On behalf of the GT ADVANCE professors, a reception for the launch of the ADVANCE Equity, Diversity, Excellence, and Inclusion (EDEI) Initiative occured on November 6, 2013. This event was held for the Georgia Tech community at the invitation of Archie Ervin, Vice President for Institute Diversity, and Rafael Bras, Provost and Executive Vice President for Insitute Diversity.

The event marked the official launch for the ADVANCE EDEI Initiative focusing on four key areas:

1) Mentoring to support junior faculty and promote senior faculty to positions of distinction;
2) Transparency in processes of reappointment, tenure, and promotion;
3) Bias Awareness and a climate of equity for all;
4) Accountability and data collection to track faculty retention, advancement, and satisfaction.

The ADVANCE Team tracks data concerning hiring and advancement, particularly of female and underrepresented minority faculty; analyzes faculty work-life needs and initiatives; and sponsors faculty development programs such as Career Coaching and grants workshops to promote faculty research and advancement.

Appearing in the photo (from left to right) are Archie Ervin, Vice President for Institute Diversity; Beril Toktay, ADVANCE Professor, Scheller College of Business; Mary Frank Fox, ADVANCE Professor, Ivan Allen College; Wing Suet Li, ADVANCE Professor, College of Sciences; Rafael Bras, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs; Dana Randall, ADVANCE Professor, College of Computing; Kimberly Kurtis, ADVANCE Professor, College of Engineering