Yellow Jacket faculty, staff, or alumni host and enjoy a meal together.
Tech students come from all 50 states and 146 countries, and while Thanksgiving is specific to the U.S., SGA Executive Vice President Andrew Tso believes this program captures a wider, cross-cultural spirit inherent in the holiday.
“On a day meant to celebrate community and gratitude, no student should be alone,” Tso said. “Even if they aren’t used to celebrating Thanksgiving, we want them to have this holiday experience. That’s what we’re about here at Georgia Tech, supporting our fellow Yellow Jackets in any way we can, and we hope this program can provide a sense of community that these students may not have had otherwise.”
Hosts typically welcome between two and six students, and as meaningful as the program is for them, Scott Madigan, EE 1979, and his wife, Claudia, feel that it's equally beneficial for those who open their homes to participants.
"We have thoroughly enjoyed hosting students for Thanksgiving dinner in the past,” he said. “It's been a rewarding experience meeting a diverse and talented group of young people and sharing the holiday with them. It's a nice gesture of hospitality that can make the holiday a little more special for a student who is away from home. We encourage fellow alumni with an extra chair or two to consider participating in the Home for the Holidays program."
Students and hosts can register now through Nov. 19. At least two students are matched with each host (students can request to be paired together). Dietary restrictions and a variety of factors are taken into consideration when pairing students and hosts.
When giant pandas Ping Ping and Fu Shuang meet the public at Zoo Atlanta on Nov. 6, it will mark a new chapter in panda diplomacy between the United States and the People’s Republic of China.
While some evidence suggests that China began sharing pandas with other countries as early as the seventh century, the modern iteration of panda diplomacy began in 1957, when the nation offered the bears as a sign of goodwill and diplomatic friendship. The first pair of pandas gifted to the U.S., Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, arrived at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington, D.C., in 1972 as a gift to President Richard Nixon and first lady Pat Nixon.
By the 1980s, the Chinese government had ceased gifting pandas to foreign countries in favor of a financially motivated loan program, according to the World Wildlife Fund. However, when the species was transferred from Appendix III to Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, effectively banning trade of pandas for strictly financial benefit, the program moved toward research and conservation efforts.
In 1999, because of Zoo Atlanta's success in breeding animals in captivity, an agreement was reached to bring Yang Yang and Lun Lun to Georgia’s capital. While at Zoo Atlanta, the bears produced seven cubs, and their stay gave researchers insights into behavior, health, reproduction, and ecology, which Fei-Ling Wang, a professor in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, says highlights the potential for cooperation between the two nations.
“Panda diplomacy is a successful use of this rare species for foreign policy purposes, and an example of the success of Chinese-foreign cooperation, businesswise, commercialwise, and for species preservation. The Chinese have had a great success story of saving the panda bears, and this leasing program in particular brings together these rare animals and American zoology, biotechnology, and money,” said Wang, who specializes in U.S.-East Asian relations and East Asia and China studies.
After decades of recovery efforts and research, pandas were taken off the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s endangered list and are now classified as vulnerable. Nearly 2,000 giant pandas live in the wild in Southwest China, and more than 750 live in facilities across China and zoos worldwide.
Wang believes panda diplomacy benefits both nations and the animals, but ongoing geopolitical tension can create uncertainty for the program. The Center for Strategic and International Studies describes the period between 2018 and 2023 as a “linear downward spiral” for U.S.-China relations because of Covid-19, brewing conflict in the South China Sea, and increasing competition. Despite previous extensions, the San Diego Zoo and Smithsonian Zoo’s agreements were allowed to expire, as was Zoo Atlanta’s agreement in 2024, when Yang Yang and Lun Lun, along with twin cubs Ya Lun and Xi Lun, were returned to China.
“China has used the panda bears as a carrot, of sorts, taking them back when relations aren’t going well. But the resumption of the program in Atlanta, San Diego, and Washington, D.C., suggests that both sides, at least to a certain extent, are willing to engage with each other, starting with a program that has proven to be commercially successful and popular,” he said.
The return of pandas to Atlanta was announced in April, and they arrived on a plane dubbed the “Panda Express” in September. As the newly renovated Arthur M. Blank Panda Grove exhibit prepares to welcome visitors, Wang hopes that panda diplomacy can again provide a bright spot between the two nations when the race for AI supremacy, tariffs, and security concerns in China have heightened tensions.
“While this is essentially a commercial deal, I hope this will be followed by more concrete actions of bilateral cooperation that are a win-win for the U.S. and China. Competition has intensified, and much of the relationship is increasingly in a zero-sum competition, but the more we can expand the positive-sum parts, the better we can manage the growing conflicts,” Wang said.
Panda diplomacy is not without critics; Wang says some believe the program is a soft-power play by the Chinese government, but he sees it as hugely beneficial to the species' survival. He says the bears’ diet, reproductive behavior, and overall energy levels are not conducive to survival without the research and conservation efforts that panda diplomacy supports.
“The High is committed to being a place where diverse perspectives and voices come together to exchange ideas, foster growth, encourage creativity and help build a better future — a mission that aligns so closely with the goals of a stellar university like Georgia Tech,” said the High’s Director Rand Suffolk. “We’ve enjoyed wonderful relationships with their faculty and students for research and resource sharing, including our current Paper Trees exhibition and a visitor experience study, but this program takes our collaboration to a whole new level. We’re thrilled to bring them on board for our centennial year and look forward to our work together for years to come.”
“The arts are an essential part of the Georgia Tech experience, bringing new perspectives to how we learn, create and collaborate,” said Jason Freeman, associate vice provost for the arts at Georgia Tech. “Our collaboration with the High Museum of Art expands access to world-class arts experiences for our entire campus community while creating new opportunities to connect the museum’s collections and expertise with teaching, research and creative practice across disciplines. It’s another way we’re building stronger connections between the arts and the work happening across Georgia Tech.”
The Academic Affiliate program provides benefits for Georgia Tech’s students, faculty, and staff, including:
“The Affiliate program opens new pathways for personal and professional growth for Georgia Tech students,” said Andrew Westover, the High’s Eleanor McDonald Storza deputy director, learning and civic engagement. “We look forward to opening the museum doors even wider to Georgia Tech’s students, staff and faculty for more opportunities to study and engage with our world-class collection and exhibitions.”
For more information about the Academic Affiliate program, visit high.org/academic-affiliates/.
About the High Museum of Art
The High is Atlanta’s art museum. For over a century we’ve been a source of inspiration for the city and a model for how museums can connect with people. Home to a world-class collection, engaging exhibitions, and events for every age, background and interest, we champion the arts as an essential part of our community. Today, we’re internationally recognized yet firmly rooted in Atlanta. We’re located on Peachtree Street, where Harriet “Hattie” High donated the land that would become the High’s home. Our award-winning architecture by Richard Meier and Renzo Piano houses a collection of over 20,000 works spanning centuries, continents and media. Throughout the year we curate exhibitions that recover overlooked histories, challenge conventions and expand the boundaries of art. Our events and ongoing series set us apart, offering our community new ways to connect with art. From lively events on Friday nights to programs specially designed for families, we ensure that art enthusiasts and newcomers alike have something to enjoy. Our aim is simple: bringing art and people together. For more information about the High, visit www.high.org.
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Marci Tate Davis
High Museum of Art
Senior Manager, Public Relations
404-733-4585
marci.davis@high.org
Ronald L. Johnson, senior vice president of strategic initiatives and chief of staff at Georgia Tech, will leave the Institute to serve as chief of staff to the president of Morehouse College, effective Jan. 4, 2027.
A retired U.S. Army major general, higher education leader, alumnus, and faculty member, Johnson joined Tech in 2013. He has served the Institute in a variety of capacities, bringing decades of executive leadership experience to advancing Georgia Tech’s mission and strategic priorities.
As senior vice president of strategic initiatives and chief of staff, Johnson has been a member of the Institute’s Executive Leadership Team, advising the president and helping guide institutional priorities, executive decision-making, and cross-campus initiatives.
“Ron’s impact on Georgia Tech extends well beyond his leadership in the President’s Office,” said Interim President Tim Lieuwen. “Throughout his career, he has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to service — to our nation through his distinguished military career, to our students as a professor and mentor, to the Institute as a trusted leader and colleague, and to our community through his work with the City of Atlanta to advance critical infrastructure priorities. We are grateful for his many contributions and know he will bring that same dedication and passion for supporting students, faculty, and staff to his new role at Morehouse.”
Johnson assumed his current role in June 2024, following years of service to the Institute as a professor of the practice in the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering. He has remained connected to the classroom and to students throughout his career at Tech, complementing his administrative leadership with a commitment to education and student success.
In service to the Tech community, Johnson is an emeritus trustee of the Georgia Tech Foundation, and a former trustee of the GT Alumni Association. He has also been named as a distinguished alumnus of the College of Engineering, received the Georgia Tech Black Alumni Organization Trailblazer Award, and the Joseph Mayo Petit Distinguished Service Award — the highest award conferred by the Georgia Tech Alumni Association.
Before returning to Georgia Tech in an executive leadership role, Johnson served as the National Basketball Association’s first senior vice president of referee operations, overseeing the league’s officiating program. His 32-year U.S. Army career included service as deputy commanding general and deputy chief of engineers for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, director of the U.S. Army Installation Management Agency, and commander of the Corps Gulf Region Division, where he led reconstruction efforts in Iraq.
His contributions have been recognized with numerous honors, including the Distinguished Service Medal, Bronze Star, Legion of Merit, and the 2008 Black Engineer Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2025, he was named Black Engineer of the Year by U.S. Black Engineer and Information Technology magazine.
Johnson earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and mathematics from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, a master’s degree in operations research from Georgia Tech, a master’s degree in strategic planning from the School of Advanced Military Studies, and a doctor of education in higher education management and leadership from the University of Georgia.
At Morehouse, Johnson will advise the president on administrative and executive matters, serve on the president’s executive leadership team, and help lead special projects and institution-wide initiatives as the college advances its strategic framework.
Johnson will be departing Georgia Tech Dec. 18; additional information about the transition and interim leadership will be shared as details are finalized.
Ronald L. Johnson, senior vice president of strategic initiatives and chief of staff at Georgia Tech, will leave the Institute to serve as chief of staff to the president of Morehouse College, effective Jan. 4, 2027.
]]>Artificial intelligence may operate in the digital world, but it leaves a massive and very real physical and societal footprint. What does AI’s rapid growth mean for the future of humanity? How can it be steered towards a more prosperous future for all?
The Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts will host a series of four events, the AI & Society Series, to bring together scholars, practitioners, industry leaders, and the Georgia Tech community to explore some of the most consequential questions surrounding artificial intelligence and their potential solutions. Through the interdisciplinary lens of the liberal arts, the series will examine AI's physical infrastructure, its influence on research and discovery, its evolving role in human relationships, and its impact on creativity and creative industries.
“Considering technology from a humanistic perspective has never been more necessary,” said Amanda Murdie, dean of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. “AI has so much potential to be positive and transformational, but we should prioritize understanding and mitigating the challenges it creates in its wake.”
The next event in the series will be “AI and Academic Research: The Future of Discovery” on Nov. 4 at 6:30 - 9 p.m. in the Georgia Tech Hotel & Conference Center – Grand Ballrooms. The panel will explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the landscape of higher education and scholarly inquiry.
Panelists include Sebastian Porsdam Mann, Assistant Professor, CeBIL, University of Copenhagen; Sarah H. Salter, Director of the Writing Program & Professor of Pedagogy, Emory University; and Dan Reiter, Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Political Science, Emory University.
Porsdam Mann is an assistant professor at the University of Copenhagen’s Center for Advanced Studies in Bioscience Innovation Law. With training spanning philosophy, neuroscience, applied ethics, and international human rights law, his research examines how emerging technologies can advance scientific progress while navigating ethical and regulatory challenges. His work has directly explored generative AI in academic writing and idea generation, as well as AI's potential role in the future of academic peer review, positioning him to address both the opportunities and risks AI creates throughout the research process.
Salter is a teaching professor and director of the writing program at Emory University whose research focuses on American literature, periodical studies, collaboration, and digital humanities. Her scholarship has included interdisciplinary work using machine-learning methods to analyze the visual structures of historical newspapers, combining literary study, library science, and computational approaches. Her perspective brings an important humanities dimension to the conversation about how computational tools and AI are changing research methods, scholarly interpretation, writing, and knowledge production.
Reiter is the Samuel Candler Dobbs Professor of Political Science at Emory University. His scholarly interests include interstate conflict, gender and international relations, civil-military relations, alliances, military effectiveness, public opinion and foreign policy, war termination, and others. He earned his B.A. in political science from Northwestern University in 1989, his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Michigan in 1994, and was a post-doctoral fellow at the John M. Olin Institute at Harvard University from 1994-1995. In 2002, he was given the Karl Deutsch Award from the International Studies Association, presented annually to a scholar under age 40 or within ten years of having received the Ph.D. “who is judged to have made (through a body of publications) the most significant contribution to the study of International Relations and Peace Research.”
Upcoming events in the AI & Society Series include:
AI, Human Empathy, and Relationships: Is AI a Better Partner?
Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2027 | 6:30 – 9 p.m.
Historic Academy of Medicine
AI and Creativity: Creative Industries in Flux
Wednesday, April 14, 2027 | 6:30–9 p.m.
Walter G. Ehmer Theater (Atlantic)
Artificial intelligence may operate in the digital world, but it leaves a massive and very real physical and societal footprint. What does AI’s rapid growth mean for the future of humanity? How can it be steered towards a more prosperous future for all?
]]>Refresh your knowledge of campus safety resources and practices with tips from the Georgia Tech Police Department.
Micromobility
Bikes, electric scooters, and other forms of micromobility are convenient options for getting around campus. Micromobility devices are considered vehicles under Georgia law, and users are expected to follow the same rules as drivers: obeying traffic signals and posted signs, yielding to pedestrians, and other rules that apply to vehicles operating on public roadways.
When you’re done riding, secure your bike on a rack and out of the road or sidewalks. While cables are an option, U-locks are harder to cut through and are recommended for all micromobility vehicles by the Georgia Tech Police Department (GTPD).
Recently, Tech changed its bike registration system to fall under the Department of Parking and Transportation Services. Register your micromobility device for free by visiting the permit purchase website and completing the form. If your micromobility vehicle goes missing, the permit helps GTPD prove ownership. And you can get a free bike helmet when you take GTPD’s short, online Ride Smart course.
Personal Safety and Awareness
Along with registering your bike, you should register your laptop and other valuable belongings. Registering these items can help GTPD recover them if they go missing.
Walk in well-lit areas and avoid being alone, whether inside or outside, especially at night. When driving, park in well-lit areas. GTPD recommends that all Georgia Tech community members download the LiveSafe app, which allows users to quickly and anonymously report suspicious activity to GTPD with text, photos, and videos. Potential criminal activity can also be reported by calling GTPD at 404.894.2500.
During large-scale events, do not allow anyone to follow you through a secure door into campus buildings unless they are known residents. While most dorm rooms at Georgia Tech lock automatically, you should never leave a door open or cracked, even for brief trips.
Alcohol consumption, even one drink, can cause impaired judgment. Monitor your consumption and make sure you have a friend around to stay safe and accountable.
Additional Safety Measures
In addition to the after-hours routes of various Stinger buses, students, faculty, and staff have access to The Stingerette service — an on-demand, shared-ride transportation service available seven days a week from 4:30 p.m. to midnight (excluding Institute holidays and during home football games) to provide safe and efficient evening transportation on Georgia Tech’s campus and the neighborhoods in between.
Parking and Transportation’s Yellow Jacket Voucher Program provides rides to and from Science Square as well as late-night campus travel from midnight to 3 a.m. Safety escorts from GTPD are offered 24/7. If you feel unsafe, call GTPD at 404.894.2500 or through LiveSafe for a safety escort to avoid walking alone at night. The LiveSafe app allows family and friends to track your location, but there are no substitutes for staying alert and aware of your surroundings at all times.
Throughout the year, GTPD hosts events such as open houses and official medical training that will help you prepare for an emergency. Learn more at https://police.gatech.edu/
Saxena, who currently serves as executive director of Georgia Tech's CREATE-X program, brings more than two decades of experience spanning entrepreneurship, venture capital, technology development, and research. His background includes leadership roles as a startup CEO and investor, providing a combination of technical expertise and business experience that will help guide Georgia Tech's commercialization efforts.
As executive director of CREATE-X, Saxena has played a key role in advancing student entrepreneurship and strengthening Georgia Tech's innovation ecosystem. Over the past five years, CREATE-X has launched more than 800 startups, and in FY26 alone, more than 6,000 students on campus engaged with its programs.
Saxena's appointment provides continuity for the Office as Georgia Tech advances its commercialization priorities and strengthens connections among research, industry, and entrepreneurship.
]]>Eight technology startups graduated from Georgia Tech’s Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) this year, marking the next chapter for companies that spent years developing products, building teams, and growing their businesses.
The 2026 graduating class includes companies working in healthcare, financial services, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and consumer products. While their industries and business models differ, each has reached the milestones required to graduate from ATDC, Georgia Tech’s statewide technology incubator. They have raised nearly $40 million in investment, and one has been acquired.
The companies were recognized during the 2026 ATDC Graduation Celebration on Thursday, Oct. 29, at the historic Biltmore Ballrooms in Atlanta.
“Every company in this class has taken a different path to get here,” said John Avery, ATDC director. “There have been challenges, changes in direction, and plenty of lessons along the way. That’s part of building a business. What matters is that these founders kept moving forward, and we’re proud to have played a role in their growth.”
Meet the ATDC Class of 2026
The eight graduating companies are:
To graduate from ATDC, companies must meet established business milestones, including annualized recurring revenue of at least $5 million, an identified scalable business model, the ability to finance continued growth, or an acquisition.
ATDC Inducts Four Into Hall of Fame
Along with this year’s graduates, ATDC recognized four individuals for their achievements in entrepreneurship and contributions to the startup community.
The 2026 ATDC Hall of Fame inductees are:
The ATDC Hall of Fame recognizes individuals whose work and leadership have contributed to ATDC’s history and the broader entrepreneurial community.
“Graduation is an opportunity to recognize how far these companies have come, but it’s also a reminder that building a business is an ongoing process,” Avery said. “Our graduates are moving into new stages of growth, and our Hall of Fame inductees show what can be accomplished over time. We’re excited to celebrate both.”
About the Advanced Technology Development Center
The Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC), a program within the Office of Commercialization at Georgia Tech, is the state of Georgia’s technology startup incubator. Founded in 1980, ATDC’s mission is to work with entrepreneurs in Georgia to help them learn, launch, scale, and succeed in the creation of viable, disruptive technology companies. Since its founding, ATDC has grown to become one of the longest running and most successful university-affiliated incubators in the U.S., with its graduate startup companies raising more than $6.2 billion in investment financing and generating more than $14 billion in revenue in the state of Georgia. To learn more, visit atdc.org
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said, “Hurricane Helene left Georgia growers with damaged timber and exposed weaknesses in their supply chains. With this federal funding, backed by $24 million in private investment, Georgia Tech is exploring how to turn that timber into valuable ag-nutrients and testing ways to keep supply chains moving even when storms hit.”
The ReGEN Ag project funding is part of a larger initiative, the EDA Fiscal Year 2025 Disaster Supplemental Grant Program. The ReGEN Ag award supports two initiatives that will be implemented over an 18-month period.
Resilient Routes, headed by SCL, will incorporate modeling with live mapping of critical infrastructure and routes to create cooperative logistics hubs. “For decades, SCL has led applied supply chain research that solves real problems for industry,” said SCL Managing Director Chris Gaffney. “Partnering with RBI on ReGEN Ag lets us put that experience to work for Georgia's forestry sector, building cooperative logistics that connect South Georgia's timber to new, higher-value products and markets.”
ReWOOD, led by the RBI-associated Center for a Renewables-Based Economy From Wood (ReWOOD) aims to turn low-grade timber and wood waste into value-added chemicals and bioproducts. “The ReWOOD initiative builds on RBI’s tremendous strength in wood-based products to create additional revenue sources for Georgia’s forestry industry by developing processes and products to benefit human and animal health and well-being, including new materials, animal feed, care products, and many other applications,” said Andreas Bommarius, ReWOOD co-director.
Timber and its related industries play a significant role in Georgia’s economy. According to the Georgia Forestry Association, the sector contributes $41.3 billion a year to the state’s economy and supports nearly 144,000 direct and indirect jobs.
EI² Vice President David Bridges said the ReGEN Ag project complements the unit’s broader commitment to supporting socioeconomic development across the entirety of Georgia.
“When EI² conducted a listening tour of the state, we heard specifically from timber industry owners and companies in South Georgia about the need for finding and developing value-added products,” Bridges said. “This funding provides a chance to explore some of those pathways, while building resilience and boosting prosperity in the southern part of the state.”
The award also allows Georgia Tech to work closely with two of its educational partners, South Georgia State College and Wiregrass Georgia Technical College, to build workforce opportunities in forestry, agriculture, biomanufacturing, and supply chain management.
“EDA’s investment, along with significant private industry and local partner commitments, gives us a real opportunity to help rural communities recover from storms and grow stronger,” said Betsy McGriff, EI² program manager. “We’re grateful to EDA and to the partners across South Georgia who came together to make this possible, and we’re excited to get started.”
]]>The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding $7.4 million in disaster supplemental funding to the Resilient Growth Through Enabling Next Generation Agriculture (ReGEN Ag) coalition.
]]>Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the launch of Foundry School, a national advanced manufacturing education initiative led by Stanford University in partnership with Georgia Tech and six other universities. At Tech, the program will bring industry experts and leaders from advanced manufacturing companies to campus for talks with students about what it takes to build and operate world-class manufacturing enterprises.
The initiative comes as the United States works to expand domestic manufacturing capacity and address a growing need for skilled workers. The State Department estimates American manufacturers will need to fill 3.8 million jobs by 2033 across industries including semiconductors, defense, and energy.
For Tech, that national effort builds on work already underway across the Institute.
Tech’s Advanced Manufacturing Pilot Facility (AMPF) recently expanded to 60,000 square feet, creating a next-generation environment where industry, researchers, and students develop, test, and scale advanced manufacturing technologies. The facility is incorporating artificial intelligence, robotics, and connected equipment to accelerate the path from research to production.
“The launch of Foundry School recognizes something we have seen here at Georgia Tech for years: Rebuilding American manufacturing requires more than building factories,” said Tim Lieuwen, executive vice president for research at Georgia Tech. “It requires the talent, technology, research, and industry partnerships to make those factories successful. Georgia Tech is already bringing those pieces together — helping move technologies from the lab toward production while preparing the people who will drive the next generation of American manufacturing.”
The AMPF is part of a broader Georgia Tech ecosystem that connects research and education with industry and workforce partners, including the Technical College System of Georgia. Georgia Tech also has longstanding relationships with nations participating in the State Department’s Pax Silica initiative.
As manufacturing investment grows in Georgia and across the country, Georgia Tech is helping develop the technology, talent, and partnerships needed to support that growth.
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