If you’ll be in town, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the long weekend.    

Volleyball Games 

The Yellow Jackets will host three different opponents at O’Keefe Gymnasium throughout the weekend.  

Volleyball vs. Southern Indiana: Friday, Sept. 4, 4 p.m.  

Volleyball vs. Campbell: Saturday, Sept. 5, 4 p.m.  

Volleyball vs. Xavier: Sunday, Sept. 6, 1 p.m.   

Aflac Kickoff Game Tailgate Town 

Saturday, Sept. 5 

Atlanta will host the Aflac Kickoff Game, featuring Auburn vs. Baylor, on Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Football fans of all teams can enjoy free activities around the venue throughout the weekend.  

More Information

Dragon Con 

Saturday, Sept. 5  

The annual convention celebrates pop culture, science fiction, fantasy, gaming, comics, and more. Enjoy the free parade on Peachtree Street starting at 10 a.m.   

More Information

Atlanta Hip Hop Day Festival 

Sept. 5 – 6 

This free, all-ages festival will celebrate hip hop in the heart of the city at Historic Fourth Ward Park. 

Bank of America Free Admission to Museums 

Sept. 5 – 6  

If you happen to have a Bank of America card, this weekend coincides with their monthly promotion to enjoy free admission to museums. The High Museum of Art, Center for Civil and Human Rights, and Atlanta History Center (Sunday only) all participate. 

Lasershow at Stone Mountain 

Monday, Sept. 7  

At 9:30 p.m., the Lasershow will be projected on the side of Stone Mountain — five times the size of an IMAX screen, and taller than the Statue of Liberty. The show is free, but venue parking is $10.   

Wilkinson brings extensive experience to the role. Since joining the Georgia Tech faculty in 1993, he has contributed to the Institute as a researcher, educator, and administrator. He currently serves as associate chair for undergraduate programs in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry. 

“Angus has earned the respect of colleagues across Georgia Tech through his thoughtful leadership, institutional knowledge, and commitment to academic excellence,” said Raheem Beyah, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “His collaborative approach and dedication to shared governance make him well-suited to lead the Faculty Executive Board. I look forward to working with him as we continue advancing Georgia Tech’s mission of education, research, and service.” 

As an institution of the University System of Georgia, Georgia Tech operates under a model of shared governance. This model empowers faculty to fulfill responsibilities related to their own governance, the governance of students, and the maintenance of high educational standards. Through this process, faculty play an important role in shaping the academic experience across the Institute. 

As chair of the Faculty Executive Board, Wilkinson will help lead the faculty in governance of itself, the curriculum, and Georgia Tech students. The Faculty Executive Board serves a central role in shared governance, representing faculty perspectives and working with Institute leadership on issues that shape the academic experience. Wilkinson will work closely with Secretary of the Faculty Adam Steinberg to oversee governance processes and amplify faculty voices. 

“Georgia Tech’s strength has always been rooted in the talent and dedication of its faculty,” Wilkinson said. “I am honored by the opportunity to serve as chair of the Faculty Executive Board and to work with faculty colleagues and Institute leadership to ensure that faculty perspectives help inform decisions that affect our students, our research enterprise, and our academic community.” 

Wilkinson earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Oxford and completed graduate studies in chemical crystallography and inorganic chemistry at Oxford. Before joining Georgia Tech, he conducted research in the Materials Research Laboratory at the University of California, Santa Barbara. At Georgia Tech, he received tenure in 1999 and was promoted to full professor in 2004. 

Over the course of his career, Wilkinson has led research efforts spanning inorganic materials chemistry, cement science, low and negative thermal expansion materials, and advanced characterization techniques. His work has addressed both fundamental scientific questions and practical challenges, contributing to advances in energy, environmental, and infrastructure-related materials. 

Wilkinson succeeds Dima Nazzal, associate chair for academic administration in the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering and director of Education and Projects with the Center for Health and Humanitarian Systems, who has served as chair since 2024. During her tenure, Nazzal provided thoughtful leadership and strong advocacy for faculty perspectives while helping guide the Institute through a period of continued growth and change. 

The Office of the Provost extends its appreciation to Nazzal for her dedicated service as chair of the Faculty Executive Board and for her longstanding commitment to Georgia Tech’s faculty, students, and shared governance processes. Her leadership strengthened collaboration between faculty and administration and contributed meaningfully to the advancement of the Institute’s academic mission. 

Writer: Brittany Aiello, Faculty Communications Manager, Institute Communications

Located along Northside Drive between Eighth and Ninth streets, the 191,000-square-foot facility offers approximately 862 beds in double-occupancy rooms. The first traditional residence hall constructed on campus since 1969, Bud and Val Peterson Residence Hall features collaborative learning areas, an esports lounge, a fitness room, community lounges, a kitchen on the first floor of each wing, and a 24/7 cashierless market. 

The opening of the new residence hall allows Tech to keep pace with enrollment as the Institute continues to grow. This fall, over 4,100 first-year students will enroll at the Institute, along with 1,400 transfer students in the fall and spring. With growth comes the need for new infrastructure, as Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera said during Thursday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony.  

“It turns out that more unbelievable students from every county in Georgia, from every corner of our country and countries around the world, want to have the learning experience here. It’s our duty to figure out creative solutions, not just to house them, but to provide them with a transformative experience,” he said. “The transformation of our students happens right here. It happens in the residence halls. It happens in the friendships that you make, the study groups, the activities, and when you’re learning to be independent and to grow up. This is not just a dorm where you come to sleep.” 

The residence hall is named in honor of Georgia Tech’s 11th president and first lady. During Peterson’s tenure from 2009 to 2019, Tech enhanced student programs and grew enrollment; increased collaboration and built strategic partnerships in Atlanta and Georgia; expanded its global reach, with a focus on innovation; executed Campaign Georgia Tech, which raised $1.8 billion for the Institute; and more than doubled new research awards, exceeding $1 billion for the first time in 2019. As president, Peterson launched the Online Master of Science in Computer Science program, which has since become a global model for accessible education. 

He has remained involved with the Institute as president emeritus, a Regents’ Professor in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, and a member of the steering committee for Transforming Tomorrow: The Campaign for Georgia Tech. 

In his remarks, Peterson recounted his first time visiting Tech, the feeling he got when he was on campus, and his path to eventually becoming Tech’s next president, succeeding President Emeritus G. Wayne Clough, who was in attendance at the ceremony.  

Becoming a candidate for the job of president was “one of the most important decisions I’ve made in my professional career,” Peterson said. “This is a remarkable place with remarkable people doing remarkable things. Val and I are enormously honored to be recognized in this fashion.”  

As first lady, Val Peterson was a dedicated presence on campus and an ardent supporter of students and faculty. She served as the chief spokesperson for the Tech Ends Suicide Together initiative when it launched in 2016 and mentored students and campus organizations. Val Peterson holds two bachelor’s degrees and a teaching certificate from Kansas State University and a master’s degree from Texas A&M. She has been recognized as an honorary alumna by the Georgia Tech Alumni Association for her devotion to the greater good of the Institute. Nicknamed the “Queen Bee” of Georgia Tech, she found it “quite fitting” that the new hall bears the couple’s names, because they lived together in a dorm room at KSU when they were first married.  

“That’s where it all began. Those two towers, like us, together forever,” she said. “My hope for the students who live in Peterson Hall is that their experience parallels our paths, not only in school but in life.” 

Each space in the new residence hall is designed to encourage students to interact and develop shared experiences, a mindset that Kasey Helton, associate vice president of Campus Services, says was fostered during Peterson’s tenure.  

“We weren't trying to create 860 places to sleep. We were trying to create 860 opportunities to belong. That sense of belonging is exactly what Bud and Val spent a decade here building. They championed living-learning communities, expanded opportunities for students to develop global perspectives, strengthened support for student well-being, and helped make a Georgia Tech education accessible to all students. That same spirit is built into this hall,” Helton said.  

The opening of the Bud and Val Peterson Residence Hall brings the Institute’s capacity to more than 9,600 bed spaces across nearly 50 residence halls. Move-in for the fall semester begins Aug. 15, including the first group of students who will call Bud and Val Peterson Residence Hall home. 

The resolution to the 2023 lawsuit imposes daily time limits on platform use for users under 18, silences notifications during school hours, restricts image filters, and adds safety measures, including removing users under 13 and stricter enforcement of teenager-specific settings for users under 18, among other measures.  

More Work To Be Done 

The settlement has been celebrated by the 47 attorneys general of the represented states as a transformative moment in the oversight of social media. While she believes it is a step in the right direction, Munmun De Choudhury, a professor in Georgia Tech’s School of Interactive Computing, says the work cannot stop with the changes proposed in the settlement.  

De Choudhury’s research has pioneered the computational use of social media data for mental health. In 2023, she co-authored a consensus report for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine on the connection between social media and adolescent health. Several of the recommendations in the report are reflected in the Meta settlement, but De Choudhury sees areas that still need to be addressed at the root of social media’s effects on mental health.  

“I think it's a reasonable start. It was necessary, but if you look at the research literature, whether restricting screen time actually improves mental health is not a settled question,” she said. “We need to look at the context, which means not just how much time they're spending on these platforms but also how they're spending that time.”  

The $17 billion will be distributed among the states and territories involved in the lawsuit, and, according to De Choudhury, the funds will be a critical part of the settlement achieving its intended outcomes.  

“The grassroots portion of this is asking: How do we empower young people and their families with information so that they can make the right decisions for themselves? This money can be used to provide social media literacy efforts and to train parents and teachers to better guide kids. We often hear that adults want to help, but parents and teachers didn’t grow up in the social media era, and given how fast it changes, they don’t always have the right answers,” she said.  

Getting Others on Board 

Certain portions of the settlement, such as financial penalties and exact time restrictions, are contingent upon Meta’s competitors, TikTok and YouTube, adopting similar measures. De Choudhury says research shows that when one platform becomes more restrictive, users will migrate to another.  

“The kids who want to access social media between midnight and 6 a.m., when these platforms won't be available, will go to TikTok or they'll go somewhere else,” she said. “This means that what we end up doing is not mitigating the harm but shifting it elsewhere. And that doesn't help anyone. So, this is welcome if it means the scope of this implementation can be broadened, and it would go a long way.”  

Social Media in the AI Age  

De Choudhury implores regulators to consider additional measures to protect children in the future, particularly those that safeguard their data in the age of artificial intelligence.   

“All of our data is getting used to train these AI models. This is especially true for a company like Meta, which has its own AI models. We are talking about minors. They can't meaningfully consent to the use of their data to build AI models. So we need to expand the scope of harm here, which is not just the mental health harm that can happen but the impacts of these companies storing and using children’s data,” she said.  

A federal “right to be forgotten” that allows individuals to request deletion of their data from social media sites and other online profiles is a step De Choudhury recommends, mirroring the European Union’s policy. 

Protecting the Vulnerable 

Adults aren’t immune to the dangers of social media, De Choudhury explained, but teenagers are more susceptible to triggers based on their stage of brain development. She hopes the recent settlement sets a precedent for active oversight.  

“We have seen lawsuits in the past where specific school systems sued a social media company. We have seen some individual states taking action as well, but the scale of this settlement is something we haven't seen before,” she said.  

The changes to the platforms will take effect over the next 12 months, but should Meta fail to do so, Jerry Liu, lecturer in the Scheller College of Business and teacher of legal and ethical aspects of business, says states would not need to relitigate the case, in which Meta did not admit wrongdoing. Rather, they could ask the court to seek enforcement with contempt remedies, like additional financial penalties or sanctions.  

The Meta case has drawn comparisons to lawsuits against big tobacco in the 1990s. Liu says both cases invoke similar questions surrounding legality and ethics in business.   

“There is a broader, ethical issue with this case, which is drawing the line between making an engaging product versus deliberately designing the product around human vulnerabilities to make a product addictive, particularly for children, and concealing harmful consequences,” he said.  

“With big tobacco, the problem wasn't simply that cigarettes were addictive. It was the allegation that the industry knew about the addictive nature of cigarettes, manipulated nicotine levels, and concealed or minimized that knowledge. Similarly, as with Meta and social media, the question is whether the social media companies know that particular design features or algorithmic tools can create unhealthy or compulsive behavior, particularly in children, and whether they have an ethical obligation to disclose that knowledge and redesign the product accordingly.” 

The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice retain federal enforcement authority in this case, but Liu said that individuals (including class-action suits) can potentially pursue separate state-law or other claims against Meta.  

Demo Day brings together students, investors, mentors, industry leaders, and the Atlanta community to meet founders, experience live product demonstrations, and discover new ventures from Georgia Tech. From women’s health and accessibility to artificial intelligence and manufacturing, founders will showcase companies addressing real-world challenges across industries. 

Among them are two startups whose journeys show just how far an idea can go. 

From Demo Day Attendees to Founders 

For Yaashmita Senthilnathan, a second-year student in the College of Sciences and the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, and Srija Konathala, a second-year student in the College of Computing, this year’s Demo Day represents a full-circle moment. 

In 2025, the roommates attended Demo Day together, walking through the exhibits and meeting student founders. “We really enjoyed Demo Day,” Konathala said. “We met some other students and thought, ‘Imagine if that could be us?’” 

A year later, it is. 

They are now building Alva, a women’s health technology startup that combines AI and consulting to help biotech and medtech companies improve product testing. 

Through Georgia Tech’s Startup Exchange and as finalists in the Klaus Startup Challenge, the founders refined their ideas, pivoted when needed, and eventually launched Alva through CREATE-X. 

The team has already secured pilot partnerships with CREATE-X startups from previous cohorts, Deleon and EstroSense, enabling them to validate their platform while helping those companies test the usability of their products. 

Now, instead of walking through Demo Day imagining themselves as founders, they’ll be among those showcasing what they’ve built. “Going from attending Demo Day to now being a part of it honestly shows us how far we’ve come,” Senthilnathan said. 

Making Gaming More Accessible 

For Akos Vida, a second-year student in the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, the idea behind AdaptaPlay began with a gamer who wanted to play racing video games but couldn’t use a traditional controller. 

The gamer had cerebral palsy, and the experience inspired Vida to develop adaptive gaming technology for people with limited hand function. 

AdaptaPlay has tested its technology with organizations including the Shepherd Center, AbleGamers Foundation, APAC in Mexico City, and Georgia Tech’s Tools for Life initiative. Vida has also been selected as a speaker for the TEDxAtlanta Youth conference in October. 

Through CREATE-X Startup Launch, he continued refining both the product and his approach to building a company. “Ever day, you You believe more and more that your project is possible,” Vida said. “The guest speakers and mentors make help you realize, that when broken down,you realize that building something like this can actually happen. With every day and milestone, you look back and see that you reached a goal that first seemed impossible” 

At Demo Day, attendees will have the opportunity to meet founders like Vida and see how Georgia Tech students are turning problems they care about into products and companies. 

CREATE-X Demo Day 2026 
Thursday, Sept. 3, 5 – 7 p.m. 
LOOP 
665 Marietta St. NW 
Atlanta, GA 30313 

Demo Day is free and open to the public.  

The Academic AI Strategy establishes a shared vision for how artificial intelligence can support faculty-led innovation while preparing students for a future in which AI will play an increasingly important role across professions, industries, and society

Rooted in academic freedom, the strategy reflects Georgia Tech's commitment to ensuring students are prepared to use AI effectively, thoughtfully, and responsibly while empowering faculty and staff to explore new approaches to teaching, learning, and discovery. The strategy recognizes that decisions about AI in academic settings are best informed by faculty expertise and disciplinary judgment.

Led by Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Raheem Beyah, the strategy was shaped by faculty, staff, students, and academic leaders from across the Institute. It focuses on three priorities: AI Fluency for Every Student, AI Innovation Across the Academic Enterprise, and Institutional Leadership and Engagement.

"Artificial intelligence is transforming nearly every industry and profession our graduates will enter," said Beyah. "Georgia Tech has a responsibility to ensure our students are prepared not only to work with these technologies, but to understand their possibilities, limitations, and impacts. This strategy provides a road map for helping our community engage with AI in ways that advance learning, discovery, and societal good."

Helping bring that vision into practice is the Academic AI Playbook, led by David Joyner, interim vice provost for AI in Education. The effort began as a campus-wide initiative to better understand how our instructional community was using, teaching, and responding to AI in Georgia Tech courses. Faculty were invited to share examples of how they were incorporating AI into instruction, teaching AI concepts within their disciplines, and adapting coursework to reflect AI’s growing influence across society.

What began as an effort to inform future planning evolved into an opportunity to capture and share the wide range of work already underway across Georgia Tech.

"In order to understand what the Institute should do regarding AI in education, we needed to understand what faculty were already doing," said Joyner. "While higher education has been wrestling with the impact of AI, Georgia Tech faculty have turned hundreds of classes into micro-laboratories to explore how these technologies can support teaching and learning."

The first edition of the playbook features 67 faculty-authored articles representing every College at Georgia Tech, along with 20 lessons drawn from classroom experience. The collection includes examples of faculty using AI to support instruction, teaching students how AI is shaping their fields, and redesigning assignments and learning experiences for an increasingly AI-enabled world. Together, the articles provide practical, discipline-specific insights that faculty can adapt to their own teaching contexts.

As additional resources, examples, and opportunities for engagement emerge, the Institute will continue sharing guidance and fostering conversations that help faculty shape how AI should and should not be used in the classroom.  

Students, faculty, and staff should anticipate increased campus congestion and modifications to parking locations and transportation schedules that day. Notifications to move vehicles will continue to be sent to permit holders in affected parking areas throughout the week, especially with some areas closing as early as 3 p.m. on game day. Visit the Parking and Transportation website for details.  

While no formal work schedule modifications are being made at the Institute level, supervisors are encouraged to be flexible with employees and ensure that they are aware of alternative parking options, available flexible work arrangements, and time-off request procedures.  

Georgia Tech faculty and staff can purchase up to four tickets for just $10 apiece for this game. This exclusive offer is available on a first-come, first-served basis, and only a limited number of tickets remain. Purchase your tickets today. In addition, the Helluva Block Party is moving to Bobby Dodd Way, with activities beginning four hours before kickoff. Learn more here.  

Go Jackets! 

When students return to campus this fall, they will find a variety of new additions and improvements to their Tech Dining experience. Perhaps the largest of these is the return of Brittain Dining Hall. Closed for renovation in 2024, Brittain reopened on Aug. 17. The dining hall features seven full-service stations and will be open from Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. 

John Lewis Student Center 

Beginning this fall, five second-floor retail concepts in the John Lewis Student Center will be operated by Craveworthy Brands, replacing the following existing concepts: 

• Noodle Theory → Big Chicken  

• Test Kitchen → Krafted Burger | Wander Dawgs | Benny's Cheesesteaks

• Campus Crust → Fresh Brothers Pizza  

• 5th District → TAIM Mediterranean Kitchen  

• Brain Freeze → Kinnamōns 
   
• The Pop Up → Blendz Bowls  
   

The introduction of Craveworthy Brands will extend many of the concepts’ evening hours until 11:30 p.m. during the week, as well as introduce weekend hours from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., giving students and campus visitors more dinner options. In addition, a new concept called Blendz Bowls will replace the former Food Popup location.  

In early September, Tech It To Go will transition to a cashierless, AI-powered operation. It will operate according to building hours, expanding food availability for students studying late into the night. Tech It To Go will also open a cashierless micromarket in the newly opened Bud and Val Peterson Residence Hall.  

Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons 

For students in the Library looking for convenient food options, California Pizza Kitchen is planning to install a vending machine on the first floor of the Clough Undergraduate Learning Commons. 

Dining Hall Renovations 

The West Village Dining Hall has expanded seating and updated some second-floor stations. The first floor now features an expanded salad bar and dessert station, including soft serve ice cream and Dole Whip. Both West Village and Brittain dining halls now have a made-to-order deli featuring Boar’s Head products.  

Coffee and More 

Illy Coffee is expanding to both West Village and Carnegie Kitchen, which will also be expanding the micromarket to include a fresh salad bar. The Illy Coffee in West Village is expected to open in late August, followed by Carnegie Kitchen later in the fall. Until Carnegie’s opening, several food trucks will be operating in Harrison Square. And, while Tech Dining currently hosts a community market on Wednesdays in Tech Green, this fall they will be expanding to host a market in Tech Square once a month. 

Robots Return  

Following the departure of Starship robots from campus, robot delivery is returning, with Avride serving as Tech’s new autonomous food delivery provider. Tech Dining will integrate Avride with Grubhub to create a more seamless ordering and delivery experience on campus.  
 

The assessment evaluated Shield against CMMC Level 2 requirements, a framework established by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) to protect sensitive information. The review examined cybersecurity processes and controls across multiple domains, including access control, incident response, configuration management, system security, and risk management. 

"Strong research depends on strong operational foundations,” said Bill Dracos, Georgia Tech’s chief Research operations officer. “This certification validates the systems, processes, and partnerships we've built across Georgia Tech to safeguard sensitive information, support our researchers, and ensure we remain a trusted partner for government-sponsored research."  

As federal sponsors continue to place greater emphasis on cybersecurity, institutions conducting DoD-related research must demonstrate their ability to protect sensitive information. The successful assessment provides additional assurance to sponsors, partners, and researchers that Georgia Tech has implemented the security controls necessary to support this work. 

"Completing the CMMC assessment is a significant milestone for Georgia Tech," said Joe Lewis, associate vice president for Information Technology and chief information security officer. "Earning a perfect score reflects months of planning, collaboration, and dedication from teams across the Institute that worked together to build and maintain a secure research environment that meets rigorous federal requirements."  

In 2025, the Office of the Executive Vice President for Research, in partnership with the Office of Information Technology's Cybersecurity department, launched the Shield initiative to support research projects involving CMMC and requiring enhanced cybersecurity measures. Shield provides researchers and principal investigators with a secure, functional platform for conducting sponsored research involving CUI, while meeting DoD security requirements. 

The C3PAO assessment outcome strengthens Georgia Tech's ability to support existing DoD-sponsored research and compete for future opportunities that require compliance with federal cybersecurity standards. 

"This achievement demonstrates Georgia Tech's dedication to research excellence, cybersecurity, and compliance," Lewis added. "It reflects the commitment of teams across the Institute to building secure research capabilities that support both our researchers and our sponsors."

More than 26 million people watched the Argentina vs. England semifinal match held at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium — setting viewership records on both Fox and Telemundo. Santiago Calvino, Daniela Ruiz, and Grace Inagaki were not among those watching at home. Instead, they were helping execute broadcasts as interns with Host Broadcast Services (HBS).   

The trio of Yellow Jackets worked all eight matches in Atlanta with the company that has been FIFA’s official broadcast partner since 2002. Inagaki, a fourth-year biomedical engineering student, and Calvino, a second-year economics and international affairs student, were members of the Commentary Control Room (CCR) team, helping set up equipment before the match and adjusting levels for commentators in the booth. Ruiz, a second-year literature, media, and communication student, served on the media liaison team, directing broadcasters to their locations and acting as the first point of contact for media professionals.  

The event’s scale made for a surreal experience, but Inagaki says their focus remained on the task at hand. For the CCR team, this meant equalizing levels as a broadcaster’s voice rose after a goal, reacting to technical glitches in real time, and offering translation help to Spanish broadcasters.   

“This was the coolest thing we’ve ever done, and it was incredible just to be in the stadium. While we were aware of the ticket cost and the hype around the event as it was happening, our job was in the media booth, not on the pitch. For us, it was about being a professional and getting the job done,” Inagaki said.   

As soccer fans, the students began looking for ways to get involved as World Cup preparations got underway. When each of them saw an email from the Georgia Tech Career Center about the HBS Intern Program, they jumped at the chance to apply.  

“You can't put into perspective how much work and how many people it takes to make an event like the World Cup happen,” Ruiz said. “We saw everything that occurred on match days, and knowing that work had been going on for years is fascinating, especially seeing it all play out behind the scenes as the match was going on. It was so rewarding to play even a small role in such a massive operation.”  

Calvino added, “As a fan, I never truly thought of how many people it takes to make sure these matches run smoothly, and this internship has given me a new appreciation of everyone who puts in the effort before, during, and after the match to make that happen. It's satisfying to know that I played a part in delivering a positive experience to fans around the world."  

The placement of the job postings stemmed from a conversation between Georgia Tech’s Career Center and HBS more than a year before the tournament began. Dana Pudenz, employer connections manager in the Career Center, spoke at length with HBS representatives about the type of interns they were seeking to fill positions for the World Cup. Pudenz made sure the applications were posted to CareerBuzz, Tech’s career management platform, and shared them with students via email and student organizations.

Throughout their internship, the students said Tech had prepared them to tackle challenges and to fully embrace this “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity. “When talking with these companies and organizations, they know Georgia Tech’s reputation, but they also realize that every major here is going to have the well-rounded background they need to succeed,” Pudenz said. “Whether it's the World Cup or other events that come to the city, they know where to turn to get motivated students who want to work and will be the ones they want to hire for full-time positions.”    

Regardless of where students are in their degree programs, Pudenz and the World Cup interns encourage Yellow Jackets to connect with the Career Center. The All-Majors Career Fair will take place Sept. 14 – 15 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and there will be a Faculty Employer Networking Breakfast from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on both days. All faculty are invited to attend. Contact the Career Center with any questions. 

Melkote succeeds J. Mark Nolan, who announced he will step down from the role effective Aug. 31 after helping establish and grow Georgia Tech’s integrated approach to corporate engagement and industry partnerships. 

“I am grateful to Shreyes for stepping into this important leadership role during this transition,” said Lieuwen. “Throughout his career, he has demonstrated an exceptional ability to build meaningful partnerships between academia and industry. His deep understanding of research, innovation, and corporate collaboration makes him uniquely qualified to lead our corporate engagement efforts as we continue advancing Georgia Tech’s mission and strengthening relationships with industry partners around the world.” 

Melkote brings extensive experience building industry partnerships and collaborative research programs. He serves as executive director of the Novelis Innovation Hub at Georgia Tech and has led the Institute’s strategic engagement with The Boeing Company since 2012 through its University Innovation Program. An internationally recognized manufacturing researcher, Melkote has authored more than 300 publications and is a fellow of ASME, SME, and CIRP. 

“I am honored to serve in this role and build upon the strong foundation established by Mark Nolan and the Office of Corporate Engagement team,” said Melkote.  

A national search is underway for the permanent associate vice president of Corporate Engagement. The search is being led by Chris Jones, John F. Brock III School Chair and Professor in the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, with support from executive search firm WittKieffer.  
 
Learn more about the position and search process. 

Week of Welcome began in 2020 and has grown each year. For 2026, the weeklong celebration features more than 300 events, offering experiences and opportunities for all first-year, graduate, and transfer students.  

“This week is an opportunity for students to connect and explore campus, get connected to culture and to their peers, but also just an opportunity to have fun before the stress of coursework begins,” said Chrissonia McCall, senior project support specialist in Housing and Residence Life.  

Signature events like New Student Convocation bring thousands together to share in the start of their Tech journey, but Week of Welcome features plenty of smaller-scale events that allow students to connect and get to know their peers.  

“Many of our events are 30 students or fewer, and those are great chances to find an organization that piques your interest or to find something completely new to you. This week is all about exploring the breadth of what is available at Tech and bringing down those barriers for students to engage with their new surroundings. Everyone is new and figuring things out at the same time, so this is a time when you can learn it all together,” Tegra Myanna, director of engagement and program operations in Housing and Residence Life, said.  

To expedite the Week of Welcome experience, students should fill out the waiver form. 

All Week of Welcome events can be found on Engage, but here are some you may want to mark on your calendar.  

Rock, Ramble, and Roll 

When: Monday, Aug. 17, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 

Where: Exhibition Hall and John Lewis Student Center 

Hosted by the Student and Campus Event Centers, Housing and Residence Life, and Tech Dining, this high-energy event is your chance to meet fellow Yellow Jackets, enjoy food, explore the John Lewis Student Center, and experience fun, music-themed activities. 

Yellow Jacket Mega Mixer 

When: Monday, Aug. 17, 7 – 9 p.m. 

Where: Tech Green 

Hosted by the Center for Student Engagement, which includes Fraternity and Sorority Life, Student Media, Student Organizations, Civic Engagement, and John Lewis Student Leadership Pathways, the Yellow Jacket Mega Mixer is a chance to meet new friends, engage with student leaders, and immerse yourself in campus life.  

 Navigating GT: Wellness and Resource Fair 

When: Tuesday, Aug. 18, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. 

Where: Midtown Ballroom, Exhibition Hall 

Kick off your Georgia Tech journey by discovering the people, places, and programs designed to support your success. The fair connects students with a wide range of campus resources and organizations committed to well-being and growth — both in and out of the classroom. Explore interactive tables; meet peers, faculty, and staff; and learn how to make the most of the Tech experience.   

King/Queen of the Court 

When: Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2:45 – 4:15 p.m. 

Where: Couch Park 

Join Women's and Men's Club Volleyball out on the grass to play volleyball and make new friends along the way. Volleyball courts will be set up on the grass to play in a casual pickup style for people of all skill levels to participate. 

Taste of Tech Square 

When: Tuesday, Aug. 18, 5 – 9 p.m. 

Where: Tech Square 

Experience a place that's unmistakably Georgia Tech. Taste of Tech Square is an immersive food festival just steps from campus, serving up delicious bites, lively entertainment, and a glimpse into the future of technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. 

RecFest 

When: Wednesday, Aug. 19, 11:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. 

Where: Stamps Field 

RecFest is Georgia Tech Campus Recreation’s signature annual kickoff event designed to welcome students to campus and connect them with the wide range of recreation programs, services, and clubs available at the CRC.  

Esports Open House 

When: Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2:45 – 4:15 p.m. 

Where: Esports and Gaming Lounge, Campus Recreation Center 

Hosted by Georgia Tech Esports, this event will feature a tour of the new space and provide an overview of the organization before an open, free-play session for students in the gaming lounge.  

Paper & Clay Craft Day 

When: Wednesday, Aug. 19, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. 

Where: Paper & Clay 

This event is an opportunity to explore Paper & Clay's crafts by making dorm decor and friendship bracelets. 

Grad Expo 

When: Thursday, Aug. 20, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. 

Where: Midtown Ballroom, Exhibition Ballroom 

Held in conjunction with Graduate Institute Orientation, GradExpo connects new graduate students with over 50 campus units and student organizations, showcasing the many resources and services available to support graduate students at Tech.  

RATS Night 

When: Thursday, Aug. 20, 6 – 9 p.m. 

Where: Georgia Tech Library 

Take over the Library for a night of fun, filled with entertainment, snacks, video games, trivia, arts and crafts, and free giveaways.  

Magicians Workshop 

When: Friday, Aug. 21, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 

Where: Room C456, Van Leer Building  

Beginners and pros alike are invited to attend this open workshop hosted by Magicians @ GT to pick up some cool new tricks to impress your friends.  

Cardboard Boat Race 

When: Friday, Aug. 21, 1 – 3 p.m. 

Where: McAuley Aquatic Center, Campus Recreation Center 

Watch and cheer teams on as they have 60 minutes to build a canoe out of cardboard, duct tape, and other supplies before they must paddle their boat across the McAuley Aquatic Center pool.  

House Party at Bobby Dodd 

When: Friday, Aug. 21, 6 – 9 p.m. 

Where: Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field 

Georgia Tech Athletics is hosting a House Party to welcome students back to campus. Enjoy inflatables, on-field activities, a live DJ, a gaming truck, and food trucks. The event will have a clear bag policy, and students are allowed to bring empty, non-metal, reusable water bottles into the stadium. 

New Student Convocation 

When: Sunday, Aug. 23, 4 – 5 p.m. 

Where: McCamish Pavilion 

Get your RAT cap, T-Book, and Georgia Tech pin at this year’s New Student Convocation. The event is a welcome ceremony for incoming students, and more information can be found on the New Student Convocation website. Connect with peers beforehand at the New Transfer and Commuter Student Pre-Convocation Mixer at the John Lewis Student Center from 1:30 to 3 p.m. 

Tech’s contribution is an 8.8% increase over fiscal year 2024 and accounts for more than 25% of the $25.1 billion economic activity created by the 25 USG colleges and universities — $16.3 billion in direct spending by students and by institutions, and an additional $8.8 billion generated in local communities as those dollars circulate through the economy. 

The study, conducted by the Selig Center for Economic Growth in the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business, also measures the value of a USG degree, projecting that graduates will boost their work-life earnings in Georgia by 80% and earn $1.4 million more than those who receive a high school diploma.  

"Serving Georgia is core to our mission as a public university,” said Ángel Cabrera, president of Georgia Tech. “Our $6.3 billion contribution to the economy is one of the many important ways we create value for our state. Together with the talent we develop, the businesses we help create and grow, and the innovation we drive, we are proud to deliver best-in-kind return on the significant investment the state makes in our work year after year."

The Institute conferred 13,096 degrees in fiscal year 2025, with the study estimating total work-life earnings of more than $48.6 billion for the class of 2025. Through reductions in in-state tuition and fees, increased access to need-based scholarships, and commitments to preparing graduates for the jobs of the future, Tech continues to be ranked among the top universities for return on investment and career placement.    

In addition to the value it offers to students, Georgia Tech directly employs 12,288 people on campus, and the study finds that an additional 25,100 off-campus jobs have been created due to Institute-related spending — the highest among all USG institutions.  

After an extensive two-year renovation, Brittain Dining Hall is reopening Monday, Aug. 17.  

The facility's exterior and main dining area retain the same Collegiate Gothic architecture that has been a campus staple since its original construction in 1928, but the kitchen, service areas, and systems have all been modernized.  

“We are proud to bring historic Brittain Dining Hall back to its renowned place at the heart of the Georgia Tech experience. While preserving what generations of Yellow Jackets have loved about Brittain, we have significantly upgraded the facility to serve today’s students, employees, alumni, and stakeholders with greater variety, more options for guests with allergen needs, and innovative culinary selections,” said Ryan Greene, executive director for Dining and Retail Services. 

In designing the new space, Tech Dining wanted to preserve the structure's historic character — which has drawn comparisons to Hogwarts and landed it on Southern Living magazine’s list of the South’s most stunning dining halls — while providing diners with a revamped experience, featuring seven full-service stations outfitted with new state-of-the-art kitchen equipment as well as beverage and dessert options.  

Those include: 

• Smoothie Lab — A smoothie and acai bowl station.  

• Green Bytes and Slices — An expanded salad bar (relocated from the dining room to the servery), a made-to-order deli, and soup.   

• Smart Slice — A pizza station. 

• GT Fire Bowl — A new Mongolian concept.  

• Ramblin’ Grill – A full grill station.  

• Plant-Power Hive — A vegetarian and vegan station.  

• A full beverage station –  A station featuring soda, water, coffee and other drinks.  

• Soft-serve ice cream and a Dole Whip machine.  

Walking through the servery — the service area between the kitchen and the main dining room —  diners will notice expanded walkways, increased natural light, and the restored original terrazzo flooring. That flooring was crafted by the Institute’s ceramics department, founded in 1924 by the building’s namesake, Georgia Tech President Marion L. Brittain. 

In the dining room, restoration work preserves the cathedral ceiling and stained-glass windows originally designed by Julian Hoke Harris, Arch 1928, a longtime architecture professor at Tech. The building’s HVAC systems have been updated, and the wrought-iron lights originally made by the mechanical engineering department have been retrofitted with LED lights.  

Behind the scenes, Brittain’s main kitchen has received a complete overhaul. New kitchen appliances, water heaters, and an entirely new dish room will reduce water and energy usage while making the operation safer and more streamlined for employees. A new walk-in freezer has been added to the kitchen, while the previous outdoor unit has been relocated to the West Village Dining Hall.  

Lighter Fare 

When exploring the new offerings at Brittain, diners will not find a fryer at any of the stations. Instead, items like French fries will be baked at the dining hall, offering a more health-conscious approach. The expanded space will allow for the introduction of new dishes, cuisines, and menu rotations to keep up with demand. 

“The renewed Brittain represents the continued evolution of Tech Dining. By combining healthier cooking methods, fresh and flavorful ingredients, innovative menu development, and strong culinary execution, we are creating a dining experience that meets the expectations of today’s students and reflects the excellence of Georgia Tech,” Greene said.  

Hours of Operation 

Brittain Dining Hall will be open Monday – Friday, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. 

Brittain will not open for breakfast or on weekends, but North Avenue Dining Hall and West Village Dining Hall remain open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.  

Brittain’s Next Century 

Brittain has been a staple on campus for nearly a century. Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera cut the ribbon at a ceremony Wednesday, marking the beginning of the dining hall's next chapter. 

“At Georgia Tech, we build new things and we develop new technologies, but we are tied to our roots, to our values, to our history. We know where we come from, and this building is a symbol of that. And I know, in another 150 years, we will be able to say the same thing,” he said. "When I’m visiting with our alumni, I tell them when they go back to campus, a lot of things will look new, but a lot of things remain absolutely the same, and that’s what this place represents. Memories are made in this place.” 

Green Forks was founded by Renee Alnoubani, CE 2025, who is currently pursuing a master's in city and regional planning, and Ivy Xue, Neuroscience 2023, with support from Danielle Ismirle Dunigan of Tech Dining, Steven Fazenbaker of Student Life, and Steve Place of the Office of Sustainability, after students raised concerns about the amount of food being discarded after campus events. Recognizing an opportunity to address both food waste and food insecurity, the founding team partnered with Klemis Kitchen to develop a simple, scalable solution that directs surplus food to students who can benefit from it. 

The process is straightforward. When a catered event ends with surplus food, the event coordinator or catering team submits a brief form. Students registered through Klemis Kitchen receive notifications when food is available, allowing them to pick up meals during a designated collection period. The model is designed to align with food safety requirements while minimizing additional work for event organizers. 

Director of Dining Services Danielle Ismirle Dunigan said, “The students who proposed the idea were passionate about helping divert the many leftovers after catering events. Green Forks is basically a communication tool, and it has effectively diverted food waste while feeding hungry Yellow Jackets. Each Green Forks alert makes my day, knowing we are making a difference in many ways.” 

In just two years, Green Forks has made a significant impact across campus. The program has supported 526 events and provided an estimated 4,750 meals to students. These numbers represent thousands of opportunities for students experiencing food insecurity to access nutritious food that otherwise may have been discarded.  

Student Life Program Director Steve Fazenbaker added, "The idea that drives my work is that everything a student needs to thrive and flourish at Georgia Tech can be found somewhere at Georgia Tech. Green Forks brings that idea to life in a powerful way. Through Green Forks, students are made aware almost daily of the abundance of food on campus, and they are reminded that they never need to miss a meal.”  

Beyond the numbers, students say the program has provided both practical support and a sense of community. One student said that Green Forks helped them "worry less about paying for food and living costs," while another described the program as a reminder of the generosity and care that exists across the Georgia Tech community. 

Steve Place, campus sustainability project manager for the Office of Sustainability, said, "Green Forks is the perfect example of different units working together to meet a common goal. Each partner brought what they do best, and the result was a terrific collaboration that serves campus and makes us incredibly proud." 

Green Forks also advances Georgia Tech's sustainability goals by reducing food waste. Rather than sending edible leftovers to the landfill, the program diverts food to students who can use it immediately, maximizing the value of meals already prepared for campus events. 

The program's success has attracted attention beyond Georgia Tech. Team members have worked with other institutions to share the model, including Missouri State University and North Carolina State University, helping expand the impact of a program that began with a simple student idea. 

Faculty and staff can help continue that success by using Green Forks for catered events, allowing extra time for food collection, and submitting surplus food through the program. Every event has the potential to reduce waste, strengthen community, and help ensure that no Georgia Tech student goes hungry. 

For event coordinators and students who want to participate in and learn more about Green Forks and other temporary assistance programs at Georgia Tech, visit the Green Forks webpage  

When a West Atlanta church received donated solar panels and battery storage to operate as a community resilience hub, Pérez-Guzmán led an academic-practitioner team that helped the congregation turn that hardware into an operational playbook. She is now using the same model to build a regional network that links community leaders and researchers on resilience, food access, and disaster response. 

Pérez-Guzmán, an assistant professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and a faculty fellow at the Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS), focuses on addressing problems within the supply chain and transportation domains. “These challenges often encompass disruptions, human behavior, multiple stakeholders, and sustainability objectives,” she said. 

Before joining Georgia Tech in 2023, she was a postdoctoral research associate at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Center for Infrastructure, Transportation, and the Environment. She also holds a courtesy appointment in the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering at Georgia Tech. 

“All of the research that I do always starts with a problem that has some sort of important social impact,” she said, “and then I try to draw from my expertise in different fields to help solve that problem.” 

Building a Network, One Pilot at a Time 

Through BBISS and its Sustainability Next grant program, Pérez-Guzmán co-leads a community resilience network of roughly 40 to 50 practitioners and researchers working on community-led resilience hubs across Georgia and South Carolina, with plans to expand across the Southeast. 

“Neither researchers nor practitioners alone can advance community resilience as they could if they work together,” she said. “The purpose of the network is to facilitate and leverage partnerships.” 

Community Church Atlanta is one of the first pilots. The church’s resilience hub, established in 2023, offers weekly support services and on-site solar and battery storage to keep power flowing during outages caused by storms, heat waves, or other disruptions. It is also the launching point for the Westside Resilience Corridor, a partnership of four churches along Cascade Road working to become resilience hubs for their neighborhoods. 

Working with church leaders, emergency managers, and community representatives, Pérez-Guzmán and partners held a two-day workshop to map likely hazards, define critical services, and draft activation procedures. Among those partners was Beth Remmes, coastal outreach and climate resiliency coordinator for Georgia Interfaith Power & Light (GIPL), who helped design and facilitate the process. “The whole idea behind resilience hubs is creating social cohesion,” Remmes said. “Social connectivity and relationships in the community are one of the biggest determinants of our ability not only to bounce back, but hopefully to bounce forward in a stronger way.” 

She noted that churches like Community Church Atlanta already serve as informal first responders. The resilience hub work makes that role more intentional by focusing on preparedness, programming, and connection well before an emergency. Just as important, in her view, was Tech’s ability to see how lessons from Community Church Atlanta could inform future resilience hubs across the region. 

Erica Holloman-Hill, founder and chief envisioning officer of Ayika Solutions Inc. and a member of Community Church Atlanta, sees that impact from inside the congregation. In the resilience hub effort, she provides technical guidance on the solar and battery system, helps shape programming such as workforce development, and helped bring partners like Groundswell and Georgia Tech to the table. 

“Georgia Tech uniquely brings the science and academia,” Holloman-Hill said. “Being able to leverage an institution like Georgia Tech gives weight to some of the work that we’re doing, while leaning on the technical expertise of professors like Sofía and partnering with organizations like GIPL to create models and support.” 

Looking ahead, Holloman-Hill said Community Church Atlanta is focused on refining how the hub operates and sharing lessons learned with other churches in the Westside Resilience Corridor. That means clarifying how the church will run the hub during emergencies, which partners need to be at the table, and how a third-party technical advisor can help keep the system performing as designed. 

For Pérez-Guzmán, those kinds of relationships are the real outcome. “The relationship, the trust, the partnership — it’s probably the most important outcome we’ve seen,” she said. 

Jennifer Hirsch, senior director of BBISS’s Center for Sustainable Communities Research and Education (SCoRE) and the network co-lead, sees the same value at an institutional scale. 

“Universities are important members of their communities and can be key partners in sustainability and resilience efforts when they mobilize their research capabilities, students, and other resources to partner with and support local leadership and innovations,” Hirsch said. “Networks of universities and communities can serve as multipliers of innovative approaches. With the resilience hubs network, we are excited to incubate new ideas that are community-centric and evidence-based and tailored to the Southeast communities that our partners know best.” 

Where Resilience Meets Food Access 

This partnership model also shapes what Pérez-Guzmán calls her most immediately actionable project: a decision-support tool connecting local food producers, distributors, and access points in Atlanta. Her team has gathered survey and experimental data from residents in West End and citywide, testing how distance, travel time, price, and a store’s ties to the community shape where people choose to shop. “We’re trying to design tools for logistics and food distribution decisions that bring food closer to people,” she said. 

A parallel thread runs through her disaster response work, where she studies how people choose among points of distribution for emergency relief. Proximity matters, she’s found, but it isn’t everything. Many people will travel farther if they believe they’re more likely to receive supplies, or if it lets them move closer to family. In urban freight, she has applied the same lens to city logistics, studying behavior around emerging technologies such as sidewalk delivery robots and autonomous trucks. 

“Atlanta’s mix of freight infrastructure, food access challenges, and weather vulnerability makes it fertile ground for that range of work,” she said.  

“Across every project, the constant is not only patience but also resilience. Along the way, we realize that the original research idea may no longer make sense, or that different approaches are required. The process is very nonlinear and requires revision, reassessment, and a lot of pivoting,” she said. “It basically requires tons of resilience!” 

The team’s 655-kilogram vehicle, dubbed SR-4 Aurora and powered by a 14-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack, 1.2-kilowatt solar array, and custom in-hub radial flux motors, propelled the team to first place in the Grand Prix’s multi-occupant category. Held at the Brainerd International Raceway in Minnesota, the Formula Sun Grand Prix tested each vehicle’s handling, endurance, and efficiency. For laps completed, optimization, and efficiency, Tech won with a score of 95.8 (out of 100) and was the only team to place four people in its vehicle throughout the event.   

The FSGP served as a qualifier for the premier collegiate solar car event in North America, the American Solar Challenge. The biannual event, which began on July 25, featured teams traveling more than 1,600 miles along the Great River Road and Route 66 from Minneapolis to Amarillo, Texas, over eight days. Tech was one of three multi-occupant teams to complete the challenge, and, once again, the only team to do so with four riders — setting an all-time ASC record for the highest average occupancy. 

After placing third in the FSGP last year, the team returned to Georgia Tech’s Student Competition Center to begin fine-tuning the SR-4. Weekly testing pushed the car to its limits. Outgoing team president Sam Woolsey recalled that many testing days ended with car components failing. The team addressed mechanical and electrical speed bumps along the way, including an issue that forced them to ship their motors back to their supplier early in the summer. They got the motors back just four days before the competition. 

“We went into this competition without any expectations because our car had broken so much in front of us. But every time that car broke down was an issue we learned about and now knew how to fix it. It was satisfying to come to the competition after all those testing days ended in sadness, because we were prepared for almost anything that our car could throw at us. And on site, we had one of the most reliable cars at that competition,” Woolsey said.  

While the next American Solar Challenge is in 2028, the victories and records at this year’s event only serve to motivate the team to work harder to improve ahead of next year’s Formula Sun Grand Prix. The team intends to launch a new car and compete in the single-occupant category 

“The work has already started,” Woolsey said.  

The team’s success didn’t occur overnight. Woolsey credits the hundreds of students who have contributed to the vehicle, dating back to its design phase in 2020. Georgia Tech Solar Racing currently has more than 150 active members, which they expect to grow. The team is primarily made up of mechanical and electrical engineering majors, but all students are encouraged to join.  

“We're proud to be one of the teams in the Student Competition Center that is pushing forward what extracurriculars can do for your education,” Woolsey said. “There are few other places on campus where you can learn the kind of technical communication, the group work dynamics, and the real-world problem-solving opportunities that you get here. It’s the epitome of what a Georgia Tech education is about.” 

The 2026 Fall Biannual Compliance Training will help Georgia Tech employees understand and uphold the University System of Georgia (USG) and the Institute’s policies and compliance obligations. All faculty, staff, and students who are active employees as of Aug. 21 will be required to complete the training by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Monday, Sept. 21.  

“As regulatory environments continue to evolve, Institute-wide learning and development are essential to helping employees understand their responsibilities and respond consistently to compliance obligations,” said Joshua B. Toas, chief ethics and compliance officer. “The 2026 Fall Biannual Compliance Training will help employees recognize common security risks, apply policy requirements in daily work, protect institutional resources, and know where to turn for guidance when questions arise. The active participation of our employees demonstrates a shared commitment to ethics, compliance, and accountability across the Institute.” 

As with previous campaigns, the training also includes learning modules designed to help employees protect themselves and the Institute from cyberattacks. 

“Every member of the Georgia Tech community plays a role in protecting the Institute’s systems and data,” added Leo Howell, vice president for Information Technology and chief information officer. “As cyberthreats continue to evolve, including increasingly sophisticated social engineering and AI-enabled attacks, security awareness is more important than ever. These training modules help equip employees with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions and recognize cyberthreats when they come across them.” 

The training will be available at b.gatech.edu/genius beginning Aug. 31 and will take approximately 120 minutes. 

The Three-Part 2026 Fall Biannual Compliance Training Includes: 

Part 1:  

• University System of Georgia Ethics Refresher. 

• Ethics in Action at Georgia Tech (includes Conflict of Interest attestation). 

• Identifying and Responding to Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct. 

• Controlled Unclassified Information Overview. 

• Responsible Conduct of Research Overview. 

• Sensitive Data Overview. 

Part 2: 2026 KnowBe4 Security Awareness Training 

Part 3: A Deepfake Social Engineering Attack 

The training modules can be completed on a desktop or laptop and do not need to be finished at one time. Employees who do not complete the training by the deadline may face disciplinary action by the Institute.   

Learn more about the 2026 Fall Biannual Compliance Training.

As associate director of Utilities Management within Infrastructure and Operations, Clonts and his team work around the clock to ensure that students, faculty, staff, and researchers have reliable access to electricity, heating, cooling, and water. While much of that work happens out of sight, it plays a critical role in supporting every aspect of campus life. 

"In the utilities business, no news is usually good news," said Clonts. "Most people don't think about heating, cooling, electricity, or water until something stops working." 

Keeping Campus Running 

Clonts oversees the utility infrastructure that helps keep Georgia Tech operating every day. His responsibilities include managing the Institute's district energy systems, which generate heating and cooling for buildings across campus, as well as overseeing relationships with utility providers and vendors. 

His team also tracks energy consumption, benchmarks building performance, identifies conservation opportunities, and supports both Georgia Tech's Climate Action Plan and long-term utility planning efforts. 

While many assume that universities simply purchase utilities from outside providers, Clonts says Georgia Tech's operation is much more complex. 

Tech operates two central district energy plants that generate heating and cooling for a large portion of campus. Beneath the sidewalks, roads, and green spaces lies an extensive network of underground pipes that distribute chilled water for cooling and steam for heating to campus buildings. 

"It's infrastructure that works every day to keep campus comfortable and operational," Clonts said. 

No Such Thing as a Typical Day 

Because Georgia Tech operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, there is no ordinary day in utilities management. 

Clonts usually begins each morning by reviewing the status of utility systems and district energy plants to ensure they are meeting campus demands. Any equipment issues, outages, or operational concerns immediately become top priorities. 

Once critical operations are addressed, his work shifts toward long-term improvements. 

"Whether we're responding to an emergency, making campus more resilient, identifying ways to operate more efficiently, advancing sustainability goals, or planning infrastructure that will support Georgia Tech for the next decade, there's always something new to tackle," he said. 

Supporting Every Corner of Campus 

From residence halls and classrooms to research laboratories, athletic facilities, and offices, reliable utility systems make teaching, learning, research, and campus experiences possible. 

Managing those services comes with unique challenges. 

One of the largest is the diversity of campus facilities, where each building, lab, or athletic facility comes with different operational needs. The age of campus infrastructure adds another layer of complexity, with some buildings featuring modern, energy-efficient systems while others have served the Institute for decades. 

The need to maintain uninterrupted service for critical operations makes planning and maintenance even more important. 

Advancing Sustainability Through Energy 

Many of Georgia Tech's sustainability goals are directly connected to the work of utilities management. 

"Our greenhouse gas inventory is heavily influenced by two key areas: the natural gas we use for heating and the electricity we purchase to power campus operations," Clonts said. 

One initiative he is especially excited about is the electrification of heating systems and transportation. 

The Institute is working to reduce reliance on fossil fuels by transitioning building heating systems to technologies such as heat-recovery chillers and expanding the use of electric vehicles across campus. Infrastructure and Operations also regularly invests in energy efficiency improvements, including lighting upgrades and HVAC system optimization. 

"This transition supports Georgia Tech's Climate Action goals, improves efficiency, and helps reduce local air pollutants," Clonts said. 

Technology is also changing the way utility systems are managed. Smart meters and advanced metering infrastructure now provide real-time utility data, allowing Clonts' team to monitor building performance more closely, identify unusual usage patterns, and make better-informed decisions. 

"We're also seeing significant innovation in heat pump and heat recovery chiller technologies," he said. "These systems can simultaneously provide heating and cooling while recovering energy that would otherwise be wasted." 

Letting Data Drive Decisions 

Data and analytics have become essential tools for Utilities Management. 

By analyzing utility consumption and building performance, the team can identify trends, prioritize projects, and maximize the impact of investments. "Instead of relying on assumptions, we use real data to help prioritize projects and investments that will have the greatest impact," Clonts said. 

Smart meters, building automation systems, and automated alerts also allow the team to quickly detect equipment issues and respond before they become larger problems. 

The Importance of Water Conservation 

While energy often dominates sustainability conversations, Clonts believes water conservation deserves more attention. 

Atlanta's history of drought challenges and the city's relatively high water and sewer costs make conservation efforts both environmentally and financially important. Residence halls are among the largest water users on campus outside of district energy plants, creating a significant opportunity for students to help make a difference. 

Simple actions, such as taking shorter showers, reporting leaks, and being mindful of daily water use, can have a meaningful impact when multiplied across thousands of students. 

"Water conservation is a sustainability effort where small individual actions can add up quickly," Clonts said. 

A Living Campus 

For students interested in careers related to infrastructure, energy, engineering, or sustainability, Clonts encourages curiosity and hands-on learning. "Georgia Tech is a mini city," he said. "Every day you're surrounded by a diverse range of buildings, transportation networks, and utility infrastructure." 

He believes that understanding how campus infrastructure works helps people recognize how much goes on behind the scenes and how individual actions contribute to a more sustainable campus. Ultimately, that behind-the-scenes work is what motivates him and his team every day. 

"What many people don't see is all the planning, monitoring, maintenance, and coordination that happens every day to keep problems from occurring in the first place," Clonts said. "When everything is working as it should, people can focus on teaching, learning, research, and campus life." 

The Institute is one of 17 public schools to receive a five-star ranking and the only institution in the state to receive the designation. To compile its list for 2026 and to “help families find schools that deliver strong value,” the publication evaluated more than 700 four-year colleges on 25 metrics, including graduation rates, costs, financial aid, student debt, and alumni salaries. 

In its breakdown, Money declares, “Georgia Tech gets results.” 

Cementing its status as a national leader in outcomes and value for all students remains a top priority in the Institute’s strategic plan. Since 2019, as in-state tuition has risen nationwide by an average of $2,200, Tech has reduced its in-state tuition and fees by nearly 25%. Georgia Tech students continue to outpace the national average with a 93% graduation rate, 75% of whom finish in four years or less.   

Tech recently completed its most successful fundraising year in history, including millions of dollars for need-based scholarships, advancing opportunities for students of all socioeconomic backgrounds.  

The recognition from Money is the latest accolade Tech has received for its value creation and return on investment. The Princeton Review has named Georgia Tech a best value public college for three consecutive years, and this year, Tech retained its place on Forbes’ list of New Ivies, receiving the highest C-suite rating of any university. 

Last year's Tech Square Tech Hop welcomed more than 940 attendees. This year, the event returns Aug. 14 with even more opportunities to explore the people, ideas, and organizations driving the momentum. 

Presented by Avant South during ATL Tech Week, Tech Square Tech Hop transforms Tech Square into a walkable showcase of startups, research, and entrepreneurship, inviting the public to experience firsthand the people, ideas, and technologies shaping Atlanta's future. 

More than an event, Tech Hop reflects Georgia Tech's broader commitment to strengthening Atlanta's innovation ecosystem by bringing together founders, researchers, students, corporate partners, investors, and community organizations in one of the country's most dynamic innovation districts. 

Attendees can explore live startup demonstrations, interactive exhibits, research showcases, food and beverage experiences from local entrepreneurs, and the organizations moving ideas from the lab to the marketplace. 

Georgia Tech continues to work with the City of Atlanta, higher education institutions, industry leaders, startups, and community partners to advance Atlanta's vision of becoming one of the nation's premier technology hubs. Through these partnerships, the Institute is creating new pathways for commercialization, startup growth, workforce development, and economic opportunity.  

“Sustaining a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem takes an intentional, holistic approach," said Michael "Dixon" Dixon, senior director of Strategic Initiatives and Operations. “Atlanta has all the right ingredients. Our role is to connect the dots, bring the right people to the table, and help move bold ideas into action. Tech Hop celebrates the people, partnerships, and entrepreneurial spirit that make Atlanta's innovation ecosystem thrive.” 

Avant South 

Hosted by Georgia Tech, Avant South returns Oct. 12 – 13 with a focus on AI in Action, convening leaders across industry, academia, government, and the startup community to explore the technologies shaping the future. 

Together, Tech Square Tech Hop and Avant South create opportunities for entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, industry leaders, and the broader community to connect and experience Atlanta's innovation ecosystem. While Tech Hop brings that ecosystem to life during ATL Tech Week, Avant South continues the conversation on a larger stage each fall. 

The two events reflect Georgia Tech's commitment to accelerating innovation, fostering collaboration, and strengthening Atlanta's position as a national destination for entrepreneurship and commercialization.  

Experience Atlanta's Innovation Ecosystem 

Join us for Tech Square Tech Hop, presented by Avant South, on Friday, Aug. 14, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Tech Square. 

Explore a self-guided route featuring startup demonstrations, research exhibits, innovation organizations, food and beverage experiences, and opportunities to connect with the people building what's next. 

The event is free and open to the public. RSVP today. 

Georgia Tech’s commitment to transforming waste into a valuable campus resource has earned national recognition. The Institute recently received the APPA Sustainability Innovation Award, honoring the Office of Sustainability’s pioneering in-vessel composting program, which is helping Georgia Tech reduce waste, lower emissions, and create a more sustainable campus.  

The award is presented by APPA: Leadership in Educational Facilities, an international association that serves more than 1,300 educational institutions and facilities professionals. APPA’s Sustainability Innovation Award recognizes educational institutions that implement transformative programs or processes that enhance service delivery, improve environmental performance, reduce costs, and support student success through environmental stewardship. Recipients are selected based on innovation, sustainability impact, adaptability to other institutions, and measurable benefits to their campus communities. 

Turning Food Waste Into a Campus Resource 

Georgia Tech’s award-winning in-vessel composting program exemplifies how innovative infrastructure can support ambitious sustainability goals. 

The Office of Sustainability received a Recycling and Waste Diversion grant from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division in 2024 to implement the composter, which arrived on campus last year. A student-staffed collection program (using e-bikes and an electric golf cart) captures food scraps and compostable materials from campus housing and dining facilities, and processes them on-site using a specialized in-vessel composting system. This reduces the weight of material by approximately 80%, decreasing the demand for off-campus hauling.  

Unlike traditional composting methods, the enclosed system carefully controls temperature, airflow, and moisture, accelerating decomposition while minimizing odors and reducing the space required for processing. In just over six months, three student assistants have collected more than 5 tons (10,000 pounds) of materials from various campus locations. 

“Georgia Tech has grown a strong composting program thanks to high levels of commitment from Tech Dining, Housing, and Campus Services, plus a strong hauling partner,” said Abby Bower, program and portfolio manager in the Office of Sustainability. “The in-vessel composter has added an exciting new layer to our composting services. It’s been fun to see our students embrace the technology and share their ideas for how to improve campus operations.” 

By processing organic waste on campus, Georgia Tech diverts significant amounts of material from landfills, where food waste would otherwise generate methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The program supports the Institute’s broader sustainability and circular economy objectives by keeping resources in use and reducing environmental impacts. 

Why Georgia Tech Stood Out 

According to APPA, Sustainability Innovation Award recipients demonstrate creativity, measurable environmental and economic benefits, community impact, and the ability to serve as a model for other institutions. 

Georgia Tech’s in-vessel composting initiative stood out because it: 

• Demonstrates an innovative approach to campus waste management. 

• Diverts food waste from landfills and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. 

• Creates a closed-loop system that turns waste into a useful resource. 

• Provides educational opportunities for students and the campus community. 

• Offers a scalable model that can be replicated by other colleges and universities. 

The program reflects the collaborative work of the Office of Sustainability and campus partners to create practical, measurable solutions that advance Georgia Tech’s sustainability commitments. 

A Model for the Future 

Receiving the APPA Sustainability Innovation Award highlights Georgia Tech’s role as a leader in sustainable campus operations and environmental stewardship. As institutions across the country seek innovative ways to reduce waste and meet climate goals, Georgia Tech’s in-vessel composting program demonstrates how thoughtful investments in infrastructure can deliver lasting benefits for both the campus community and the environment.

On average, labs use four times more water and 10 times more energy than office spaces. This disproportionate impact makes laboratories some of the best places for reducing institutional energy use. Small actions can have a big effect; for example, increasing the setpoint of ultra-low temperature freezers by 10 degrees Celsius can reduce the device’s energy use by 30% and save over $150 per year per freezer. (That figure is derived from https://mygreenlab.org/the-beaker-blog/8-ways-to-save-energy-in-the-lab/ and Georgia Power billing documents.) 

Before Sustainable Lab Certification, some campus labs had begun exploring reduced energy, water, and materials consumption through My Green Lab certification, a pilot program also sponsored by the Office of Sustainability.  

Shweta Biliya, a research scientist in the Molecular Evolution Core Lab, explained that while My Green Lab offered a helpful framework, translating certification requirements into actionable steps for her lab was difficult without local examples or tailored support. “Now that we have a resource on campus, it’s extremely helpful in that initial stage,” she said. “It helps you see how to approach everything, get support, and make it feel possible.” 

Biliya hopes more laboratories across campus will participate in Sustainable Labs Certification, helping to create a shared culture of sustainable research at Georgia Tech. “It might feel like one lab doesn’t make a difference, but when every lab contributes in small ways, it really adds up,” she said. 

A Sustainable Lab Certification information and celebration session will take place in September. To learn more about the program, visit the Sustainable Labs page at https://sustain.gatech.edu/sustainable-labs/.  

That’s the question that stood between Georgia Tech alumnus Austin Huguenard and the $100,000 grand prize on Fox’s The 1% Club.  

“You have no idea how relieved I was” at the question, the computer science graduate said. 

Huguenard was one of two players remaining from a field of 100 contestants. Questions challenge players’ logic and reasoning, whittling the field as each fallen player adds $1,000 to the pot, and the final question is one that only an estimated 1% of the public can answer. 

Players can split the final prize money, so when Huguenard locked in his answer of 1,179 with time to spare on the 30-second clock, he knew he had secured at least a share of the prize. It was revealed that his counterpart missed the question, making Huguenard the first to claim the full prize in the two-season run of the American version of the show.  

Not a “traditional trivia buff,” Huguenard’s proclivity for pattern recognition and logical problem-solving gave him the confidence to try out for the show. Over 15 rounds, the questions grew increasingly difficult. But, as players began to drop out, the Alpharetta, Georgia, native stayed calm and trusted the training he had received as a Tech student.  

“The 1% question was especially aligned with the way Georgia Tech helps teach you to think and to approach these difficult problems,” he said. “With these optimization problems, you have several constraints that must be satisfied while finding the best solution. This comes up in algorithms, discrete mathematics, and combinatorics classes. The clock is another factor that I felt prepared for because of the high-pressure moments I faced here." 

The pressure of being on the show paled in comparison to the nerve-racking nature of keeping his victory a secret.  

“It’s something I wanted to scream from the mountaintops and celebrate with everyone, and that was probably the most difficult part of the entire experience,” he said. Huguenard got that chance when the episode aired in mid-July as he hosted a watch party for his family and friends.  

He is now preparing to move to New York City to start his career as a software engineering analyst at Deloitte. While most of the prize money is headed for long-term savings, he’ll use some to furnish his apartment with the essentials as well as an espresso machine and baking tools. For now, baking is a hobby, and he says game show viewers shouldn’t expect to see him on the Ultimate Baking Championship any time soon. 

While adoption varies across healthcare systems, Georgia Tech researchers say AI is becoming increasingly integrated into medicine. At the same time, questions about privacy, trust, equity, and human oversight remain central to how the technology will be used in the years ahead. 

“Medicine has clearly embraced the human-AI fusion approach,” said Jon Duke, director of the Center for Health Analytics & Informatics at the Georgia Tech Research Institute. “The use of AI is encouraged, but reliance on AI is not.” 

From Clinical Workflows to Decision Support 

Many of healthcare's earliest AI applications focused on reducing administrative burdens. Today, researchers say the technology is increasingly helping clinicians access and interpret information. 

Duke points to the growing use of clinical AI tools such as OpenEvidence, which provide healthcare professionals with AI-generated, source-backed answers to medical questions. 

“AI is moving beyond administrative tasks and beginning to play a meaningful role in clinical decision support,” Duke said. 

Within electronic health records, AI is being used to generate clinical notes from patient-provider conversations and summarize complex patient charts. While healthcare systems have moved most quickly on efficiency-focused applications, Duke said AI is steadily becoming part of everyday clinical practice. 

Still, he believes human oversight will remain essential. 

“One of the biggest long-term questions is whether physicians trained alongside AI will develop the same level of independent clinical judgment as previous generations,” he said. 

Expanding Access Beyond the Doctor's Office 

Researchers also see AI creating new opportunities outside hospitals and clinics. 

Munmun De Choudhury, professor in the School of Interactive Computing, said AI is helping public health systems identify emerging mental health concerns by analyzing digital and clinical data. 

“AI is enabling public health systems to move from reactive to more proactive approaches by identifying emerging mental health concerns from diverse digital and clinical data sources,” De Choudhury said. 

Those insights may create opportunities for earlier intervention. 

“AI has the potential to identify subtle behavioral changes that precede worsening mental health, creating opportunities for earlier support before someone reaches a crisis,” she said. 

Alexander Adams, assistant professor in the School of Interactive Computing, studies wearable sensing systems, remote patient monitoring technologies, and point-of-care health tools. He said advances in AI are accelerating innovation in areas such as pharmaceuticals, medical imaging, simulation, and biomarker discovery. 

“The biggest changes I am seeing are the increased productivity in pharmaceuticals, medical imaging, simulation, and biomarker discovery,” Adams said. “That has a downstream impact on what we can measure at the point of care.” 

According to Adams, smartphones and wearable devices have become increasingly important healthcare tools because of the amount of data they collect. 

“No stand-alone medical devices generate nearly as much data as smartphones and smartwatches, making them a natural place for modern AI,” he said. 

He also sees significant potential for AI-enabled technologies to improve access in rural and underserved communities. 

“These technologies are especially important for underserved and rural populations that often have less access to care and face higher risks of complications,” Adams said. 

Balancing Innovation and Human Connection 

Despite growing interest in AI, researchers caution that adoption is not without challenges. 

“The real opportunity lies not in building more autonomous AI, but in designing systems that strengthen human judgment, clinical expertise, and community care,” De Choudhury said. 

Although AI has advanced rapidly, its impact on chronic disease management has remained limited, said Rosa Arriaga, professor in the School of Interactive Computing. 

“AI holds a lot of promise but hasn't delivered much in the way of real-world applications,” Arriaga said. 

She also raised concerns about how increased reliance on data-driven tools could affect interactions between clinicians and patients. 

“The fear is that clinicians become ‘data checkers’ and have even less interaction with patients,” she said. 

At the same time, Arriaga said AI is having its greatest impact in the mental wellness space. 

“There are now randomized controlled trials showing that some people are willing to receive ‘therapy’ from an AI agent and that this intervention is beneficial,” she said. 

However, she cautioned that those developments should be considered alongside potential risks. 

“Greater interactions with AI may lead to greater isolation, and parasocial relationships with AI may erode the social fabric,” Arriaga said. 

Shaping the Next Era of Healthcare 

Despite differing views on the opportunities and challenges, the researchers see AI becoming a lasting part of healthcare. 

“AI is accelerating everything,” Adams said. “Even through rapid iteration and simulation alone, it will accelerate medical devices and point-of-care technologies.” 

As healthcare organizations continue to explore where AI can improve care, researchers say the future of medicine will depend not only on technological advances but also on how effectively those tools support the people who deliver and receive care. 

About Georgia Tech 

The Georgia Institute of Technology is one of the nation’s leading public research universities, developing leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. Through education, research, and innovation, Georgia Tech creates solutions that improve lives and drive economic opportunity in Georgia and around the world. 

Lanier isn’t just using the equipment; he’s helping bring it to life. 

Over the last year, he has worked with Institute for Matter and Systems (IMS) staff as part of the IMS Graduate Apprenticeship Program to install a newly designed powder-processing, rotary-bed system. While traditional coating tools are designed to deposit ultra-thin films onto flat surfaces (like silicon computer chips or glass), this tool continuously tumbles a bed of fine powder to ensure a uniform coating of 3D objects with microscopic grains of powder at an atomic scale.  

The work has involved more than just running experiments. Lanier has developed operating procedures, established safety protocols, solved technical challenges, and documented processes that future tool users will rely on long after he graduates.  

“It’s an opportunity to leave something behind for IMS,” Lanier said. “Once I’m gone, the documentation for this tool will still be there. It’s giving IMS information that will be useful for following students.”  

His experience reflects the mission of the apprenticeship program. Launched to provide graduate students with hands-on experience in IMS’s research facilities, the program places graduate students in core facilities with experts. This gives them opportunities to develop technical expertise, support facility operations, and gain professional skills that extend beyond the classroom. 

“We wanted to create an experience where everyone benefits,” said Anna Österholm, principal research scientist and IMS Graduate Apprenticeship Program coordinator. “Students gain technical training and professional experience while IMS gains talented and motivated contributors who help develop new capabilities, train users, and improve facility operations.”  

Lanier was one of nine students in the inaugural cohort, which represented a wide range of disciplines and research experience. Matthew Kim, another member of the cohort and a master’s student in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, came to the program with a mechanical background and a desire to gain hands-on semiconductor experience.  

Before the program, much of Kim’s previous exposure to semiconductors and chip packaging came from videos and lectures. Through the apprenticeship, he gained practical experience in the cleanroom, where he taught lab sections for undergraduate integrated circuit fabrication classes. In that role, Kim guided students through the process of creating semiconductors — starting with a blank silicon wafer and ending with a finished product — featuring various designs and structures.  

“It was a new experience for me because I was teaching students while learning the material myself,” Kim said. “It really pushed me to learn everything quickly, and I think that benefited me.” 

Through the program, Kim both taught and participated in some of the semiconductor fabrication short courses offered by IMS throughout the year.  

“A lot of what we learn in class is theory-based,” Kim said. “If you want hands-on experience and want to see semiconductor fabrication with your own eyes, this program is a great way to learn.”  

Besides semiconductor design and creation, additional focus areas for the program include materials characterization operations. Kayla Chuong, a doctoral student in the School of Materials Science and Engineering, took her existing experience with materials characterization techniques and expanded it.  She entered the program as a user of the Materials Characterization Facility (MCF), having previously conducted research using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tools.  

As part of the program, Chuong now trains campus and industry users on tools throughout the MCF. She conducts check-offs on training sessions and authorizes researchers to use instruments. She may spend an entire day conducting back-to-back instrument training, helping everyone from undergraduate researchers to industry professionals gain access to advanced microscopy tools. 

"It's really cool that external users from industry come in and get trained, and I get to meet people from different backgrounds," she said. 

While the program provides students with access to advanced research tools and facilities, participants said some of the most valuable lessons happened outside of the lab. 

Kim found teaching an unexpected source of growth. As he guided students through cleanroom processes and semiconductor fabrication techniques, he found himself developing confidence as a researcher and as an instructor.  

For Chuong, the program expanded her professional network and her base knowledge of SEM beyond what she thought was possible. 

Lanier gained a different perspective through regular interactions with IMS staff. By participating in facility staff meetings and working closely with mentors, he was exposed to the challenges of managing complex research infrastructure and learned how experienced scientists approach troubleshooting and process optimization. 

"Being able to see how other people look at going about research and what they do to work through troubleshooting and optimization," Lanier said, "it's a really good learning experience for myself as well." 

Together, these experiences highlight one of the program's greatest strengths: its ability to immerse students in the broader research ecosystem. Beyond learning how to operate world-class instruments, apprentices gain experience communicating across disciplines, mentoring other researchers, solving complex technical challenges, and contributing to the shared resources that support research across Georgia Tech. 

For Chuong, Kim, and Lanier, the apprenticeship provided more than just access to equipment. It offered a chance to become contributors to Georgia Tech's research ecosystem — whether by teaching new users, supporting education, or helping bring new capabilities online. As the program prepares for future cohorts, their experiences illustrate how immersive, hands-on training can accelerate both research and professional growth. 

As a high school student, van Zyl spent summers in a Georgia Tech aerospace lab, where he was introduced to rotorcraft and autonomous systems. By the time he enrolled at Georgia Tech, that early exposure had grown into a deeper interest. He became a competitive drone racer, gaining hands-on experience with the technology. 

But even then, he recognized a growing risk. 

“I was using this technology to have fun,” said van Zyl, founder and CEO of Askari. “But I also recognized it could equally be used to do very malicious things.” 

That realization became the foundation for Askari, a counter-drone defense company developing systems designed to detect, track, and stop hostile drones. 

A Real-World Problem Comes Into Focus 

Van Zyl first pitched the idea for Askari as a first-year student through Georgia Tech’s CREATE-X Startup Launch, an accelerator that empowers students to launch successful startups.  At the time, the concept of counter-drone defense was not widely seen as urgent. However, that perspective shifted as global conflicts began to demonstrate the impact of low-cost, unmanned systems. 

The widespread use of drones in Ukraine revealed how inexpensive and accessible technologies could reshape modern warfare. Unmanned systems now account for a significant share of battlefield activity, exposing new vulnerabilities across defense and infrastructure. 

“That was the first moment I could point to and say this is real,” van Zyl said. “This is not theoretical anymore.” 

From Student Idea to Scalable Solution 

Askari is building autonomous systems that can identify and neutralize drone threats in real time. The company’s technology is designed to distinguish among objects such as drones, people, and the surrounding environment, allowing it to respond with precision. 

“We are building systems that can understand what they are looking at,” van Zyl said. “They can tell the difference between a drone, a person, or a tree, and act accordingly.” 

Unlike traditional defense systems that rely on expensive infrastructure, Askari is focused on developing solutions that are scalable and accessible to a wider range of users, including frontline operators and security teams. The goal is to provide a faster, more adaptable approach to this challenge. 

The company has raised approximately $1.7 million in early funding and is already working with U.S. Department of Defense customers, with growing demand for counter-drone solutions. The team has expanded to 10 people and is scaling to meet that demand. 

The Role of CREATE-X and Georgia Tech 

Georgia Tech’s commercialization ecosystem played a critical role in Askari’s development.  

Through CREATE-X, van Zyl was able to test and refine his idea while gaining exposure to the fundamentals of building a company. He also gained access to a community of founders, mentors, defense leaders, and builders who helped him navigate early-stage challenges. The experience provided an environment to pressure-test the concept and receive feedback, helping him better understand how it could function in real-world scenarios. At the time, the idea was still taking shape, but it helped clarify how it could evolve into a viable solution. 

After gaining experience in the robotics and defense sectors, van Zyl reengaged with Georgia Tech, where the Institute’s network of mentors, resources, and programs helped accelerate the company’s growth. 

“Georgia Tech has been instrumental,” van Zyl said. “We would not be where we are today without it.” 

Today, Askari operates out of The Biltmore, home to CREATE-X and part of Georgia Tech’s innovation ecosystem in Tech Square, placing the company back within the same environment where the idea first began. 

“Askari is a strong example of what we aim to do,” said Rahul Saxena, CREATE-X director. “Students building companies that address real, emerging challenges. It reflects the kind of thinking we want to encourage early on, paired with the ability to continue developing an idea as the need becomes clearer. That progression is a critical part of how students move from concept to company.” 

Returning to Atlanta to Build 

After graduating, van Zyl gained experience working in robotics and autonomous systems, including in Silicon Valley. He also spent time building the company outside of Atlanta before ultimately returning. 

The decision to come back was both strategic and mission-driven. 

Many of Askari’s customers, including Department of Defense organizations, are based in the Southeast. Being in Atlanta allows the company to remain close to those partners while continuing to build within Georgia Tech’s ecosystem. The company’s return also reflects its deep ties to Georgia Tech’s talent pipeline. van Zyl’s co-founders include his younger brother, Marc van Zyl, a Georgia Tech computer science student, and Benjamin Airdo, a close friend and mechanical engineering graduate. Eight of the company’s 10 team members are connected to the Institute as current students, graduates, or researchers. 

A Broader Vision for Security 

While Askari’s current focus is counter-drone technology, van Zyl sees the startup’s mission as part of a larger shift in how modern warfare is evolving. 

For the first time, autonomous systems powered by artificial intelligence are moving beyond the digital world into physical environments. That transition introduces new risks that extend beyond traditional defense scenarios. 

“This is not just a drone problem,” van Zyl said. “It is the broader proliferation of robotics in real-world environments.” 

From Campus to Impact 

Askari’s trajectory reflects how Georgia Tech’s commercialization ecosystem supports founders as they move from early ideas to companies. 

From its start in CREATE-X to its return to The Biltmore, the company remains closely tied to the Institute while building technology focused on real-world deployment and impact. 

“We want to build systems that help protect people,” van Zyl said.  As Askari continues to grow, that focus remains central to its mission. 

Aiden Holland is a third-year Georgia Tech undergraduate and Georgia Tech Athletics Grounds Crew student assistant. His match days begin up to nine hours before kickoff as one of the crew members selected by FIFA to maintain the natural-grass surface at AT&T Stadium (temporarily renamed Dallas Stadium).  

After meticulously painting the end lines and stringing the goals, Holland tests the playing surface's moisture level and measures its firmness to ensure the ball will bounce and the players will get the same energy return as on any other World Cup pitch across North America.  

Dallas hosts its ninth and final match on Tuesday, July 14, and Holland has been in attendance for each one. But when Argentina’s Lionel Messi became the all-time leading goal scorer in World Cup history, or when Mikel Merino’s extra-time goal gave Spain a dramatic win over Portugal, he was watching the grass under their feet.  

“To see your work play out in front of you on a global stage is exciting,” he said. “As someone who works on fields, I watch through the lens of seeing how the field reacts to the players on it. At no point in a match do you want a moment that makes you think the pitch caused a player to slip or a ball to take a bad bounce. You have the highest-level athletes in the world out there, and the last thing they need to worry about is whether the playing surface will be safe and reliable enough for them to play at the highest possible level.”  

Holland is one of three Yellow Jackets on the Dallas crew, joined by Assistant Athletics Director Chris May and Noonan Golf Facility groundskeeper Cody Brady. The crew of eight expands to 12 on match days to get the pitch ready for action, and days between matches consist of constant maintenance to keep it in pristine condition. 

A double major in international affairs and business, Holland has been around field maintenance his entire life. His father, Eric, is the former lead groundskeeper at Tech and is now the owner of Precision Turf. For the past five summers, Holland has worked for the family business, installing pitches for international soccer matches in Atlanta, Houston, San Antonio, and more, including the 2024 Copa América tournament in Dallas.  

Holland’s interest in soccer took him around the world in 2025 in a study abroad program with Regents' Entrepreneur and Full Professor Kirk Bowman, examining the sport’s intersection with geopolitics in Argentina and Uruguay. The Buford, Georgia, native conducted research to determine how pitch maintenance affected team performance, testing nine fields in Argentina’s professional league, Liga Profesional de Fútbol.  

Through his research and hands-on experience at the World Cup, Holland believes the skills and precision learned on the job will stay with him, regardless of his career path.  

“It's instilling a work ethic that asks you to strive toward perfection,” he said. It takes a lot of work to make sure everything's perfected at all times, and that’s somethingI’ll take with me into my work in the classroom, my work with the Athletics Grounds Crew, and my roles within my student organizations. The World Cup is a global circus of sorts, and it provides this incredible opportunity to work with people from around the world, share experiences, and learn what type of collaboration it takes to create this type of event.” 

At the conclusion of the World Cup, Holland will prepare for a new academic year and return to helping maintain the Institute’s athletic facilities — primarily Mac Nease Baseball Park at Russ Chandler Stadium and Shirley Clements Mewborn Field. 

If you’ve been thinking about starting a program or continuing your education this fall, you have until July 15 to apply for education assistance. 

Programs Available for Eligible Faculty and Staff 

1. The Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) provides a tuition waiver to full-time, benefits-eligible employees who have worked for at least six months within the University of System of Georgia.  

2. The Staff Tuition Reimbursement Assistance Program (STRAP) provides partial tuition reimbursement at any accredited private institution. Employees are eligible for STRAP if they have worked at Georgia Tech for at least 12 months.  

Note: Time worked in a temporary position does not count toward the eligibility requirement for either program.  

How to Apply 

1. Apply to your chosen institution through its admissions office. 

2. Open a TAP or STRAP application in the Administrative Services portal. 

3. List your intended courses. If you are unsure, make your best guess. You can request to change it later via your application.

4. Submit your application and it will automatically route for approval. 

5. Register for classes. 

All TAP and STRAP applications must be submitted and approved by Wednesday, July 15 at 5 p.m. Late applications cannot be accepted. A new application is required each semester. 

Questions? 

Contact the Administrative Services Center for assistance: 

• Call 404.385.1111 

• Email support@asc.gatech.edu 

• Submit a general HR request