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

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

The 2026 honorees are:

Faculty Development Awards

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

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

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

• Tiffiny Hughes-Troutman, Psychology 

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

• Zachary Handlos, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences 

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

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

Research Faculty Awards

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

CoS Outstanding Junior Research Faculty Award 

• Chaebin Kim, Physics 

CoS Outstanding Senior Research Faculty Award 

• Brant Jones, Chemistry and Biochemistry 

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

• Dustin Huard, Chemistry and Biochemistry 

Staff Awards

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

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

• Leslie Roberts, College of Sciences Dean’s Office 

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

Exceptional Staff Award 

• Joshua Crowe, Biological Sciences 

Friend of the Sciences Award 

• Eme Anderson, Office of Sponsored Programs 

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

• Drake Lee-Patterson, Biological Sciences 

2026 Retirees 

Faculty 

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

Staff 

• Judith Taylor, Mathematics

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

Georgia Tech Chapter Sigma Xi Awards

Best Faculty Paper Award

Jiang Zhigang
Professor
School of Physics

Institute Research Awards

Outstanding Achievement in Research Enterprise Enhancement

Anna Österholm
Research Faculty
School of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Outstanding Achievement in Research Program Development Award
Human Space Exploration Team

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

Phillip First
Professor
School of Physics

Brant Jones
Senior Research Scientist
School of Chemistry and Biochemistry

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

Jiang Zhigang
Professor
School of Physics

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

Masatoshi Hirabayashi
Associate Professor

Julie Linsey
Professor

Peter Loutzenhiser
Associate Professor

Alvaro Romero-Calvo
Assistant Professor

Meisha Shofner
Professor

Staff Awards

Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans Gender Equity Award 

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

Undergraduate Education Awards 

Outstanding Undergraduate Academic Advisor – Faculty Advisor 

Haley Steele
Academic Professional
School of Biological Sciences 

Center for Teaching and Learning Awards

Curriculum Innovation Award

Mary Peek
Principal Academic Professional
School of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Undergraduate Educator Award

Tiffiny Hughes-Troutman
Professor of the Practice
School of Psychology

Faculty Honors Committee Awards

Junior Faculty Outstanding Undergraduate Research Mentor Award

Farzaneh Najafi
Assistant Professor
School of Biological Sciences

Class of 1940 W. Howard Ector Outstanding Teacher Award

Pamela Pollet
Principal Academic Professional
School of Chemistry and Biochemistry

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

College of Sciences

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

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

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

Metha Phingbodhipakkiya Memorial Scholarship
Nick Elidor (NEUR)

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

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

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

Institute Awards

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

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

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

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

Clanton Awards

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

Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) 

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

GT² is a newly established research initiative at Georgia Tech that focuses on discovery science, engineering innovation, and AI-enabled decision tools to address urgent challenges at the intersection of environmental and community resilience in the Southeast. The initiative fosters research in direct service to regional communities through public-private partnerships, and it provides opportunities for graduate student engagement.

The BHIC-GT² research fund and partnership will pursue shared initiatives in the fields of coastal sustainability, ecosystem health, and environmental resilience. By combining BHIC’s applied, field-based conservation work with Georgia Tech’s expertise in technological innovation and data analysis, new opportunities for impactful research will be created through graduate student projects and community engagement.

About the Partnership
Like the GT² initiative, BHIC’s Johnston Center for Coastal Sustainability was created to translate research into real-world impact. BHIC established the Johnston Center as a research partnership and education hub for sustainability initiatives on Bald Head Island, with the broader goal of advancing coastal sustainability across the Southeast. Seed funding for the Center was provided in 2021 by Dick and Pat Johnston, longtime supporters of BHIC. 

Dick, a Georgia Tech IM 1962 alumnus, and Pat Johnston shared their enthusiasm for the BHIC and Georgia Tech collaboration, noting: 

“We are delighted to see our two favorite institutions come together through this partnership. It brings additional resources, expertise, and leadership to our shared focus on keeping the historic tagline ‘Living in Harmony with Nature’ in the hearts of future generations.”

Joel Kostka, Faculty Director of GT² who also serves as Tom and Marie Patton Distinguished Professor and associate chair for Research in the School of Biological Sciences with a joint appointment in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences at Georgia Tech added:

“The Bald Head Island Conservancy and its Johnston Center for Coastal Sustainability exemplify how place‑based conservation and rigorous science can work together to create real impact. The Bald Head Island Conservancy’s long‑term stewardship, research infrastructure, and commitment to translating science into action make it an ideal partner for Georgia Tech for Georgia’s Tomorrow as we advance collaborative research that strengthens coastal resilience across the Southeast.”

This partnership will focus on Georgia Tech graduate student research projects that use innovative technology and data analyses to directly support the conservation work of BHIC.

Graduate student research already plays an important role in BHIC’s conservation efforts. Gabie Krueger, a Georgia Tech Ph.D. student in Ocean Sciences and Engineering and BHIC’s 2025-26 Johnston Graduate Fellow in Coastal Sustainability, has been working with BHIC scientists on a salt marsh ecology project that examined how ribbed mussels and fiddler crabs influence the health of Bald Head Island’s dominant salt marsh grass Spartina alterniflora. These flora-fauna interactions serve as primary indicators of marsh health, so her research is important for understanding the resilience of Bald Head Island’s salt marsh to environmental concerns such as sea-level rise and development.

Through the BHIC-GT² partnership, Georgia Tech student researchers who work with the Conservancy will also gain invaluable experience with local conservation efforts and community engagement.

G. Christopher Shank, Ph.D., Executive Director of BHIC, commented:

“The Bald Head Island Conservancy is thrilled about this opportunity to create a formal research partnership with Georgia Tech, one of the nation’s most esteemed research universities. It is recognition of the quality of conservation studies we are currently pursuing at the Conservancy and it also augments the impact of our work for BHI and beyond because of the technological and data analysis talent that Georgia Tech for Georgia’s Tomorrow will bring to this partnership.”

Why This Matters
This research fund and partnership represents an important step forward in strengthening connections between academic research and applied conservation institutions. Together, BHIC and GT² aim to inform coastal management decisions, support resilience planning, engage students, and advance research that benefits coastal ecosystems and communities across the southeastern U.S.

Looking Ahead
Additional details about joint initiatives, research priorities, and collaborative opportunities will be shared in the coming months.

Academic Faculty

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

Promoted to Professor

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

Professors Awarded Tenure

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

Promoted to Associate Professor

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

Associate Professors Awarded Tenure

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

Promoted to Principal Academic Professional

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

Promoted to Principal Lecturer

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

Promoted to Senior Academic Professional

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

Promoted to Senior Lecturer

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

Promoted to Librarian/Archivist IV

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

Promoted to Librarian/Archivist III

• John Mack Freeman  – Georgia Tech Library

Promoted to Librarian/Archivist II

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

Research Faculty

Promoted to Principal Research Scientist

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

Promoted to Principal Research Engineer

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

Promoted to Principal Research Technologist

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

Promoted to Principal Research Associate

• Matthew Sandberg – CIPHR, ICSD (GTRI)

Promoted to Principal Extension Professional

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

Promoted to Senior Research Scientist

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

Promoted to Senior Research Associate

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

Promoted to Senior Research Engineer

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

Promoted to Senior Research Technologist

• Trever C. Nightingale - OIT-PACE

Promoted to Senior Extension Professional

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

Promoted to Research Scientist II

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

Promoted to Research Associate II

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

Promoted to Research Engineer II

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

Promoted to Research Technologist II

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

Promoted to Extension Professional II

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

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

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

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

A Night of Networking

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2026 Internship Employer of the Year

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

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

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

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

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

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

This is the third time the class has been offered, but the first to include an extended community-based learning experience. 

“The students were able to see firsthand how concepts discussed in the classroom translated into real infrastructure decisions shaping vulnerable coastal communities,” says Robel, an associate professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences.

In previous years, the course relied on guest speakers, often remote, to provide real-world insights. Robel and Macedo, an associate professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, advocated for this year’s field trip to give students direct exposure to how the concepts taught in class are used in coastal communities.  

“Places like Savannah, Tybee Island, and Charleston aren’t planning for a distant future; they’re making real infrastructure decisions right now,” explains Robel.

Coastal case studies

On Tybee Island, city leaders and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers staff discussed with students how to balance tourism, environmental protection, and shoreline preservation. Site visits highlighted tide gates and living shorelines as flood mitigation strategies. 

Then, in Savannah, students met with city staff to explore challenges facing historic, low-lying cities and visited the Pin Point Heritage Museum where Gullah-Geechee community leaders spoke about the cultural, environmental, and equity dimensions of flood planning. 

The trip concluded in Charleston with discussions led by the city’s chief resilience officer and tours of the Low Battery Seawall and a neighborhood pump station, illustrating how flood infrastructure can serve both functional and public-facing roles. Students also visited JMT, the engineering firm behind several of the projects studied, where engineers discussed design trade-offs and career paths in coastal and municipal infrastructure.

Regional risks, real responses

“The regional context is especially important because Georgia Tech graduates are heavily concentrated in the Southeast, and many go on to careers designing, managing, or approving infrastructure projects in coastal communities,” says Robel. “With a more concentrated vulnerability to sea-level rise in the Southeast than any other part of the United States, the most potential flooding is likely to occur here in the Atlantic Southeast and Gulf Coast.”

He adds that “if we’re educating the scientists, engineers, and decision-makers who will be working in these communities, they must understand the practicalities of flood resilience and how to make informed decisions based on the best current science.”

Although the idea for the field experience had been years in the making, it became feasible only recently with support from an internal grant on sustainability education and community-based learning administered by the Center for Sustainable Communities Research and Education. Robel also emphasized the importance of long-standing relationships with coastal communities and governments in making the trip a success.

“We reached a point where we had both the resources and the relationships to make the experience meaningful,” he shares.

Career context

The students met professionals from a wide range of career paths, including federal and local government agencies, private engineering firms, and municipal stormwater departments. 

“A major goal of the trip was giving students the chance to see what career paths in coastal resilience really look like,” says Robel. “Those conversations helped students understand not just the technical work, but also the financing, politics, and community concerns that shape infrastructure decisions — parts of the job that are harder to capture in the classroom.”

Students enjoyed the opportunity to get real-world context:

“This trip made me reconsider my post-graduation plans. I used to think the geology industry was just oil and gas, but this trip showed me different ways I can apply my skills to help the environment as well as local communities in their efforts to adapt to sea-level rise concerns,” says Mandala Pham, a Ph.D. student studying geophysics.

“The most valuable part of the experience was observing sea-level rise mitigation infrastructure in-person, and the trip was a great experience overall to make new friends and gain valuable experiences,” adds Alexander Brison, a fourth-year environmental engineering major.

By grounding classroom concepts in real places and real decisions, the Spring Break field experience reinforced the course’s goal: preparing students to engage thoughtfully with the challenges coastal communities are already facing.