He first considered Tech while walking to a basketball game with his father back in the ‘90s. Hope wondered aloud if Tech could be in his future.

His father answered: “Sure, IF you can get in.”

Hope took the response as a personal challenge. “It awakened a mission to prove to everyone that doubting me was a mistake,” he remembers.

Years later, Hope did get in, but getting out proved far more difficult.

Building Resilience

As someone who’d always been good in math, Hope began in computer engineering, then switched to industrial engineering. Struggling with his classes, he was faced with a hard choice: sit out a semester or leave Georgia Tech.

He chose to stay.

“It was fight or flight,” says Hope. “I knew I had to find something I was passionate about and catalyze some momentum — or go home.”

He found that passion in the science of behavior.

“I discovered Industrial-Organizational Psychology and realized that the human element; how we work, why we lead, and how we build cultures, is a fascinating and useful science,” says Hope.

Once he found his direction, Hope never faltered. 

Today, he is a people leader at Google, who attributes much of his success to the resiliency honed at Georgia Tech. And, after once coming close to leaving without a degree, he is now returning to give the commencement address at the College of Sciences master’s graduation celebration.

Undergraduate Life

What were you involved with on campus?

Hope: I was a Georgia Tech Student Ambassador and a Co-op Ambassador. I was also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., the Student Alumni Association, the Minority Recruitment Team, the African American Student Union, the National Society of Black Engineers, and the Freshman Activities Board.

What’s something you’re especially proud of from your time at Tech?

Hope: I was an IT co-op at McKinneys, before I switched to psychology. I was told I couldn’t receive the co-op designation on my diploma because it wasn’t in my major. I read the rules, saw no language that disqualified me, advocated for myself, and persuaded them to change their minds. If that rule is different now, it’s because of me.

Leadership Lessons

What is your leadership philosophy?

Hope: Show up as my authentic self. Part of the reason I'm able to do that is that I work at a company like Google where that's really championed.

How did Georgia Tech influence the way you lead today?

Hope: I learned that even when it looks like there are no options, there is always a way to get it done and move forward.

What concepts from psychology shape your leadership style?

Hope: The scientific method comes to mind. Create a hypothesis, leverage some data, then iterate. Stay open to being wrong. If it’s not exactly what you expect, go back to the drawing board.

How would you describe your leadership style?

Hope: I'm a teacher at heart. Knowledge sharing and helping others grow are important to me. That said, I don’t speak just to talk. I constantly ask myself: Is what I’m about to say useful? Georgia Tech taught me to value thoughtful contribution over volume.

What’s a leadership rule you follow?

Hope: I don’t know if this is a leadership rule or a life mantra, but always act with integrity. Never do or say anything you wouldn’t want printed in The New York Times. I’ve worked hard to get where I am, but it only takes one thing to ruin your reputation, and leadership is built on trust.

In your commencement speech, you talk about the importance of leadership in everyday life. How does leadership show up in your home life?

Hope: My wife and I are very intentional in parenting our two boys. Our instinct is often to teach, but sometimes the best lesson is knowing when to step back. Letting them make mistakes, then talking it through together at the kitchen table, that’s a different — and oftentimes more difficult — kind of leadership.

Paying it Forward

A deeply engaged alumnus, Hope has served on the College of Sciences Young Alumni Board, participates in Georgia Tech Connect and Roll Call, and was recently asked to join the College of Sciences Advisory Board.

What advice would you give to Georgia Tech graduates?

Hope: Constantly build your brand. Mine is important, not just for me personally, but the better my reputation, the more I can help others through the influence I carry.

Why is giving back important to you?

Hope: As a student ambassador, I saw firsthand how alumni support shapes the student experience. I remember realizing that certain buildings and programs exist because alumni gave back. It changed my entire perspective on giving. Today, I like being a part of creating something bigger and better for the next generation of scholars.

That interdisciplinary focus has earned Huang statewide recognition. He has been selected as Georgia Tech’s 2026 representative for the University System of Georgia’s (USG) Academic Recognition Day, an honor awarded annually to one undergraduate from each USG institution for outstanding scholastic achievement. Georgia Tech’s representative is chosen by the academic associate deans from each of the Institute’s six colleges, in collaboration with the Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education and Student Success.

This honor encourages Huang to keep pursuing the kind of research he believes can make a real difference.

It’s a form of external validation that the work I’m doing is meaningful, not just to me, but to others,” he said. “It confirms that choosing a less conventional path, one guided by impact instead of convenience, is worthwhile.

Huang has also received the 2026 Provost’s Academic Excellence Award. He will graduate in May with bachelor’s degrees in computer science and psychology, along with minors in computation and cognition, health and medical sciences, and the science of mental health and well-being.

He currently leads two projects investigating cognition in neural systems, supported by the President’s Undergraduate Research Award and the Petit-Lanier Research Scholarship. One project uses tobacco hawkmoths as a reduced-complexity model system to identify fundamental principles of neural computation. The other examines human learning and decision-making using a custom sensorimotor paradigm and computational modeling.

Huang has presented his findings at venues such as the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology Annual Meeting and the Southeastern Medical Scientist Symposium, and he is preparing first-author manuscripts for submission later this spring.

According to Professor Simon Sponberg, who has advised Huang in the Agile Systems Lab, it’s Huang’s approach to his work that sets him apart.

“Elliot’s excellence goes beyond easily quantified metrics of academics,” Sponberg said. “He is exceptionally self-motivated and is constantly in pursuit of his goals. Combined with his effectiveness, ambition, and demonstrated responsibility he has already realized outstanding success, and I’m excited to see what he achieves next!”

That same confidence in Huang’s future is shared by Associate Professor Robert Wilson, Huang’s mentor and principle investigator in the Neuroscience of Reinforcement Learning and Decision-Making Lab.

“Elliot stands out as a truly brilliant scholar — a hard worker, deep thinker and all-around wonderful person to have in the lab,” Wilson said. “His research asks deep questions about the role of physical movement in human cognition that has the potential to revolutionize how we think about human learning and psychiatric disorders.”

Huang traces his interest in psychology to deeply personal experiences that reshaped how he viewed the intersection of technology, medicine, and well-being. While he was initially drawn to Tech’s computer science program, his academic focus evolved as he became more involved in mentorship and campus ministry, and as mental health challenges affected those close to him.

Those experiences ultimately solidified his goal of becoming a physician-scientist working at the intersection of computational modeling and psychiatry. Huang hopes to reframe psychiatric disorders not simply as collections of symptoms, but as variations in underlying cognitive processes. He hopes this approach will one day support more precise, mechanistic mental health care.

Huang has also invested significant time in mentoring peers and building his campus community. He leads Bible studies through Navigators Campus Ministry, previously served as director of operations for the Georgia Tech Medical Robotics Club, and has performed with the Institute’s Tenor Bass Choir.

After graduation, Huang plans to spend a year working as a full-time researcher while applying to MD/Ph.D. programs. Wherever that next step takes him, Huang leaves Georgia Tech with a foundation built on academic rigor and a commitment to improving human well-being.

View luncheon photos on Flickr, and see recipients from all colleges here.

College of Sciences

The School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Quarter Century Award
Sophia Buettner (ENVS), Daniel Lamprea (AOS), Rowan Ray (ENVS), Claire Riggs (ENVS)

The School of Chemistry and Biochemistry Arduengo Award
Arya Akbarshahi (BCHM), Ryan Wiebold (CHEM)

The School of Psychology Moll Davenport Award
Kate Cole (PSYCH)

Metha Phingbodhipakkiya Memorial Scholarship
Nick Elidor (NEUR)

A. Joyce Nickelson and John C. Sutherland Prize
Carlos Marcio De Oliveira E Silva Filho (MATH & PHYS)

Roger M. Wartell and Stephen E. Brossette Award
Sara Dixon (BCHM), Nikhita Subramaniarao (PHYS)

Robert A. Pierotti Memorial Scholarship
Zachary Beddingfield (BIO & BCHM), Kate Cole (PSYCH), Kathleen “Katie” Griffin (BIO & ENVS)

Institute Awards

Georgia Tech Women’s Club Scholarships
From College of Sciences:
Isabel O’Connell (ENVS), Clear Holley (PHYS)

The University System of Georgia (USG) Academic Recognition Award
From College of Sciences:
Elliot Huang (PSYCH & CS)

Provost’s Academic Excellence Award
From College of Sciences:
Elliot Huang (PSYCH & CS)

Love Family Foundation Award
From College of Sciences:
Marielle Frooman (BCHM)

Clanton Awards

Virginia C. and Herschel V. Clanton Jr. Scholarship
Chloe Zhang (BCHM), Maryam Aamir (NEUR)

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) 

Recipients
From College of Sciences:
Matthew Rohan (CHEM), Austin C. Wang (NEUR)

The College of Sciences recognized faculty and staff excellence during the 2026 Spring Sciences Celebration. Held each spring on Tech Tower Lawn, this signature event also honors recent retirees.

“Spring Sciences is a time to celebrate exceptional members of our community,” says Susan Lozier, dean of the College of Sciences, Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Chair, and professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. “We thank this year’s honorees for their outstanding contributions and dedication to our mission.” 

The 2026 honorees are:

Faculty Development Awards

The Cullen-Peck Scholar Awards were established by Frank Cullen (Math 1973, M.S. ISyE 1976, Ph.D. ISyE 1984) and Elizabeth Peck (Math 1975, M.S. ISyE 1976) to encourage the development of especially promising mid-career faculty. 

• William Gutekunst, Chemistry and Biochemistry
• D. Zeb Rocklin, Physics
• Minoru “Shino” Shinohara, Biological Sciences 

The Gretzinger Moving the School Forward Award, endowed by Ralph Gretzinger (Math 1970) and named in honor of his late wife, Jewel, recognizes the leadership of a school chair or senior faculty member who has played a pivotal role in advancing equal opportunity in the composition of tenure-track faculty, fostering a family-friendly work environment, and providing a supportive environment for early-career faculty. 

• Tiffiny Hughes-Troutman, Psychology 

The Eric R. Immel Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching, endowed by Charles Crawford (Math 1971), recognizes exemplary teaching in foundational undergraduate courses. It honors the late School of Mathematics professor Eric R. Immel, who greatly influenced Crawford’s undergraduate experience at the Institute.

• Zachary Handlos, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences 

The CoS Faculty Mentor Awards, established jointly by the College of Sciences and its ADVANCE Professor, recognize the efforts and achievements of faculty members who mentor fellow faculty. 

• Alexander Robel, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
• Chongchun Zeng, Mathematics 

Research Faculty Awards

The CoS Outstanding Junior Research Faculty Award and CoS Outstanding Senior Research Faculty Award recognize postdoctoral and non-tenure-track research faculty whose exceptional research contributions have had a significant impact on their fields of study.

CoS Outstanding Junior Research Faculty Award 

• Chaebin Kim, Physics 

CoS Outstanding Senior Research Faculty Award 

• Brant Jones, Chemistry and Biochemistry 

The CoS Research Faculty Community Trailblazer Award recognizes postdoctoral and non-tenure-track research faculty who have demonstrated and sustained leadership that strengthens the sense of community among research faculty within the College.

• Dustin Huard, Chemistry and Biochemistry 

Staff Awards

The College of Sciences Staff Awards are made possible by funding from the Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Dean’s Chair endowment. These awards include: 

The Leadership in Action Award recognizes a staff member who has made exceptional contributions to the College through innovative and strategic leadership, change management, business process improvement, special project leadership, and similar accomplishments. 

• Leslie Roberts, College of Sciences Dean’s Office 

The Exceptional Staff Award and the Friend of the Sciences Award recognize performance above and beyond the call of duty. The awardees demonstrate high levels of execution in their primary job duties, auxiliary roles, and citizenship, positively impacting the strategic goals of the College.

Exceptional Staff Award 

• Joshua Crowe, Biological Sciences 

Friend of the Sciences Award 

• Eme Anderson, Office of Sponsored Programs 

The Rising Star Award honors a newer staff member who has made a significant impact during their short tenure by contributing to the strategic goals and initiatives of the College, showing passion for their work, and embracing the Institute’s culture and values.

• Drake Lee-Patterson, Biological Sciences 

2026 Retirees 

Faculty 

• Rafael Bras, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
• Predrag Cvitanović, Physics
• Martin Jarrio, Physics
• Michael Loss, Mathematics 

Staff 

• Judith Taylor, Mathematics

View luncheon photos on Flickr, and see recipients from all colleges here.

Georgia Tech Chapter Sigma Xi Awards

Best Faculty Paper Award

Jiang Zhigang
Professor
School of Physics

Institute Research Awards

Outstanding Achievement in Research Enterprise Enhancement

Anna Österholm
Research Faculty
School of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Outstanding Achievement in Research Program Development Award
Human Space Exploration Team

Thomas Orlando — Team Leader
Regents’ Professor
School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
School of Physics

Phillip First
Professor
School of Physics

Brant Jones
Senior Research Scientist
School of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Frances Rivera-Hernandez
Assistant Professor
School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

Jiang Zhigang
Professor
School of Physics

Human Space Exploration Team co-recipients from the College of Engineering:

Masatoshi Hirabayashi
Associate Professor

Julie Linsey
Professor

Peter Loutzenhiser
Associate Professor

Alvaro Romero-Calvo
Assistant Professor

Meisha Shofner
Professor

Staff Awards

Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans Gender Equity Award 

Susan Lozier
College of Sciences Dean
Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Chair
Professor, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences 

Undergraduate Education Awards 

Outstanding Undergraduate Academic Advisor – Faculty Advisor 

Haley Steele
Academic Professional
School of Biological Sciences 

Center for Teaching and Learning Awards

Curriculum Innovation Award

Mary Peek
Principal Academic Professional
School of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Undergraduate Educator Award

Tiffiny Hughes-Troutman
Professor of the Practice
School of Psychology

Faculty Honors Committee Awards

Junior Faculty Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor Award

Farzaneh Najafi
Assistant Professor
School of Biological Sciences

Class of 1940 W. Howard Ector Outstanding Teacher Award

Pamela Pollet
Principal Academic Professional
School of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Released on April 7, the latest U.S. News report features the College's six schools, each of which earned top‑tier placements that reflect academic quality and peer reputation across disciplines.

Georgia Tech College of Sciences rankings

• Biological Sciences: No. 41 (tied)
  Tied with Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences; Northwestern University; Purdue University–West Lafayette; University of Arizona; University of California, Santa Barbara; and University of California, Santa Cruz.
   
• Chemistry: No. 20 (tied)
  Tied with University of California, San Diego.
   
• Earth Sciences: No. 29 (tied), up four spots
  Tied with Johns Hopkins University; Oregon State University; Texas A&M University–College Station; and Washington University in St. Louis.
   
• Mathematics: No. 26 (tied)
  Tied with Rice University; Rutgers University–New Brunswick; and the University of Washington.
   
• Physics: No. 22 (tied)
  Tied with Brown University; Duke University; Northwestern University; The Ohio State University; and the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
   
• Psychology: No. 39 (tied)*
  Tied with Michigan State University; Stony Brook University–SUNY; University of Arizona; University of California, Santa Barbara; University of Florida; and University of Iowa.

*Psychology rankings were carried forward from the most recent U.S. News social sciences rankings cycle.

These new rankings — based on peer perception surveys, as well as statistical indicators measuring faculty resources, research activity, and student outcomes — continue to highlight the College of Sciences’ breadth across core scientific disciplines and its role in advancing discovery, training future researchers, and supporting Georgia Tech’s research and mission.

Specialty Rankings: Chemistry and Mathematics

In addition to overall program rankings, Georgia Tech continues to earn national recognition in existing specialty graduate rankings within the College of Sciences, which carry forward from April 2023:

• Chemistry remains consistently ranked among the nation’s top programs, reflecting strength across sub‑disciplines and sustained research impact.
• Mathematics continues to earn recognition for both applied and theoretical strengths, supported by interdisciplinary connections across engineering, computing, and the sciences.

Chemistry specialty graduate programs

• Analytical Chemistry – No. 11
• Inorganic Chemistry – No. 20
• Physical Chemistry — No. 14
• Theoretical Chemistry — No. 18 

 Mathematics specialty graduate programs

• Analysis — No. 20 (tie)
• Applied Math — No. 16 (tie)
• Discrete Mathematics and Combinatorics — No. 5 (tie)

Full rankings: gatech.edu/about/rankings

Academic Faculty

Faculty members newly awarded tenure are indicated with an asterisk (*).

Promoted to Professor

• André Brock - School of Literature, Media, and Communication, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
• Hailong Chen – George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
• Sonia Chernova – School of Interactive Computing, College of Computing
• Elizabeth Cherry – School of Computational Science and Engineering, College of Computing
• Seung-Kyum Choi – George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
• John A. Christian – Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering
• Jonathan E. Clarke - Scheller College of Business
• Alex Endert – School of Interactive Computing, College of Computing
• Joshua P. Kacher – School of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering
• Neha Kumar – School of Interactive Computing, College of Computing
• Suzanne S. Lee - Scheller College of Business
• Patrick T. McGrath - School of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences
• Cecilia Montes-Alcala - School of Modern Languages, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
• Susana M. Morris - School of Literature, Media, and Communication, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
• Marius Florin Niculescu - Scheller College of Business
• Ameet J. Pinto - School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering
• Christopher Thomas Reinhard – School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, College of Sciences
• Lawrence Peter Rubin - Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
• Minoru 'Shino' Shinohara - School of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences
• Mark Zachary Taylor - Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
• Iris Tien - School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering
• Jingfeng Wang - School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering
• Aaron J. Young – George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering

Professors Awarded Tenure

• Antonio Facchetti – School of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering
• Larry P. Heck – School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
• Karthikeyan Sundaresan – School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering

Promoted to Associate Professor

• Leila Aflatoony - School of Industrial Design, College of Design*
• Brian AN - Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts*
• Dylan Brewer - School of Economics, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts*
• Christopher E. Carr – Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering*
• Hannah Choi - School of Mathematics, College of Sciences*
• Winnie Chu – School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, College of Sciences*
• Paige Clayton - School of City and Regional Planning, College of Design*
• Lelia Glass - School of Modern Languages, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts*
• Sehoon Ha - School of Interactive Computing, College of Computing*
• Itamar Kimchi - School of Physics, College of Sciences*
• Srijan Kumar - School of Computational Science and Engineering, College of Computing*
• Pan Li - School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering*
• Shaolan Li - School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering*
• Frank Li - School of Cybersecurity and Privacy, College of Computing*
• Pengfei Liu – School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, College of Sciences*
• Nikki Mackenzie - Scheller College of Business*
• Christopher J. MacLellan - School of Interactive Computing, College of Computing*
• Cheng Mao - School of Mathematics, College of Sciences*
• Anirban Mazumdar - George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering*
• David Alan Muchlinski - Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts*
• Samer Naif – School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, College of Sciences*
• Hyun Joo Oh - School of Industrial Design, College of Design*
• Juergen Rauleder - Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering*
• Sourabh K. Saha - George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering*
• Hongchen Wu - School of Modern Languages, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts*
• Xueqing Yan - School of Economics, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts*

Associate Professors Awarded Tenure

• Alberto Dainotti – School of Computer Science, College of Computing
• Leandro Miletto Tonetto – School of Industrial Design, College of Design

Promoted to Principal Academic Professional

• Shannon P. Dobranski - AS&A, ProvEVP-AA
• Michael J. Evans – School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences
• Melissa Foulger - School of Literature, Media, and Communication, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
• Diley Hernandez - Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty, Office of the Provost
• Jillann Hertel - School of Literature, Media, and Communication, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
• Jennifer Lynn Hirsch - SCRE, ProvEVP-AA
• Kenyetta Alicia Johnson Taylor – School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences
• Amanda Nolen - CTL, ProvEVP-AA
• Matthew Nusnbaum - School of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences
• Christopher Wayne Reaves - EEL, ProvEVP-AA
• Carol Subino Sullivan - CTL, ProvEVP-AA
• Catherine E. Thomas - EEL, ProvEVP-AA
• Kate Williams - CTL, ProvEVP-AA
• C. Andrew Helm - EI2-RI, ProvEVP-AA

Promoted to Principal Lecturer

• Kathrin Koppe - School of Modern Languages, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
• Robert William Myers - Scheller College of Business
• Michele L. Rosbruck - School of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences
• Tatiana Rudchenko - Scheller College of Business
• Yonathan S. Thio - School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering 

Promoted to Senior Academic Professional

• Sybrina Y. Atwaters - OOSA, ProvEVP-AA
• Meghan J. Babcock - School of Psychology, College of Sciences
• Brian Michael Beck - School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
• Onur Birol - School of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences
• Benjamin T. Galfond - School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering
• Mioy T. Huynh  – School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences
• Gregory Stuart Mayer - School of Mathematics, College of Sciences
• Rachael S. Pitts Hall - Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering
• Gaeun (Gwenn) Seo - VPGE&FD, ProvEVP-AA
• Kevin D. Shankwiler - School of Industrial Design, College of Design
• William Stern - School of Psychology, College of Sciences

Promoted to Senior Lecturer

• Nivedita Bhattacharya - College of Engineering
• Aibek Musaev - College of Computing
• Melanie S. Ruefli - GTPE-Lang, College of Lifetime Learning

Promoted to Librarian/Archivist IV

• Charlie  Bennett – Georgia Tech Library
• Heather Leigh Jeffcoat – Georgia Tech Library
• Aisha M. Johnson – Georgia Tech Library

Promoted to Librarian/Archivist III

• John Mack Freeman  – Georgia Tech Library

Promoted to Librarian/Archivist II

• Justin Ellis – Georgia Tech Library
• Stephanie Galipeau – Georgia Tech Library

Research Faculty

Promoted to Principal Research Scientist

• Ira C. Benoy - GTRI-CIPHR
• David A. Gaul – School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences
• Jessica Inman - GTRI-CIPHR
• Laura O'Farrell - DepAnimRsc-EVPR
• Peter W. Presti - IMTC-EVPR
• Wesley Daniel Robertson - GTRI-CIPHR
• Paige O'Neil Rohrig - EI2-EVPR
• Daniel Elliot Sabo - GTRI-ATAS
• Robert W. Wright - GTRI-CIPHR
• Hongwei Wu – School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences

Promoted to Principal Research Engineer

• Daniel Joseph Clancy - GTRI-SEAL
• Christopher Robert Clark - GTRI-CIPHR
• Christopher Timothy Coen - GTRI-ACL
• Austin William Foote - GTRI-SEAL
• Don David Fullmer - GTRI-ELSYS
• Kyle W. Harrigan - GTRI-EOSL
• Mark Johnson - GTRI-ELSYS
• Olga G. Kemenova - GTRI-ATAS
• Kyle Christopher Keppler - GTRI-ASL
• Jeong Woo Lee - School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering
• Michael J. Macdonald - GTRI-CIPHR
• Milad Navaei - GTRI-CIPHR
• Thomas William Norris - GTRI-ELSYS
• David Joyner Pate - GTRI-SEAL
• Michael Edward Shearin - GTRI-ELSYS
• Michael Houston Spratley - GTRI-ASL
• Joel Glen Vinson - GTRI-EOSL
• Jason Paul Zutty - GTRI-EOSL

Promoted to Principal Research Technologist

• Hezekiah Barge, Jr. – CIPHR, ICSD (GTRI)

Promoted to Principal Research Associate

• Matthew Sandberg – CIPHR, ICSD (GTRI)

Promoted to Principal Extension Professional

• Donna M. Ennis – Enterprise Innovation Institute
• Juli Golemi – Enterprise Innovation Institute
• Damon C. Nix – Enterprise Innovation Institute
• Wendy White – Enterprise Innovation Institute

Promoted to Senior Research Scientist

• Ahmaad A. Adesola - GTRI-ACL
• Sankaraleengam Alagapan - School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
• Gulcin Arslan Azizoglu - School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering
• Erkan Azizoglu - School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering
• Mark McLain Bolding - GTRI-ICL
• Lori A. Burns - School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences
• Wei-Wen Chen - School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences
• Jonathan Scott Ciak - GTRI-CIPHR
• Karim Farhat - School of Public Policy, Ivan Allen
• Sarah Katherine Farmer - CACP, Ivan Allen
• Charity Anne Hilton - GTRI-ICL
• Adam Jacobs - GTRI-SEAL
• Jeffrey David Krug - GTRI-ICL
• David La Mantia - GTRI-CIPHR
• Soojung Lee - Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering
• Anthony Lien - Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering
• Miroslav Malesevic - GeoInfoSys, College of Design
• Ryan Lee Mueller - GTRI-CIPHR
• Julie Niklas - School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences
• Zerrin Ondin-Fraser - CATEA-RC, College of Design
• James B. Parson - GTRI-CIPHR
• Carlo Andrea Riccardo Perini - School of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering
• Oliver Clements Pierson - GTRI-EOSL
• Noah Posner - IMTC-EVPR
• Ronald O. Rahaman - OIT-PACE
• Abeera P. Rehmat - CEISMC, College of Lifetime Learning
• Rachel A. Schneider - Enterprise Innovation Institute
• Richard Thomas Starr - IPT-EVPR
• Ploy Thajchayapong - IDSE-EVPR
• Gretchen Wyland - GTRI-ASL 

Promoted to Senior Research Associate

• Sara Blevins - GTRI-CSO
• Benjamin Clough - GTRI-ACL
• Kelly Creasy - GTRI-PMO
• Theodore Avery Evans - VPRIARSIA-EVPR
• Katherine Boice King - CEISMC, College of Lifetime Learning
• Haley May - GTRI-PMO
• Shivon A. Scott - GTRI-ICL

Promoted to Senior Research Engineer

• Jai Sanjay Ahuja - ASDL, College of Engineering
• Daniel S. Bennett - GTRI-SEAL
• Eric A. Brown - GTRI-EOSL
• Jack Casey - GTRI-SEAL
• Richard Seth Cohen - GTRI-ELSYS
• Ken Curtis - GTRI-CIPHR
• Shaun J. Hoyt - GTRI-SEAL
• Yongwon Lee - George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
• Dan Lev - Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering
• Daniel Ellis Levy - GTRI-ASL
• Christian Perron - ASDL, College of Engineering
• Thomas O. Pettet - GTRI-ASL
• Joel D. Rasmussen - GTRI-ATAS
• Gershom M. Richards - GTRI-ELSYS
• Shamaria Rivers - GTRI-CIPHR
• Kyle S. Saleeby - GTMI-EVPR
• Humaira Shah - GTRI-CIPHR
• Michael Jaewoo Son - GTRI-ELSYS
• Woong Je Sung - ASDL, College of Engineering
• Laura Katherine Morgan Vinson - GTRI-EOSL
• Thomas Williamson - GTRI-SEAL

Promoted to Senior Research Technologist

• Trever C. Nightingale - OIT-PACE

Promoted to Senior Extension Professional

• Clarence Edward Anthony - Enterprise Innovation Institute
• Allison L. Bridges - Scheller College of Business
• Sean P. Castillo - Enterprise Innovation Institute
• Melissa B. Heffner - VP-Commercialization-EVPR
• Viviana  Montenegro - Enterprise Innovation Institute
• Brandon Jamal Philpot - Enterprise Innovation Institute 

Promoted to Research Scientist II

• Spencer Clifton Brown - GTRI-CIPHR
• Steven J. Crow - GTRI-ICL
• Raven M. Davis - Georgia Tech Library
• Kenneth Eaton - GTRI-CIPHR
• Lauren Michelle Fowler - GTRI-SEAL
• Charles Hoff - GTRI-ELSYS
• Kala V. Jordan - IMTC- EVPR
• Hannah D. Mahon - GTRI-CIPHR
• Ryan McGill - GTRI-CIPHR
• Ritheshkumar S. Neelamagam - GTRI-CPHR
• Brenna M. Phelps - CACP, Ivan Allen
• Eric Conrad Schneider - GTRI-ELSYS
• Giuseppe P. Scoppino - GTRI-ELSYS
• Rebecca Graham Sheiner - CACP, Ivan Allen
• Marco Sun - GTRI-SEAL
• Samuel Adam Sutter - GTRI-ELSYS
• Joshua S. Valdez - GTRI-CIPHR
• Yu Wu - IMS-EVPR
• Andrew H. Zhao - IPT-EVPR

Promoted to Research Associate II

• Travis Merritt Meeks - GTRI-ACL
• Carolyn Sims - VPRIARSIA-EVPR

Promoted to Research Engineer II

• Stefan Abi-Karam - GTRI-CIPHR
• Thomas Boyle - GTRI-SEAL
• Zachary D. Brunson - George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
• Alexander William Bustos - GTRI-ELSYS
• Roger Anthony Campbell - GTRI-EOSL
• Alex Carney - GTRI-ELSYS
• Larry Davis - GTRI-SEAL
• Jacob C. Faile - GTRI-EOSL
• Paul Andrew Farmer - GTRI-ELSYS
• Brianna A. Faulkenberry - GTRI-ELSYS
• Jeffrey Filkins - GTRI-CIPHR
• Austin Forgey - GTRI-ATAS
• James N. Foshee - GTRI-ELSYS
• Hunter Lewis Gallahair - GTRI-ELSYS
• Keegan L. George - GTRI-ATAS
• Niko Giannakakos - GTRI-ELSYS
• Eric M. Glunn - GTRI-ATAS
• Taryn Harvey - George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
• Sadi D. Johnson - GTRI-ASL
• Kevin Lee Kamperman - GTRI-ATAS
• Grace Kaylor - GTRI-ELSYS
• James D. Kenny Jr - ASDL, College of Engineering
• Mary Elizabeth Lichtenwalner - GTRI-SEAL
• Viviana G. Lopez - GTRI-ELSYS
• Parth Mandrekar - GTRI-ATAS
• David S. Maye - GTRI-ELSYS
• Jeffrey T. McNabb - ASDL, College of Engineering
• Pawel Michalski - GTRI-EOSL
• Michael Rousseau Molder - GTRI-ELSYS
• David T. Murphy - GTRI-SEAL
• Thangam Natarajan - BME
• Brooke A. Oden - GTRI-ELSYS
• Edward Abraham Paz - GTRI-ICL
• Nam Phan - GTRI-SEAL
• Tyler Christian Rhodes - GTRI-SEAL
• John Roberson - GTRI-SEAL
• William Robertson - GTRI-ELSYS
• Stephen D. Ruigh - GTRI-SEAL
• Tyler K. Russell - GTRI-ATAS
• Edward Steven Stevens - GTRI-ATAS
• Brennan Tyler Stewart - ASDL, College of Engineering
• Jonah W. Urquhart - GTRI-ASL
• Rebecca Jane Volk - GTRI-ATAS
• Abigail Williams - GTRI-ELSYS
• Daniel R. Wygant - GTRI-ELSYS
• Maxwell Yarter - GTRI-CIPHR

Promoted to Research Technologist II

• Larissa O. Doudy - Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering
• Drew Lunceford - GTRI-ACL
• Andrew Mcneil - GTRI-HAC
• Moi Reilly - GTRI-ELSYS

Promoted to Extension Professional II

• Grace Barrett - Enterprise Innovation Institute
• Doreen Kincaid - Enterprise Innovation Institute

“There is incredible power in alumni stories,” says Susan Lozier, dean of the College of Sciences and Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Chair. “It’s inspiring for students to speak with alumni in the workforce, hear how they landed their first jobs, and learn from their successes — and their setbacks.”

Claire Haskell (Mathematics 2025) recently obtained her first job with Deloitte and attended the dinner to offer perspective to current students.

“I want to reassure students still in school that, even in today’s uncertain times, getting a job is still really doable and not as out of reach as it seems. Meeting Tech alumni is a great first step.”

A Night of Networking

College of Sciences Career Educator Program Manager James Stringfellow and Director of Alumni Relations Leslie Roberts organized the annual signature career event.

“We put on events like this because we want all of our students ready for their next opportunity,” says Stringfellow.

Second-year psychology major Aleena Sange attended the event for the first time, and says she will be back next year. “The alumni were really helpful and reassuring,” says Sange. “I learned what employers look for in a resume and even received advice about contract negotiations and retirement.”

First-year astrophysics student Shannon Callahan agrees. “What struck me the most was hearing how well Georgia Tech prepares you for the workforce. It gave me a lot of confidence to hear that Tech alumni hit the ground running because they’re used to learning quickly.”

The evening included casual and more structured networking, with students rotating between tables on topics such as “Using AI in the Workplace,” “Handling Conflict,” and “How to Get Hired in the Real World.”

Janessa Rowland (Earth and Atmospheric Sciences 2014) works as an operations program manager for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. She encouraged students to think beyond their major

“Sometimes an internship or class outside your major can open up the door for what you can do after Georgia Tech.”

Morgan Foreman (Psychology 2017), a technical product manager at IBM, offered encouraging insight: “People often tell you college is the best years of your life. Georgia Tech also sets you up for your dream life after college.”

2026 Internship Employer of the Year

During the festivities, Stringfellow announced Boehringer Ingelheim as the Internship Employer of the Year. The award honors a company that provides a high-quality learning environment for student interns. 

Arya Akbarshahi, a biochemistry major who spent a semester doing a co-op job at the company, presented the award, thanking the biopharmaceutical company active in both human and animal health for the learning experience provided.

“Co-oping at Boehringer Ingelheim was one of the most formative experiences in my training. From day one, I was trusted as a scientist, which allowed me to formulate hypotheses and execute experiments with direct implications for drug development strategy and decisions,”  says Akbarshahi. 

After presenting the award to Boehringer Ingelheim Senior Scientist Marc Sprouse, Akbarshahi also presented a surprise mentorship award to Sprouse.

“Marc was an exceptional mentor,” says Akbarshahi. “He challenged me to think critically about the biology, not just the assay, and consistently created space for me to take ownership and operate at a higher level.”

Sprouse accepted both awards and spoke of the benefits of working while still in school: “Getting real-world work experience while in school sets students up for success. I encourage all College of Science students to check out our website and apply for future co-ops and internships."

As during previous editions, this year’s conference featured more than two dozen scientists, engineers, policy experts, and thought leaders from Georgia Tech and beyond, illustrating how collaboration across fields – from science and engineering to public policy and international affairs – helps to advance strategic research priorities. 

“Frontiers is about discovery and connections across disciplines and generations,” says Susan Lozier, dean of the College of Sciences and Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Chair. “This edition provided an inspiring glimpse into the future of space exploration and the many ways Georgia Tech is contributing to research and missions seeking answers to what lies beyond our planet.” 

Commitment to Space

Space research is a key institutional priority at Georgia Tech, which is home to numerous academic and research programs in planetary sciences, robotics, mission design, space policy, and other areas. 

The recently established Space Research Institute (SRI) serves as the central hub connecting the broad range of space-related research across campus. Led by Jud Ready, who also serves as principal research engineer at the Georgia Tech Research Institute, SRI has expanded support for space research and commercialization through initiatives such as the CreationsVC Space Fellows Program and Centers, Programs, and Initiatives seed grant program.

SRI’s efforts are in line with Georgia Tech’s long-standing contribution to space exploration. Hundreds of Yellow Jacket alumni work in the space sector, including several graduates who are playing key roles in the Artemis program. To date, more than a dozen Georgia Tech alumni have traveled to space.

Exploring the Final Frontier

The conference featured a series of panels and discussions led by faculty and researchers from the Colleges of Sciences and Engineering as well as the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts. 

Sessions explored how researchers are studying the processes and conditions that support planetary habitability, seeking to answer one of humanity’s greatest questions: Does life exist beyond Earth? Speakers also examined how analog fieldwork in Earth’s extreme environments can inform space exploration, and how space research, in turn, can deepen our understanding of our own world.

Additional conversations centered on building better space missions through improved understanding of team and individual resilience, data collection, navigation, and the development of advanced technologies like the robots developed through the NASA LASSIE Project. 

Frontiers also highlighted Georgia Tech’s commitment to preparing the next generation of space scientists, engineers, and leaders. Student training and engagement were recurring themes throughout the day, with speakers emphasizing opportunities for student-led and student-run missions and research. A panel of Georgia Tech alumni shared their own STEM career journeys, challenging the idea of “one right path” to success — and acknowledging the resources and opportunities available at the Institute. 

A highlight of the conference was a fireside chat with Atlanta-native, retired U.S. Army Colonel and NASA Astronaut R. Shane Kimbrough (M.S. Operations Research 1998). Kimbrough, who spent a total of 388 days in space and performed nine spacewalks across three missions, reflected on his career and the evolution of spaceflight. He emphasized the expanding role of public-private and international partnerships in advancing ambitious goals, such as creating a permanent human outpost on the Moon. 

Policy and Public

The conference also explored how policy influences space discovery and innovation, with discussions touching on such issues as space security, access, governance, sustainability — and the influence of technology and science fiction on public perception and policy. 

Panelists described current policy frameworks governing outer space as struggling to keep pace with rapidly advancing technologies and expanding activities. According to these experts, increasing tensions among commercial, research, and recreational uses of space call for greater coordination among private and government entities to balance competing priorities while maximizing opportunities for innovation and exploration. 

The conference was punctuated by a networking lunch connecting attendees with Atlanta’s public astronomy community – including partners at several universities and the Georgia Tech Astronomy Club, which set up telescopes for attendees to safely observe the sun. Later that evening, the Georgia Tech Observatory hosted its Public Night, welcoming the broader Atlanta community to campus for telescope views of Jupiter, the Orion Nebula, and other celestial bodies. 

The Observatory Night was a fitting conclusion to a full day focused on Georgia Tech’s commitment and contributions to inspiring future generations of space explorers through research, education, and outreach. 

Experience the Frontiers conference in pictures on the College of Sciences’ Flickr account.