{"689263":{"#nid":"689263","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Transformer Explainer Shows How AI is More Math than Human","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhile people use search engines, chatbots, and generative artificial intelligence tools every day, most don\u2019t know how they work. This sets unrealistic expectations for AI and leads to misuse. It also slows progress toward building new AI applications.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers are making AI easier to understand through their work on Transformer Explainer. The free, online tool shows non-experts how ChatGPT, Claude, and other large language models (LLMs) process language.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/poloclub.github.io\/transformer-explainer\/\u0022\u003ETransformer Explainer\u003C\/a\u003E is easy to use and runs on any web browser. It quickly went viral after its debut, reaching 150,000 users in its first three months. More than 563,000 people worldwide have used the tool so far.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGlobal interest in Transformer Explainer continues when the team presents the tool at the 2026 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chi2026.acm.org\/\u0022\u003ECHI 2026\u003C\/a\u003E). CHI, the world\u2019s most prestigious conference on human-computer interaction, will take place in Barcelona, April 13-17.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E[\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/sites.gatech.edu\/research\/chi-2026\/\u0022\u003ERelated: GT @ CHI 2026\u003C\/a\u003E]\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere are moments when LLMs can seem almost like a person with their own will and personality, and that misperception has real consequences. For example, there have been cases where teenagers have made poor decisions based on conversations with LLMs,\u201d said Ph.D. student\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/aereeeee.github.io\/\u0022\u003EAeree Cho\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cUnderstanding that an LLM is fundamentally a model that predicts the probability distribution of the next token helps users avoid taking its outputs as absolute. What you put in shapes what comes out, and that understanding helps people engage with AI more carefully and critically.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA transformer is a neural network architecture that changes data input sequence into an output. Text, audio, and images are forms of processed data, which is why transformers are common in generative AI models. They do this by learning context and tracking mathematical relationships between sequence components.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETransformer Explainer demystifies how transformers work. The platform uses visualization and interaction to show, step by step, how text flows through a model and produces predictions.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUsing this approach, Transformer Explainer impacts the AI landscape in four main ways:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIt counters hype and misconceptions surrounding AI by showing how transformers work.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIt improves AI literacy among users by removing technical barriers and lowering the entry for learning about AI.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIt expands AI education by helping instructors teach AI mechanisms without extensive setup or computing resources.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIt influences future development of AI tools and educational techniques by providing a blueprint for interpretable AI systems.\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWhen I first learned about transformers, I felt overwhelmed. A transformer model has many parts, each with its own complex math. Existing resources typically present all this information at once, making it difficult to see how everything fits together,\u201d said\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gracekimcy.github.io\/\u0022\u003EGrace Kim\u003C\/a\u003E, a dual B.S.\/M.S. computer science student.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cBy leveraging interactive visualization, we use levels of abstraction to first show the big picture of the entire model. Then users click into individual parts to reveal the underlying details and math. This way, Transformer Explainer makes learning far less intimidating.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMany users don\u2019t know what transformers are or how they work. The Georgia Tech team found that people often misunderstand AI. Some label AI with human-like characteristics, such as creativity. Others even describe it as working like magic.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFurthermore, barriers make it hard for students interested in transformers to start learning. Tutorials tend to be too technical and overwhelm beginners with math and code. While visualization tools exist, these often target more advanced AI experts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETransformer Explainer overcomes these obstacles through its interactive, user-focused platform. It runs a familiar GPT model directly in any web browser, requiring no installation or special hardware.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUsers can enter their own text and watch the model predict the next word in real time. Sankey-style diagrams show how information moves through embeddings, attention heads, and transformer blocks.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe platform also lets users switch between high-level concepts and detailed math. By adjusting temperature settings, users can see how randomness affects predictions. This reveals how probabilities drive AI outputs, rather than creativity.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMillions of people around the world interact with transformer-driven AI. We believe that it is crucial to bridge the gap between day-to-day user experience and the models\u0027 technical reality, ensuring these tools are not misinterpreted as human-like or seen as sentient,\u201d said Ph.D. student\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.alexkarpekov.com\/\u0022\u003EAlex Karpekov\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cExplaining the architecture helps users recognize that language generated by models is a product of computation, leading to a more grounded engagement with the technology.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECho, Karpekov, and Kim led the development of Transformer Explainer. Ph.D. students\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/alechelbling.com\/\u0022\u003EAlec Helbling\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/seongmin.xyz\/\u0022\u003ESeongmin Lee\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/bhoov.com\/\u0022\u003EBen Hoover\u003C\/a\u003E, and alumni\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/zijie.wang\/\u0022\u003EZijie (Jay) Wang\u003C\/a\u003E (Ph.D. ML-CSE 2024) and \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/minsuk.com\/\u0022\u003EMinsuk Kahng\u003C\/a\u003E (Ph.D. CS-CSE 2019) assisted on the project.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EProfessor\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/poloclub.github.io\/polochau\/\u0022\u003EPolo Chau\u003C\/a\u003E supervised the group and their work. His lab focuses on data science, human-centered AI, and visualization for social good.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAcceptance at CHI 2026 stems from the team winning the best poster award at the 2024 IEEE Visualization Conference. This recognition from one of the top venues in visualization research highlights Transformer Explainer\u2019s effectiveness in teaching how transformers work.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cTransformer Explainer has reached over half a million learners worldwide,\u201d said Chau, a faculty member in the School of Computational Science and Engineering.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI\u0027m thrilled to see it extend Georgia Tech\u0027s mission of expanding access to higher education, now to anyone with a web browser.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhile people use search engines, chatbots, and generative artificial intelligence tools every day, most don\u2019t know how they work. This sets unrealistic expectations for AI and leads to misuse. It also slows progress toward building new AI applications.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech researchers are making AI easier to understand through their work on Transformer Explainer. The free, online tool shows non-experts how ChatGPT, Claude, and other large language models (LLMs) process language.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/poloclub.github.io\/transformer-explainer\/\u0022\u003ETransformer Explainer\u003C\/a\u003E is easy to use and runs on any web browser. It quickly went viral after its debut, reaching 150,000 users in its first three months. More than 563,000 people worldwide have used the tool so far.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGlobal interest in Transformer Explainer continues when the team presents the tool at the 2026 Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chi2026.acm.org\/\u0022\u003ECHI 2026\u003C\/a\u003E). CHI, the world\u2019s most prestigious conference on human-computer interaction, will take place in Barcelona, April 13-17.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech researchers are making AI easier to understand through their work on Transformer Explainer. The free, online tool shows non-experts how ChatGPT, Claude, and other large language models (LLMs) process language, improving AI literacy."}],"uid":"36319","created_gmt":"2026-03-31 16:42:57","changed_gmt":"2026-04-17 18:58:09","author":"Bryant Wine","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-31T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-31T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679798":{"id":"679798","type":"image","title":"Transformer-Explainer-Head-Image.jpg","body":null,"created":"1774975392","gmt_created":"2026-03-31 16:43:12","changed":"1774975392","gmt_changed":"2026-03-31 16:43:12","alt":"CHI 2026 Transformer Explainer","file":{"fid":"264002","name":"Transformer-Explainer-Head-Image.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/31\/Transformer-Explainer-Head-Image.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/31\/Transformer-Explainer-Head-Image.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":120484,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/31\/Transformer-Explainer-Head-Image.jpg?itok=eryBAi-R"}},"679799":{"id":"679799","type":"image","title":"Transformer-Explainer-Text-Image.jpg","body":null,"created":"1774975428","gmt_created":"2026-03-31 16:43:48","changed":"1774975428","gmt_changed":"2026-03-31 16:43:48","alt":"CHI 2026 Transformer Explainer","file":{"fid":"264003","name":"Transformer-Explainer-Text-Image.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/31\/Transformer-Explainer-Text-Image.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/31\/Transformer-Explainer-Text-Image.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":69012,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/31\/Transformer-Explainer-Text-Image.jpg?itok=0B-WDInX"}}},"media_ids":["679798","679799"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/transformer-explainer-shows-how-ai-more-math-human","title":"Transformer Explainer Shows How AI is More Math than Human"}],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"50877","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"},{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"}],"keywords":[{"id":"654","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"166983","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"9153","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"181991","name":"Georgia Tech News Center"},{"id":"170447","name":"Institute for Data Engineering and Science"},{"id":"176858","name":"machine learning center"},{"id":"9167","name":"machine learning"},{"id":"187812","name":"artificial intelligence (AI)"},{"id":"14646","name":"human-computer interaction"},{"id":"192863","name":"go-ai"},{"id":"194384","name":"Tech AI"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"},{"id":"39501","name":"People and Technology"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBryant Wine, Communications Officer\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:bryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ebryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689824":{"#nid":"689824","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Physics Grad Sets World Records for Ring Muscle-Ups","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EDavid Lloyd George\u003C\/strong\u003E, Physics 2024, is now a four-time world record holder for bar and ring muscle-ups.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELloyd George was back in the gym just two weeks after completing 2,002 muscle-ups in 24 hours in July of 2025, which broke the world record. He immediately started training for an even more challenging feat\u2014the world record for the most muscle-ups done on a gymnastic ring in 8, 12, and 24 hours.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOn Sunday, April 12, 2026, he surpassed all three, completing 900 ring muscle-ups in 8 hours, 1,100 in 12 hours, and 1,320 in 24 hours. (The records are unofficial until they can be reviewed by Guinness World Records.)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI\u2019ve sort of got a recipe for these world records now,\u201d says Lloyd George, who used the challenge to raise money for the Wounded Veterans Relief Fund, a charity that helps veterans receive dental care.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince the summer of 2025, he steadily increased his training volume, pushing past 17,000 total ring muscle-ups, and completing longer sessions, including a six-hour effort of 722 ring muscle-ups.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Harder Variant of A Muscle-Up\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERing muscle-ups are a more demanding variant of the standard bar muscle-up. The sway of the rings introduces instability and makes muscles work harder when the ropes move. The grip is also different.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cYou wrap your wrists around the rings almost like you\u2019re trying to arm wrestle them,\u201d Lloyd George says. Put in physics terms\u2014a field he knows well as a doctoral student at Duke University researching trapped ions for quantum computing\u2014the rings introduce four more degrees of freedom.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Math Behind His Three Attempts\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHis decision to attempt three world records came down to simple math. The current 8-hour record is 843, while the 24-hour record is 1,308. No formal record exists for the 12-hour category.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cI realized that if I do two ring muscle-ups every minute, at that pace I\u2019d get to 960 in 8 hours. There isn\u2019t a 12-hour record, and there are for other calisthenic records, so I thought I could set that one, too,\u201d he says.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EWhen he broke the bar muscle-up record in 2025, he didn\u2019t know how challenging the final hours would be. The last 50 reps were grueling, and with the support of his friends and family who cheered him on, he pushed past his limits. Knowing what the challenge will feel like changes his mental preparation this time around.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u201cI think you have to play with the mental game and really ask yourself, \u2018Why am I doing this?\u2019 especially on those difficult training days. For those, I think about the charity I\u2019m trying to raise money for that I believe in, and that this is one more opportunity to challenge myself.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"By The Numbers: David Lloyd George completed 17,731 ring muscle-ups during training between July 2025 and March 2026. With an average height gain per muscle-up of 52 inches, that\u2019s a total of 76,834 feet\u2014or the equivalent of 2.64 Mt. Everests."}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Yellow Jacket who broke the world record in 2025 for the most muscle-ups in 24 hours, set three new world records for ring muscle-ups, a harder variant, on April 12, 2026.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Yellow Jacket who broke the world record in 2025 for the most muscle-ups in 24 hours, set three new world records for ring muscle-ups, a harder variant, on April 12, 2026."}],"uid":"36583","created_gmt":"2026-04-17 14:20:42","changed_gmt":"2026-04-17 14:30:00","author":"lvidal7","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-17T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-17T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679987":{"id":"679987","type":"image","title":"David Lloyd George (Physics 2024)","body":null,"created":"1776435658","gmt_created":"2026-04-17 14:20:58","changed":"1776435658","gmt_changed":"2026-04-17 14:20:58","alt":"David Lloyd George holds a vertical position using gymnastic rings","file":{"fid":"264215","name":"collageofdavidlloydgeorge.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/17\/collageofdavidlloydgeorge.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/17\/collageofdavidlloydgeorge.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":129832,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/17\/collageofdavidlloydgeorge.jpg?itok=-RyAg0WX"}}},"media_ids":["679987"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/georgia-tech-alum-david-lloyd-george-breaks-world-record","title":"Georgia Tech Alum David Lloyd George Breaks World Record"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"126011","name":"School of Physics"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192249","name":"cos-community"},{"id":"506","name":"alumni"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJennifer Herseim\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech Alumni Association\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689761":{"#nid":"689761","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Career Conversations Take Center Stage at Annual Students and Alumni Leadership Dinner","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe College of Sciences honored\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.boehringer-ingelheim.com\/us\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;Boehringer Ingelheim\u003C\/a\u003E as its 2026 Internship Employer of the Year during the Students and Alumni Leadership Dinner, an annual event designed to foster meaningful connections between alumni and students.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThere is incredible power in alumni stories,\u201d says\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ESusan Lozier\u003C\/strong\u003E, dean of the College of Sciences and Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Chair. \u201cIt\u2019s inspiring for students to speak with alumni in the workforce, hear how they landed their first jobs, and learn from their successes\u0026nbsp;\u2014\u0026nbsp;and their setbacks.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EClaire Haskell\u003C\/strong\u003E (Mathematics 2025) recently obtained her first job with Deloitte and\u0026nbsp;attended the dinner to offer perspective to current students.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cI want to reassure students still in school that, even in today\u2019s 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.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Night of Networking\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ECollege of Sciences Career Educator Program Manager\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EJames Stringfellow\u003C\/strong\u003E and Director of Alumni Relations\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ELeslie Roberts\u003C\/strong\u003E organized the annual signature career event.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cWe put on events like this because we want all of our students ready for their next opportunity,\u201d says Stringfellow.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ESecond-year psychology major\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EAleena Sange\u003C\/strong\u003E attended the event for the first time, and says she will be back next year. \u201cThe alumni were really helpful and reassuring,\u201d says Sange. \u201cI learned what employers look for in a resume and even received advice about contract negotiations and retirement.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EFirst-year astrophysics student\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EShannon Callahan\u003C\/strong\u003E agrees. \u201cWhat 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\u0026nbsp;hit the ground running because they\u2019re used to learning quickly.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe evening included casual and more structured networking, with students rotating between tables on topics such as \u201cUsing AI in the Workplace,\u201d \u201cHandling Conflict,\u201d and \u201cHow to Get Hired in the Real World.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJanessa Rowland\u003C\/strong\u003E (Earth and Atmospheric Sciences 2014) works as an operations program manager for the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. She\u0026nbsp;encouraged students to think beyond their major\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cSometimes an internship or class outside your major can open up the door for what you can do after Georgia Tech.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMorgan Foreman\u003C\/strong\u003E (Psychology 2017), a technical product manager at IBM, offered encouraging insight: \u201cPeople often tell you college is the best years of your life. Georgia Tech also sets you up for your dream life after college.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E2026 Internship Employer of the Year\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EDuring the festivities, Stringfellow announced\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EBoehringer Ingelheim\u003C\/strong\u003E as the Internship Employer of the Year. The award honors a company that provides a high-quality learning environment for student interns.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EArya Akbarshahi\u003C\/strong\u003E, a biochemistry major who spent a semester doing a co-op job at the company, presented the award, thanking the\u0026nbsp;biopharmaceutical company active in both human and animal health\u0026nbsp;for the learning experience provided.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cCo-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,\u201d\u0026nbsp; says\u0026nbsp;Akbarshahi.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAfter presenting the award to\u0026nbsp;Boehringer Ingelheim\u0026nbsp;Senior Scientist\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;Marc Sprouse\u003C\/strong\u003E, Akbarshahi also presented a surprise mentorship award to Sprouse.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cMarc was an exceptional mentor,\u201d says Akbarshahi. \u201cHe 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.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ESprouse accepted both awards and spoke of the benefits of working while still in school: \u201cGetting 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.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThe event provided an opportunity for students and alumni to network and engage in career-focused discussions.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The event provided an opportunity for students and alumni to network and engage in career-focused discussions."}],"uid":"36607","created_gmt":"2026-04-15 15:16:31","changed_gmt":"2026-04-15 18:18:56","author":"ls67","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-15T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-15T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679954":{"id":"679954","type":"image","title":"Leslie Roberts, David Gaston, Susan Lozier, Marc Sprouse, Arya Akbarshahi, Andrea Comsa, and James Stringfellow","body":"\u003Cp\u003ELeslie Roberts, David Gaston, Susan Lozier, Marc Sprouse, Arya Akbarshahi, Andrea Comsa, and James Stringfellow\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1776266242","gmt_created":"2026-04-15 15:17:22","changed":"1776266242","gmt_changed":"2026-04-15 15:17:22","alt":"7 people standing in a line","file":{"fid":"264180","name":"IMG_2039.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/15\/IMG_2039.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/15\/IMG_2039.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3282162,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/15\/IMG_2039.jpg?itok=U6KYSVZ7"}},"679960":{"id":"679960","type":"image","title":"Chris Kwan (Mathematics 2019) leads a discussion about optimizing a science degree in the job search.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EChris Kwan (Mathematics 2019) leads a discussion about optimizing a science degree in the job search.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1776268996","gmt_created":"2026-04-15 16:03:16","changed":"1776268996","gmt_changed":"2026-04-15 16:03:16","alt":"A group sits around a round table","file":{"fid":"264187","name":"IMG_2052.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/15\/IMG_2052_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/15\/IMG_2052_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2111678,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/15\/IMG_2052_0.jpg?itok=JkSIkozq"}},"679961":{"id":"679961","type":"image","title":" Mark Sprouse and Arya Akbarshahi","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;Mark Sprouse and Arya Akbarshahi\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1776269553","gmt_created":"2026-04-15 16:12:33","changed":"1776270011","gmt_changed":"2026-04-15 16:20:11","alt":"A man and a male college student shake hands and hold up an award.","file":{"fid":"264188","name":"IMG_2048.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/15\/IMG_2048.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/15\/IMG_2048.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3072561,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/15\/IMG_2048.jpg?itok=8L_C_f5l"}}},"media_ids":["679954","679960","679961"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/students-and-alumni-connect-networking-event","title":"Students and Alumni Connect at Networking Event"},{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/college-sciences-hosts-first-ever-student-employer-networking-expo","title":"College of Sciences Hosts First-Ever Student-Employer Networking Expo"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1275","name":"School of Biological Sciences"},{"id":"85951","name":"School of Chemistry and Biochemistry"},{"id":"364801","name":"School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS)"},{"id":"1279","name":"School of Mathematics"},{"id":"126011","name":"School of Physics"},{"id":"443951","name":"School of Psychology"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192249","name":"cos-community"},{"id":"506","name":"alumni"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ELaura S. Smith, writer\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["laura.smith@cos.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689164":{"#nid":"689164","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Celebrating Tech\u2019s First African American Female Graduate: Clemmie Whatley","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EWhen\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EClemmie Whatley\u003C\/strong\u003E earned her master\u2019s in applied mathematics in 1973, she and her friend\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EGrace Hammonds\u003C\/strong\u003E became the first African American women to graduate from Georgia Tech \u2014 an accomplishment she only learned about decades later.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cWe certainly didn\u2019t think of ourselves as pioneers,\u201d says Whatley. \u201cWe were just trying to get through.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EToday, Whatley is no longer a hidden figure as she is now recognized for her trailblazing role.\u0026nbsp; She has been honored by the Institute\u2019s\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/celebratingwomen.alumni.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;Pathway of Progress\u003C\/a\u003E art installation, Women of Distinction Award, and scholarship endowment established by the Georgia Tech Black Alumni Organization.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAs Georgia Tech celebrates Women\u2019s History Month, Whatley\u2019s barrier-breaking legacy is a reminder of how women in STEM expand what\u2019s possible, not only for themselves, but for those who follow.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFollowing the math path\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EWhatley grew up in Chubbtown, a self-sufficient Black community established pre-Civil War in Cave Spring, Georgia. The first Black valedictorian of Cave Spring High School after desegregation, she loved math from an early age. Whatley often tagged along with her father who was always building or fixing something \u2014\u0026nbsp;inspiring her to use numbers to solve problems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EShe majored in math at Clark (now Clark Atlanta University), graduating magna cum laude. Encouraged to attend a predominantly white institution for graduate school by\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EJoseph James Dennis\u003C\/strong\u003E, head of Clark\u2019s Mathematics department, Whatley and Hammonds applied to Georgia Tech and Emory University.\u0026nbsp;Tech responded first with an unexpected bonus: a teaching assistantship.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cEarning money to teach math and help pay for school appealed to me,\u201d she shares.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFinding her footing at Tech\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EEntering the Institute as one of the few Black women on campus came with challenges. Whatley enrolled only nine years after Georgia Tech became the first university in the Deep South to admit African American students without a court order.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cI\u2019m not sure they wanted us there,\u201d she admits. \u201cBut I wasn\u2019t nervous. I was excited to learn more math \u2014\u0026nbsp;and teach it as well.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAs a graduate teaching assistant, Whatley taught undergraduate calculus, algebra, and trigonometry. Students were often surprised to see her at the front of the classroom, as most instructors were white males. She remembers professors who encouraged her, particularly her advisor Professor Emeritus\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ERobert Kasriel.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cHe believed in me, especially my knowledge of math,\u201d Whatley says. \u201cHe encouraged me to speak up with confidence.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAnother professor pushed her to contest a grade he felt was unfair. She chose instead to stay focused on completing her degree. Despite the obstacles, Whatley remembers her time at Tech fondly. \u201cI really enjoyed the classroom interaction with the undergraduates and teaching subjects I loved.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EShe appreciates the toughness of the education she received. \u201cGeorgia Tech rewards tenacity. If you can make it through here, you can make it through just about anything \u2014 and that problem\u2011solving confidence stays with you.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChoosing to serve\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAfter graduation, Whatley joined BellSouth as a junior engineer, working on depreciation studies and writing early computer programs in Basic and Fortran.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cI took a class at Morehouse to learn programming. We used ticker tape, punch cards, and computers that took up an entire room,\u201d remembers Whatley.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EShe spent 22 years at BellSouth, earning frequent promotions. Her career shifted into a new direction when she heard a radio request for tutors at Marietta Junior High School. She volunteered and began working with several students, including a middle school girl who still counted on her fingers. Whatley guided her toward more confident problem-solving. \u201cAll she needed was someone to take the time to work with her.\u201ds.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ETutoring became a catalyst for change. Motivated by the difference she could make, she left corporate America.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EExpanding her impact\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAfter obtaining certification from Mercer University, she became a high school math teacher. Whatley planned to teach for just three years but stayed for four after her advisement class of ninth graders begged her to stay until they graduated.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ECommitted to expanding her impact, Whatley earned an educational specialist degree from the University of West Georgia and a Ph.D. in Educational Studies from Emory University. While at Emory, she began an educational consulting career,\u0026nbsp; launching\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.eddynamix.org\/\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;Educational Dynamix,\u003C\/a\u003E a nonprofit firm focused on learning and development for children and educators. Her consulting work also explored the connections between music and mathematics \u2014 helping educators and parents use both to strengthen student learning.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cTeaching math was satisfying,\u201d says Whatley. \u201cI enjoyed going into a class where students \u2014 or their teachers \u2014 didn\u2019t believe in their ability to do math and showing them that they could do it.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EWhatley smiles and clarifies: \u201cWhen I went into education, whether I was working with students, training teachers, or helping make changes in organizational structures, I found my passion. Looking back, hopefully, I made some lives better overall.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ESharing family history\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EWhatley\u2019s influences are felt beyond the classroom. She is the author of several books, including\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003EThe Chubbs: A Free Black Family\u2019s Journey From the Antebellum Era to the Mid-1900s\u003C\/em\u003E, which grew out of her family\u2019s history. Whatley began this research while assisting with media features on her cousin, University of Georgia football star\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ENick Chubb.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EResearching her family\u2019s story led to a surprising discovery: a crumpled bill of sale for an enslaved girl that her son tucked into her grandmother\u2019s old trunk. That document \u2014 and the stories surrounding it \u2014 propelled her to write the book and preserve Chubbtown\u2019s history for future generations.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EReflecting on a legacy\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EWhatley says faith and family are the most important things in her life. She has been married to her husband, Melvin, for 55 years.\u0026nbsp;Her daughter, son, and several relatives also attended Georgia Tech, with her daughter running track and cross country and her son playing football. \u201cWe\u2019re a Yellow Jacket family with one Bulldog granddaughter,\u201d she says with a smile.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EToday, Whatley is honored to have the recognition that came years after graduation. \u201cWhat I went through wasn\u2019t in vain. It feels good to know that I opened some doors and helped others along the way.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EClemmie Whatley\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003Etime studying and teaching math at Georgia Tech laid the groundwork for decades of leadership in classrooms, corporate America, and the community.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Clemmie Whatley\u2019s time studying and teaching math at Georgia Tech laid the groundwork for decades of leadership in classrooms, corporate America, and the community."}],"uid":"36607","created_gmt":"2026-03-24 19:17:04","changed_gmt":"2026-04-10 21:25:51","author":"ls67","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-03-24T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-03-24T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679728":{"id":"679728","type":"image","title":"Clemmie Whatley; then and now","body":"\u003Cp\u003EClemmie Whatley: then and now\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1774381412","gmt_created":"2026-03-24 19:43:32","changed":"1774909021","gmt_changed":"2026-03-30 22:17:01","alt":"Two photos of same woman, one older and one younger.","file":{"fid":"263938","name":"best.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/26\/best.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/26\/best.png","mime":"image\/png","size":1269462,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/26\/best.png?itok=uiFZ8mto"}},"679727":{"id":"679727","type":"image","title":"Whatley and Grace Hammonds made history together as the first African American women to graduate from Georgia Tech and have remained lifelong friends.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EWhatley and Grace Hammonds made history together as the first African American women to graduate from Georgia Tech and have remained lifelong friends.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1774380706","gmt_created":"2026-03-24 19:31:46","changed":"1774380706","gmt_changed":"2026-03-24 19:31:46","alt":"Two women smiling","file":{"fid":"263922","name":"ClemmieandGraceIMG_1007.png","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/24\/ClemmieandGraceIMG_1007_0.png","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/03\/24\/ClemmieandGraceIMG_1007_0.png","mime":"image\/png","size":6636467,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/03\/24\/ClemmieandGraceIMG_1007_0.png?itok=i6_YFCE3"}}},"media_ids":["679728","679727"],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1279","name":"School of Mathematics"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192249","name":"cos-community"},{"id":"506","name":"alumni"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ELaura S. Smith, writer\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["laura.smith@cos.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689488":{"#nid":"689488","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Graduate Programs Stand Among the Nation\u2019s Best in 2026 Rankings","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u2019s graduate programs once again earned broad national recognition in the\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.usnews.com\/best-graduate-schools\u0022\u003E 2026 U.S. News \u0026amp; World Report rankings\u003C\/a\u003E. The latest results highlight Georgia Tech\u2019s sustained strength in research-driven graduate education, interdisciplinary collaboration, and programs designed to meet evolving workforce and societal needs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECollege of Engineering\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s College of Engineering remained among the nation\u2019s elite, ranking \u003Cstrong\u003ENo. 4 overall\u003C\/strong\u003E in Best Engineering Schools and maintaining its position among the top institutions nationwide.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESeveral engineering disciplines continued to rank among the nation\u2019s best, with multiple programs placing in the top five. The College\u2019s consistent performance reflects its leadership in research, innovation, and graduate training that closely aligns with industry and global challenges.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETop engineering rankings include:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENo. 1\u003C\/strong\u003E Industrial, Manufacturing, and Systems Engineering\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENo. 1\u003C\/strong\u003E Biomedical Engineering (tied), up from No. 2\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENo. 2\u003C\/strong\u003E Aerospace Engineering\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENo. 3\u003C\/strong\u003E Civil Engineering\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENo. 3\u003C\/strong\u003E Mechanical Engineering (tied), up from No. 5\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENo. 4\u003C\/strong\u003E Environmental Engineering\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENo. 5\u003C\/strong\u003E Chemical Engineering (tied)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENo. 5\u003C\/strong\u003E Computer Engineering (tied)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECollege of Computing\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech continued to demonstrate national strength in computing, ranking \u003Cstrong\u003ENo. 7 overall\u003C\/strong\u003E among Best Computer Science Schools in the 2026 rankings.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENotable computing rankings include:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENo. 5\u003C\/strong\u003E Artificial Intelligence, up from No. 6\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENo. 6\u003C\/strong\u003E Systems (tied)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENo. 13\u003C\/strong\u003E Theory (tied)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENo. 15\u003C\/strong\u003E Programming Language\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese rankings reflect Georgia Tech\u2019s leadership in emerging and foundational computing technologies, as well as its role in applying computation across disciplines to address real\u2011world challenges and strengthen industries.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIvan Allen College of Liberal Arts\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGraduate programs at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy earned strong national placements in the 2026 rankings, highlighting the school\u2019s growing visibility at the intersection of technology, policy, and governance.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHighlights include:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENo. 2\u003C\/strong\u003E Information and Technology Management (tied)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENo. 10\u003C\/strong\u003E Environmental Policy and Management (tied)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENo. 23\u003C\/strong\u003E Public Policy Analysis (tied), up from No. 26\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EScheller College of Business\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Scheller College of Business continued its momentum in the 2026 rankings, earning a \u003Cstrong\u003ENo. 9 national ranking\u003C\/strong\u003E in Best Part-Time MBA Programs, rising from No. 10 last year.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EScheller also received recognition across a range of graduate business disciplines, with several programs newly ranked in 2026.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENotable Scheller rankings include:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENo. 8\u003C\/strong\u003E Information Systems (tied)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENo. 15\u003C\/strong\u003E Supply Chain Management (tied)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENo. 16\u003C\/strong\u003E Business Analytics (tied)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Ch5\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECollege of Sciences\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s graduate programs in the physical sciences earned continued national recognition, reflecting strength in foundational research areas that support advances in engineering, computing, sustainability, and health.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EScience program rankings include:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENo. 20\u003C\/strong\u003E Chemistry (tied)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENo. 22\u003C\/strong\u003E Physics (tied)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENo. 26\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003EMathematics (tied)\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENo. 29\u003C\/strong\u003E Earth Sciences (tied), up from No. 33\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E*Please note that this summary includes the latest rankings issued by U.S. News \u0026amp; World Report for 2026. Not all Georgia Tech Colleges, Schools, and subjects are ranked every year by this organization.\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u2019s graduate programs earned broad national recognition in the 2026 \u003Cem\u003EU.S. News \u0026amp; World Report\u003C\/em\u003E rankings, underscoring Georgia Tech\u2019s leadership in research\u2011driven, interdisciplinary graduate education. The College of Engineering ranked No. 4 overall, with multiple disciplines in the top five, including No. 1 Industrial and Systems Engineering and No. 1 Biomedical Engineering (tied), while computing programs ranked No. 7 nationally with top placements in artificial intelligence and systems. Strong rankings across public policy, business, and the sciences further highlight Georgia Tech\u2019s excellence in preparing graduates to address evolving workforce needs and global challenges.\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"U.S. News placements reflect sustained excellence across graduate programs."}],"uid":"35798","created_gmt":"2026-04-07 05:17:20","changed_gmt":"2026-04-07 06:37:54","author":"Ayana Isles","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-07T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-07T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679871":{"id":"679871","type":"image","title":"Georgia Tech Campus in Spring ","body":null,"created":"1775541838","gmt_created":"2026-04-07 06:03:58","changed":"1775542172","gmt_changed":"2026-04-07 06:09:32","alt":"Tech tower in the background of pink spring flowers.","file":{"fid":"264089","name":"DSC00168.JPG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/07\/DSC00168.JPG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/07\/DSC00168.JPG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1305471,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/07\/DSC00168.JPG?itok=v2q1RiqK"}}},"media_ids":["679871"],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"}],"keywords":[{"id":"194455","name":"2026 rankings"},{"id":"61051","name":"US News \u0026 World Report"},{"id":"168328","name":"grad school"},{"id":"194981","name":"best graduate schools"},{"id":"109","name":"Georgia Tech"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:aisles3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAyana Isles\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003EGeorgia Institute of Technology\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003ESenior Media Relations Representative\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"689404":{"#nid":"689404","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Alumna Reflects on Resilience, Mentorship, and the Computing Alumni Network","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EThey say it\u2019s never too late to find your people. It took a while for \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/angeliquelane\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAngie Lane\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E (CS 2001), but returning to her roots at the College of Computing after nearly twenty years not only helped her discover a community but also made her realize how much there is to gain from reconnecting.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENow a senior professional working at the intersection of business automation and AI integration, Lane balances a high-tech career with a people-first leadership style as the head of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/groups\/884\/\u0022\u003ECollege\u2019s Computing Alumni Network\u003C\/a\u003E. In this role, she promotes mentorship, global outreach, and the \u0022non-linear\u0022 paths that shape a successful career.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn the following Q\u0026amp;A, Lane shares insights from her journey from a computer science student to an AI automation expert, discusses the \u0022human\u0022 side of technology, and outlines her vision for growing our alumni community well beyond Atlanta.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat drew you to get involved with the Computing Alumni Network?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHonestly, it started for personal reasons. I wanted to expand my network and find my people. But what kept me engaged was something deeper. I reconnected with the College about ten years ago, and I quickly realized how much I\u0027d missed by not being involved sooner.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThere\u0027s an energy you get from staying close to a place that shaped you, and I wanted to help provide that for others the way I wished it had been for me.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECan you share a moment or initiative with the Network that you\u2019re especially proud of?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWe\u0027ve had some wonderful events over the years \u2014 some that really stand out, others that were quieter but no less meaningful. Reflecting on it, what I\u0027m most proud of is how the Network has endured the turbulence of the last few years.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENavigating the pandemic, adapting to significant changes in our supporting staff, and still showing up for students and each other \u2014 that resilience is something I don\u0027t take for granted.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow has the alumni community changed since you graduated?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI can\u0027t speak to the full arc. I got involved with the Computing Network in 2019, so my perspective is more recent. What I\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003Ecan\u003C\/em\u003E\u0026nbsp;say is that our focus has become more centered on the students, how we can give back, and how we can include our global alumni network.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy do you think staying connected to the College matters, even years after graduation?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI\u0027m living proof that it\u0027s never too late and that getting involved is more than worthwhile. The relationships you build here, the sense of shared identity with people who went through something hard and came out the other side \u2014 that doesn\u0027t expire. And the further you go in your career, the more you realize how rare it is to find a community with that kind of foundation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYou\u2019re now working in AI automation\u2014what excites you most about your work today?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhat gets me out of bed every morning is the chance to make work more human again. There\u0027s a pattern I see everywhere right now where people are being used as the connective tissue between disconnected systems \u2014 doing repetitive, manual work that drains the meaning out of their days. It\u0027s deflating in a way that\u0027s hard to overstate. I believe automation, when done right, can give people back the time and energy. If I can add some genuine meaning back to someone\u0027s workday, that\u0027s a win I\u0027ll take every time.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow did your experience as a CS student prepare you for a career in tech and business?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech taught me how to adapt \u2014 and more importantly, that I could. It gave me the discipline to teach myself new things, the humility to ask for help when I needed it, and the confidence to know I can do hard things. That combination has been the through-line of my entire career. The specific technical skills matter, but it\u0027s that mindset that\u0027s carried me through every pivot and challenge since.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat advice would you give to current students who hope to follow a similar path?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFind a mentor, and don\u0027t wait until you feel like you need one. The relationships you build now \u2014 with professors, with older students, with alumni \u2014 will compound in ways you can\u0027t predict.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlso, stay curious beyond your major. The most interesting problems I\u0027ve worked on sit at the intersection of technology and human behavior, and I never would have found my way there if I\u0027d kept my head down in purely technical work or kept doing\u0026nbsp;only what I already knew.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow can alumni best support students and recent graduates right now?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMentoring is the highest-leverage thing you can do, especially for students graduating into such unpredictable times. It doesn\u2019t have to be formal or structured mentoring. Sometimes it\u0027s just about being genuinely available, replying to an email, scheduling a coffee chat, or sharing an honest picture of what your career actually looked like, not the polished version. Students need to see that the path isn\u0027t always linear, and that people who have navigated uncertainty are willing to help them do the same.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat\u2019s next for the Network\u2014any upcoming priorities or initiatives you\u2019re excited about?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOur big focus right now is growth \u2014 expanding the College of Computing alumni in Atlanta and beyond. There\u0027s a lot of Georgia Tech computing talent spread across the country and the world, and we want those people to feel that this community is for them, too, not just those of us who stayed local.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMaking that geographic reach feel real, not just theoretical, is something we\u0027re actively working toward.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGT Computing Alumna Angie Lane (CS 2001) leads the college\u0027s alumni network. In this Q\u0026amp;A, she shares insights from her journey from a computer science student to an AI automation expert, discusses the \u0022human\u0022 side of technology, and outlines her vision for growing the college\u0027s alumni community well beyond Atlanta.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"GT Computing Alumna Angie Lane is guiding the college\u0027s alumni network as it continues to grow."}],"uid":"32045","created_gmt":"2026-04-02 16:35:06","changed_gmt":"2026-04-02 21:23:47","author":"Ben Snedeker","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-04-02T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-04-02T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679834":{"id":"679834","type":"image","title":"Angie Lane (CS 2001) leads the College of Computing\u0027s Alumni Network","body":null,"created":"1775147720","gmt_created":"2026-04-02 16:35:20","changed":"1775147720","gmt_changed":"2026-04-02 16:35:20","alt":"Angie Lane (CS 2001) leads the College of Computing\u0027s Alumni Network","file":{"fid":"264040","name":"angie-lane-notebook.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/02\/angie-lane-notebook.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/02\/angie-lane-notebook.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":378653,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/02\/angie-lane-notebook.jpeg?itok=iCGrO--u"}},"679835":{"id":"679835","type":"image","title":"Angie-Lane-photo-portrait.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1775147963","gmt_created":"2026-04-02 16:39:23","changed":"1775147963","gmt_changed":"2026-04-02 16:39:23","alt":"Photo portrait of Georgia Tech College of Computing Alumna Angie Lane","file":{"fid":"264041","name":"Angie-Lane-photo-portrait.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/02\/Angie-Lane-photo-portrait.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/04\/02\/Angie-Lane-photo-portrait.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":32549,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/04\/02\/Angie-Lane-photo-portrait.jpeg?itok=wvrqPzou"}}},"media_ids":["679834","679835"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"}],"keywords":[{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"506","name":"alumni"},{"id":"181991","name":"Georgia Tech News Center"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBen Snedeker, Sr. Communications Mgr.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech College of Computing\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Ealbert.snedeker@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688603":{"#nid":"688603","#data":{"type":"news","title":"From Industry to Instruction: Aibek Musaev Brings Real-World Insight to the CS Classroom","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ERaised in Kyrgyzstan, \u003Cstrong\u003EAibek Musaev\u003C\/strong\u003E discovered his passion for computer science (CS) in a small yet pivotal place: the computer lab at his high school, Physics-Mathematical Lyceum No. 61.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe first time I worked on a computer there and wrote my first program, I was hooked,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere is something uniquely satisfying about seeing the immediate results of your work. I also appreciated how objective coding is. It either works or it does not.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMusaev\u2019s journey in CS continued at Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University, where a chance discovery set the stage for his academic path abroad. After spotting a leaflet for a presidential scholarship, he applied and was among the ten winners out of roughly 1,500 applicants.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAs part of the scholarship, the organizers selected an American university for me, Georgia Institute of Technology, which I had not heard of at the time,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt Tech, Musaev earned his bachelor\u2019s in CS. He later continued his studies as a graduate research assistant and earned his master\u2019s in CS.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThat early fascination with problem-solving and clarity continues to shape Musaev\u2019s approach to teaching today. As a lecturer in the School of Computing Instruction (SCI), he teaches CS 2316 \u003Cem\u003EData Input and Manipulation \u003C\/em\u003Eand his favorite course, CS 1331 \u003Cem\u003EIntroduction to Object-Oriented Programming\u003C\/em\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cFrom the moment I started teaching it, something just felt natural,\u201d he said. \u201cI enjoy coding live in class, watching students grasp new ideas, and explaining not only how things work, but why they were designed that way.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlthough Musaev is now rooted in academia, his career has included significant time in industry. After completing his degrees, he worked at Siebel Systems, where he developed customer relationship management software and helped transition a flagship product from desktop to the web. He then returned to Kyrgyzstan to found and manage a successful software company before returning to the United States to earn his Ph.D.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe believes those experiences provide perspective that cannot be learned in a classroom alone.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMy advice may be nontraditional,\u201d he said. \u201cSpend time in industry. Seeing how the concepts you teach are applied in practice provides an invaluable perspective. This is something you simply cannot gain from textbooks alone.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince joining SCI in January 2020, Musaev has found a strong sense of community.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI am very happy to be part of this team,\u201d he said. \u201cEveryone is supportive and willing to help. It truly feels like a collaborative environment.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor Musaev, the most meaningful moments come from students, often unexpectedly.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cRecently, I was walking with a head TA discussing course-related topics when a student suddenly stepped in front of us and interrupted our conversation. He told me I was the best professor he had ever had. Moments like that are difficult to put into words, but they mean everything to us as instructors,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHe said he hopes students find value in his classes and leave each lecture having learned something new. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI also want them to genuinely enjoy CS. It is an incredible field, and I cannot imagine doing anything else.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ERaised in Kyrgyzstan, \u003Cstrong\u003EAibek Musaev\u003C\/strong\u003E discovered his passion for computer science (CS) in a small yet pivotal place: the computer lab at his high school, Physics-Mathematical Lyceum No. 61.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe first time I worked on a computer there and wrote my first program, I was hooked,\u201d he said.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Musaev\u2019s journey in CS continued at Kyrgyz-Russian Slavic University, where a chance discovery set the stage for his academic path abroad."}],"uid":"36613","created_gmt":"2026-02-27 17:15:07","changed_gmt":"2026-03-20 12:52:18","author":"Emily Smith","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-27T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-27T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679473":{"id":"679473","type":"image","title":"aibekprofile1.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EAibek Musaev earned CS degrees at Georgia Tech and is now a lecturer in the School of Computing Instruction. Photos by Kevin Beasley\/ College of Computing.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1772212522","gmt_created":"2026-02-27 17:15:22","changed":"1772212522","gmt_changed":"2026-02-27 17:15:22","alt":"Aibek Musaev earned CS degrees at Georgia Tech and is now a lecturer in the School of Computing Instruction. Photos by Kevin Beasley\/ College of Computing.","file":{"fid":"263640","name":"aibekprofile1.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/27\/aibekprofile1.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/27\/aibekprofile1.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1083803,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/27\/aibekprofile1.jpg?itok=YrPBsnC_"}},"679474":{"id":"679474","type":"image","title":"aibekprofile2.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EBefore working in academia, Musaev\u0027s career path included significant time in industry. Photos by Kevin Beasley\/ College of Computing.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1772212522","gmt_created":"2026-02-27 17:15:22","changed":"1772212522","gmt_changed":"2026-02-27 17:15:22","alt":"Before working in academia, Musaev\u0027s career path included significant time in industry. Photos by Kevin Beasley\/ College of Computing.","file":{"fid":"263641","name":"aibekprofile2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/27\/aibekprofile2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/27\/aibekprofile2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":56853,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/27\/aibekprofile2.jpg?itok=PkvHsNtX"}},"679475":{"id":"679475","type":"image","title":"aibekprofile3.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EAibek Musaev earned CS degrees at Georgia Tech and is now a lecturer in the School of Computing Instruction. Photos by Kevin Beasley\/ College of Computing.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1772212522","gmt_created":"2026-02-27 17:15:22","changed":"1772212522","gmt_changed":"2026-02-27 17:15:22","alt":"Aibek Musaev earned CS degrees at Georgia Tech and is now a lecturer in the School of Computing Instruction. Photos by Kevin Beasley\/ College of Computing.","file":{"fid":"263642","name":"aibekprofile3.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/27\/aibekprofile3.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/27\/aibekprofile3.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1164221,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/27\/aibekprofile3.jpg?itok=qttdh7u2"}},"679476":{"id":"679476","type":"image","title":"aibekprofile4.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EMusaev advises students to gain experience and perspective by working in industry. Photos by Kevin Beasley\/ College of Computing.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1772212522","gmt_created":"2026-02-27 17:15:22","changed":"1772212522","gmt_changed":"2026-02-27 17:15:22","alt":"Musaev advises students to gain experience and perspective by working in industry. Photos by Kevin Beasley\/ College of Computing.","file":{"fid":"263643","name":"aibekprofile4.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/27\/aibekprofile4.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/27\/aibekprofile4.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1595763,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/27\/aibekprofile4.jpg?itok=zZbXF5H-"}}},"media_ids":["679473","679474","679475","679476"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"660374","name":"School of Computing Instruction"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"},{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"194609","name":"Industry"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[{"id":"193866","name":"school of computing instruction"},{"id":"654","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"104601","name":"faculty profile"},{"id":"506","name":"alumni"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":["emily.smith@cc.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688551":{"#nid":"688551","#data":{"type":"news","title":"David Sherrill Named Executive Director of the Institute for Data Engineering and Science","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech has appointed David Sherrill as executive director of the Institute for Data Engineering and Science (IDEaS), effective March 1. Sherrill is a Regents\u0027 Professor in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry with a joint appointment in the School of Computational Science \u0026amp; Engineering. Sherrill has served as associate director for IDEaS since its founding in 2016 and as interim director since January 1, 2025.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI\u2019m thrilled to see Professor Sherrill tackle this role for the coming 5 years. He understands the rapidly evolving opportunities to apply AI and data science approaches to the diversity of research conducted by Georgia Tech faculty and students, and has a strong agenda to help our researchers make the most of this explosive change in the research landscape.\u201d Said V.P. of Interdisciplinary Research, Julia Kubanek. \u201cHe also has deep experience with team building and management which will position IDEaS favorably.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs executive director, Sherrill will guide IDEaS\u2019 current initiatives, which include the Microsoft CloudHub program that supports innovative applications in Generative Artificial Intelligence, and provide oversight and support for the joint College of Computing \/ IDEaS Center for Artificial Intelligence in Science and Engineering (ARTISAN), which provides\u0026nbsp; Georgia Tech faculty and research engineers expert support staff, needed cyberinfrastructure, software resources, and advice to assist faculty with projects using large data sets or using AI and machine learning to drive discovery.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESherrill will also the lead the launch of a new strategic vision, emphasizing the Georgia Tech research community\u2019s expertise in the development of AI and ML techniques and their application to problems in science and engineering, high performance computing, and academic software. Sherrill will focus on internal and external partnerships at IDEaS, creating new collaborative efforts in areas such as economics, policy, and the arts and humanities. He will also work to strengthen current connections across Georgia Tech\u2019s Colleges, Interdisciplinary Research Institutes (IRIs), and the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt\u2019s a great honor to be named the next executive director of IDEaS,\u201d said Sherrill.\u0026nbsp; \u201cGeorgia Tech has world-class faculty and students, and an unparalleled spirit of collaboration.\u0026nbsp; By bringing together faculty from across campus and working together with some of the amazing student groups, we can leverage the power of AI to accelerate our research and maximize our impact.\u0026nbsp; IDEaS will continue to run upskilling workshops to help our campus keep pace with the rapid changes in AI.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESherrill is an active promoter of education in computational quantum chemistry, as well as a strong voice for the benefits of open-source software for research acceleration. He was named Outreach Volunteer of the Year by the Georgia Section of the American Chemical Society in 2017, and he is the lead principal investigator of the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/PSI_(computational_chemistry)\u0022\u003EPsi\u003C\/a\u003E open-source quantum chemistry program.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESherrill earned a B.S. in chemistry from MIT in 1992 and a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Georgia in 1996. From 1996-1999 Sherril was an NSF Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESherrill is Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the American Chemical Society, and the American Physical Society, and he has been Associate Editor of the Journal of Chemical Physics since 2009.\u0026nbsp;Sherrill has received a Camille and Henry Dreyfus New Faculty Award, the International Journal of Quantum Chemistry Young Investigator Award, an NSF CAREER Award, and Georgia Tech\u0027s W. Howard Ector Outstanding Teacher Award. In 2023, he received the Herty Medal from the Georgia Section of the American Chemical Society, and in 2024, he was elected to the International Academy of Quantum Molecular Science.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E- Christa M. Ernst\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech has appointed David Sherrill as executive director of the Institute for Data Engineering and Science (IDEaS), effective March 1. Sherrill is a Regents\u0027 Professor in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry with a joint appointment in the School of Computational Science \u0026amp; Engineering. Sherrill has served as associate director for IDEaS since its founding in 2016 and as interim director since January 1, 2025.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech has appointed David Sherrill as executive director of the Institute for Data Engineering and Science (IDEaS), effective March 1. "}],"uid":"27863","created_gmt":"2026-02-26 17:22:25","changed_gmt":"2026-03-10 20:55:44","author":"Christa Ernst","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-26T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-26T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679455":{"id":"679455","type":"image","title":"David-Sherrill-for-Ex-Dir-Bio-Page.jpg","body":null,"created":"1772126566","gmt_created":"2026-02-26 17:22:46","changed":"1772126566","gmt_changed":"2026-02-26 17:22:46","alt":"Picture of David Sherrill who has been Named Executive Director of the Institute for Data Engineering and Science","file":{"fid":"263619","name":"David-Sherrill-for-Ex-Dir-Bio-Page.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/26\/David-Sherrill-for-Ex-Dir-Bio-Page.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/26\/David-Sherrill-for-Ex-Dir-Bio-Page.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":55311,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/26\/David-Sherrill-for-Ex-Dir-Bio-Page.jpg?itok=9oMmhNCm"}}},"media_ids":["679455"],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"85951","name":"School of Chemistry and Biochemistry"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"},{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"139","name":"Business"},{"id":"141","name":"Chemistry and Chemical Engineering"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"145","name":"Engineering"},{"id":"194609","name":"Industry"},{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"132","name":"Institute Leadership"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187023","name":"go-data"},{"id":"192863","name":"go-ai"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"187190","name":"-go-gtmi"},{"id":"188084","name":"go-ipat"},{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"},{"id":"187582","name":"go-ibb"},{"id":"188360","name":"go-bbiss"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChrista M. Ernst - \u003C\/strong\u003EResearch Communications Program Manager\u003C\/div\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["christa.ernst@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"688538":{"#nid":"688538","#data":{"type":"news","title":"College of Sciences Alumnus Honored with John B. Carter, Jr. Spirit of Georgia Tech Award","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/miller-templeton-9791261a\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMiller Templeton\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, PHYS 1961, M.S. ANS 1963, has been recognized with the 2026 John B. Carter, Jr. Spirit of Georgia Tech Award.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EPresented at the annual \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtalumni.org\/gold-and-white-honors-gala\/default.html\u0022\u003EWhite and Gold Gala\u003C\/a\u003E hosted by the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtalumni.org\/\u0022\u003EGeorgia Tech Alumni Association\u003C\/a\u003E, the award celebrates alumni who demonstrate extraordinary passion and commitment to the Institute.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0022Throughout my life, my basic philosophy has been to help the people around me to have more enjoyable, successful, productive, and happier lives,\u201d says Templeton. \u201cMy 60 years at Georgia Tech allowed me to do this \u2014\u0026nbsp;influencing the lives of thousands of students and helping them to optimize their human potential.\u0026nbsp;For me, this is the essence of The Spirit of Georgia Tech.\u0022\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ETo read more about Templeton and the other alumni recognized, visit: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtalumni.org\/gold-and-white-honors-gala\/2026-honorees-and-event-recording.html\u0022\u003E2026 Honorees and Event Recording\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ETempleton has dedicated six decades to Georgia Tech \u2014 as a student, administrator, and volunteer \u2014 demonstrating an enduring commitment to his beloved alma mater.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Templeton has dedicated six decades to Georgia Tech \u2014 as a student, administrator, and volunteer \u2014 demonstrating an enduring commitment to his beloved alma mater."}],"uid":"36607","created_gmt":"2026-02-25 21:51:12","changed_gmt":"2026-02-27 15:25:02","author":"ls67","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-25T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-25T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679444":{"id":"679444","type":"image","title":"Miller Templeton","body":"\u003Cp\u003EMiller Templeton\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1772056293","gmt_created":"2026-02-25 21:51:33","changed":"1772056293","gmt_changed":"2026-02-25 21:51:33","alt":"Man standing in front of the Georgia Tech Ramblin\u0027 Wreck.","file":{"fid":"263608","name":"miller55097974227_5631661874_k.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/25\/miller55097974227_5631661874_k.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/25\/miller55097974227_5631661874_k.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":641119,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/25\/miller55097974227_5631661874_k.jpg?itok=HbiKspEk"}}},"media_ids":["679444"],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"126011","name":"School of Physics"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192249","name":"cos-community"},{"id":"506","name":"alumni"},{"id":"171949","name":"Alumni Awards"},{"id":"172338","name":"Alumni Georgia Tech Alumni Association"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[],"email":["Laura.smith@cos.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"687824":{"#nid":"687824","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Cyber Risk is Business Risk: A Georgia Tech Alum on What Leaders Must Learn in 2026","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhen \u003Cstrong\u003EChristopher Craig\u003C\/strong\u003E arrived at Georgia Tech as an undergraduate in 1995, the campus and the field of cybersecurity looked very different.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIt was the era of look left and look right, and one of you will not be here at graduation,\u201d Craig said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECraig worked hard and graduated with his computer science (CS) bachelor\u2019s degree in 2000, just as the dot-com bubble burst. He returned to Georgia Tech about a year later and has been here ever since.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECraig is the enterprise cybersecurity architect in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.oit.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EOffice of Information Technology\u003C\/a\u003E and has spent nearly three decades at Tech as a student, employee, and instructor.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlong the way, he has earned three degrees from the Institute and helped shape how Georgia Tech approaches cybersecurity in an increasingly complex digital landscape.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECraig began his career at Tech supporting student registration and other core IT systems. He moved fully into cybersecurity about 15 years ago. His technical background was strong, but he saw a gap in his experience.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI had a lot of technical background and work experience, but not much policy experience,\u201d he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECraig enrolled in Georgia Tech\u2019s Master of Science in Information Security to fill in this gap. He said his decision to enroll in the policy track was intentional.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cIf you\u2019ve been doing the technical work for 10 years, a technical master\u2019s helps some,\u201d Craig said. \u201cBut it is much more useful to study the areas you do not already know well.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECraig moved into management as his GT career progressed. This path led him once again to the classroom. This time, he pursued an MBA from Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.scheller.gatech.edu\/index.html\u0022\u003EScheller College of Business\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECraig believes the combination of cybersecurity and business education is increasingly important for leaders and others.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThere is a big gap in the industry,\u201d he said. \u201cYou need people who understand cybersecurity and the business side, and people in business leadership who understand cybersecurity risk.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECraig is an instructor in the online Master of Science in Cybersecurity program. He teaches incident response and often sees this gap among his students.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMany business professionals do not know how to respond to a cybersecurity incident,\u201d Craig said. \u201cThey are not trained in it. At the same time, many cybersecurity professionals are learning business impacts on the job.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECraig said business knowledge is essential for aspiring chief information security officers.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAt that level, understanding how cybersecurity supports business goals is more important than deep technical detail,\u201d he said. \u201cYou still need the basics, but you also need to talk to the CFO.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt Georgia Tech, Craig focuses on cybersecurity architecture. His work centers on the design and protection of enterprise systems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cFor example, student information systems have a design,\u201d he said. \u201cWe look at how firewalls and other controls fit into that design to protect the data.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHis role continues to evolve as the Institute\u2019s cybersecurity needs change. That evolution mirrors the field itself, especially with the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAI has impacted cybersecurity for longer than people want to admit,\u201d Craig said. \u201cUnderstanding what is unusual is a big part of security, and AI can be very good at that. It can also be very good at avoiding detection.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECraig said AI introduces new architectural risks, particularly around data privacy. Tools that analyze student or employee data must be carefully designed to prevent sensitive information from leaking through training or outputs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cYou have to understand the inputs and outputs,\u201d he said. \u201cOtherwise, you can accidentally release data you really care about.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPrivacy has been a recurring theme throughout Craig\u2019s career. He credits courses such as the privacy policy class taught by Professor \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/peterswire.net\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPeter Swire\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, the J.Z. Liang Chair in the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/scp.cc.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Cybersecurity and Privacy\u003C\/a\u003E, with shaping his thinking.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cSo much of security is about personal data,\u201d Craig said. \u201cUnderstanding what actually makes data anonymous or not is critical.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECraig believes that privacy protection depends on training and system design within an institution as large and decentralized as Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cTraining can only get you so far,\u201d Craig said. \u201cPeople make mistakes. Strong processes limit exposure even when human error happens.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELooking back, Craig describes his time at Georgia Tech as one of constant growth.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe industry has massively changed,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat you learn becomes outdated quickly. You have to keep growing.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFrom undergraduate student to cybersecurity leader, Craig\u2019s career reflects both the evolution of Georgia Tech and the fast-changing world of cybersecurity. For him, the learning never stops.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech alum Christopher Craig\u2019s nearly three-decade journey as a student, employee, and instructor shows how combining cybersecurity, policy, and business education is essential for leaders navigating evolving risks\u2014from incident response to AI and data privacy\u2014in an increasingly complex digital landscape.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech alum Christopher Craig\u2019s nearly three-decade journey as a student, employee, and instructor shows how combining cybersecurity, policy, and business education is essential for leaders navigating evolving risks\u2014from incident response to AI and "}],"uid":"36253","created_gmt":"2026-01-29 16:39:45","changed_gmt":"2026-02-19 15:53:07","author":"John Popham","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-01-28T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-01-28T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679126":{"id":"679126","type":"image","title":"Christopher-Craig_1.jpg","body":null,"created":"1769704813","gmt_created":"2026-01-29 16:40:13","changed":"1769704813","gmt_changed":"2026-01-29 16:40:13","alt":"A man looks up from his laptop computer and into a camera. There is a whiteboard with illegible writing on it behind him. ","file":{"fid":"263247","name":"Christopher-Craig_1.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/29\/Christopher-Craig_1.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/29\/Christopher-Craig_1.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1938873,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/29\/Christopher-Craig_1.jpg?itok=FFcaJWfX"}}},"media_ids":["679126"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"660367","name":"School of Cybersecurity and Privacy"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"145171","name":"Cybersecurity"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:jpopham3@gatech.edu\u0022\u003EJohn Popham\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003ECommunications Officer II\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003ESchool of Cybersecurity and Privacy\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"687826":{"#nid":"687826","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Yellow Jacket Connection Sparks Glaucoma Research Fund at Tech","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EAn estimated 4 million Americans have glaucoma, a group of eye diseases that can lead to irreversible blindness.\u0026nbsp;Now, Georgia Tech is home to a Glaucoma Research Fund that will\u0026nbsp;support cutting-edge work to understand and advance treatments for the disease.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe new initiative was sparked by ongoing research at Georgia Tech \u2014 and a Yellow Jacket connection: when\u0026nbsp;Postdoctoral Research Fellow\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EHannah Youngblood\u003C\/strong\u003E\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.brightfocus.org\/news\/a-key-protein-could-alter-risk-for-pseudoexfoliation-glaucoma\/\u0022\u003Ework on exfoliation glaucoma (XFG)\u003C\/a\u003E was featured by the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.brightfocus.org\/\u0022\u003EBrightFocus Foundation\u003C\/a\u003E,\u0026nbsp;it caught the attention of\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EJennifer Rucker,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Ean Alabama resident who was diagnosed with XFG several years ago.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EExcited that the research could change outcomes for people like her \u2014 and proud that it\u2019s happening at her husband\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EPhilip Rucker\u003C\/strong\u003E\u2019s, EE 72, alma mater \u2014 Jennifer Rucker reached out to Youngblood and her advisor,\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/chemistry.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ESchool of Chemistry and Biochemistry\u003C\/a\u003E Professor and Kelly Sepcic Pfeil, Ph.D. Chair\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/people\/raquel-lieberman\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERaquel Lieberman\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cAs the wife of a Georgia Tech graduate and an individual with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, I was inspired to support the scientists whose efforts may help me and others,\u201d Jennifer Rucker says.\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003EWhat followed was a meaningful dialogue and a shared sense of purpose \u2014 and the creation of the Georgia Tech Glaucoma Research Fund (Wreck Glaucoma! Fund).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cIt meant so much that Jennifer took the initiative to reach out to learn more about our research,\u201d says Lieberman. \u201cMoments like this remind me how deeply meaningful it is to connect with people in the broader community who are navigating glaucoma. Opportunities for such personal connections are rare, but they inspire and further motivate us to achieve our lab\u2019s mission to improve the lives of individuals suffering from blindness diseases.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Personal Connection\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EYoungblood\u2019s interest in glaucoma research also stems from a personal connection: her father\u0026nbsp;was diagnosed with glaucoma as a young adult.\u0026nbsp;Now, Youngblood\u0026nbsp;studies the genetic and molecular factors behind XFG in the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/lieberman.chemistry.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ELieberman research lab\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cXFG is an aggressive form of the disease with no known cure,\u201d Youngblood says.\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003EWhile scientists know that XFG is the result of abnormal accumulation of proteins in the eye, current treatments only address symptoms rather than treating the root cause of the disease.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cWe know XFG is driven by protein buildup, but we still don\u2019t know\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003Ewhy\u003C\/em\u003E it happens,\u201d she explains. \u201cMy work studying specific genetic variants aims to uncover this.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe Genetics of Glaucoma\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EIn particular, Youngblood is researching the role of LOXL1, a protein that plays a role in soft tissue throughout the body, including the eyes.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cResearch has shown that people with variants in the genes responsible for this protein are more likely to have XFG,\u201d she says. \u201cThat made me curious to see if the variants might be impacting the structure of the LOXL1 protein itself and how those variants might lead to disease.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EYoungblood is currently testing her theory in the lab. \u201cMy hope is that new insight into proteins like LOXL1 will bring us closer to treatments that address XFG at its source,\u201d she says. \u201cThe new Georgia Tech Glaucoma Research Fund is a tremendous step forward in making that hope a reality.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESupport the Georgia Tech Glaucoma Research Fund\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EPlease visit the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/giving.gatech.edu\/campaigns\/59801\/donations\/new?designation_id=a000015611000\u0026amp;\u0022\u003EGlaucoma Research Fund support page\u003C\/a\u003E to give to this specific program. To discuss additional philanthropic opportunities, please contact the College of Sciences Development Team:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:development@cos.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Edevelopment@cos.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYour investment ensures that these scholars and researchers have world-class resources, facilities, and mentors to excel in this critical work. Thank you for helping us shape the future.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWhen\u0026nbsp;Postdoctoral Research Fellow\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EHannah Youngblood\u003C\/strong\u003E\u2019s\u0026nbsp;work on exfoliation glaucoma (XFG) was featured by the\u0026nbsp;BrightFocus Foundation,\u0026nbsp;it caught the attention of\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EJennifer Rucker,\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Ean Alabama resident who was diagnosed with XFG several years ago. What followed was a meaningful dialogue and a shared sense of purpose \u2014 and the creation of the Georgia Tech Glaucoma Research Fund (Wreck Glaucoma! Fund).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"When\u00a0Postdoctoral Research Fellow\u00a0Hannah Youngblood\u2019s\u00a0work on exfoliation glaucoma (XFG) was featured by the\u00a0BrightFocus Foundation,\u00a0it caught the attention of\u00a0Jennifer Rucker,\u00a0an Alabama resident who was diagnosed with XFG several years ago. "}],"uid":"35599","created_gmt":"2026-01-29 17:23:21","changed_gmt":"2026-02-19 15:19:24","author":"sperrin6","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-02-02T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-02-02T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679130":{"id":"679130","type":"image","title":"Hannah Youngblood","body":null,"created":"1769722230","gmt_created":"2026-01-29 21:30:30","changed":"1769722339","gmt_changed":"2026-01-29 21:32:19","alt":"Hannah Youngblood","file":{"fid":"263251","name":"Headshot.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/29\/Headshot.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/29\/Headshot.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":42055,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/29\/Headshot.jpg?itok=1PjOSH2M"}},"679127":{"id":"679127","type":"image","title":"Raquel Lieberman","body":null,"created":"1769707506","gmt_created":"2026-01-29 17:25:06","changed":"1769722356","gmt_changed":"2026-01-29 21:32:36","alt":"Raquel Lieberman","file":{"fid":"263248","name":"083.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/29\/083.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/29\/083.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":14074756,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/29\/083.jpg?itok=qPG_sbYX"}}},"media_ids":["679130","679127"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/giving.gatech.edu\/campaigns\/59801\/donations\/new?designation_id=a000015611000\u0026","title":"Make a Gift to Support the Georgia Tech Glaucoma Research Fund"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"},{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"},{"id":"85951","name":"School of Chemistry and Biochemistry"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"},{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"193234","name":"Campaign Stories"},{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"146","name":"Life Sciences and Biology"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192249","name":"cos-community"},{"id":"194631","name":"cos-georgia"},{"id":"187423","name":"go-bio"},{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"39511","name":"Public Service, Leadership, and Policy"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71891","name":"Health and Medicine"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:sperrin6@gatech.edu\u0022\u003ESelena Langner\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"687670":{"#nid":"687670","#data":{"type":"news","title":"College of Sciences Announces 2026 Young Alumni Board Members","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe College of Sciences is pleased to announce the newest members of its\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/young-alumni-board\u0022\u003EYoung Alumni Board\u003C\/a\u003E (CoSYAB). Launched in fall 2024, CoSYAB is a volunteer leadership group that partners with the College\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/advisory-board\u0022\u003EExternal Advisory Board\u003C\/a\u003E and Friends of the Sciences to strengthen connections within\u0026nbsp;its community and support its\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/strategic-plan-2021-2030#:~:text=The%20challenge%20and%20opportunity%20for,leaders%20in%20science%20and%20technology.\u0022\u003Estrategic plan\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cOur Advisory Boards enter 2026 with a refreshed and energized membership, bringing renewed focus, broader perspectives, and strengthened commitment to advancing our strategic priorities,\u201d says\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ELeslie Roberts\u003C\/strong\u003E, director of Alumni Relations for the College of Sciences.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe board is composed of alumni who obtained an undergraduate degree from the College within the past two decades or a master\u2019s or Ph.D. degree within the past decade. In addition to participating in regular meetings, members are expected to contribute annually to the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gtgives.org\/giving-day\/98387\/department\/98391\u0022\u003EDean\u2019s Excellence Fund\u003C\/a\u003E, which provides direct support to where it is most needed across the College\u0027s six schools.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EIn 2025, the inaugural CoSYAB members engaged directly with students at numerous College of Sciences events. They shared industry insights and professional guidance during the College\u2019s students-alumni leadership dinner, career education panel discussions, and \u201cMaking Science Accessible\u201d event, which was organized by the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cpies.cos.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003ECenter for Programs to Increase Engagement in the Sciences\u003C\/a\u003E. At the latter, board members provided feedback to graduate students testing new ways of presenting their research to general audiences.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EIn the new year, CoSYAB will continue to build on these efforts to \u201csupport students, faculty, and programs in meaningful and impactful ways,\u201d adds Roberts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe 2026 board brings together alumni with a broad range of academic backgrounds and professional perspectives, united by a shared commitment to supporting the College of Sciences and strengthening student-alumni connections.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERiana Burney\u003C\/strong\u003E (Biochemistry 2015) is excited to continue in the role of board chair and work alongside members who are equally committed to mentorship, engagement, and service.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cCollaborating with passionate College of Sciences alumni to build a foundation that directly supports student engagement and strengthens alumni connections reaffirmed how meaningful it is to stay involved with the College beyond graduation,\u201d she says.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EReturning member\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EKristel Topping\u003C\/strong\u003E (Ph.D. Applied Physiology 2021) expresses similar enthusiasm for continuing the board\u2019s efforts to build meaningful connections and partnerships across Atlanta and Georgia.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cI am thrilled to return as a board member because of its impactful initiatives and tremendous potential to benefit the broader community,\u201d she shares.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJalen Borne\u003C\/strong\u003E (Chemistry 2022, M.S. Materials Science and Engineering 2024) is among the nine new board members bringing fresh ideas and a commitment to serving the College of Sciences community. As a member, Borne is most looking forward to supporting professional development and mentorship initiatives for both current students and young alumni.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cI\u0027m excited to join CoSYAB because some of my greatest experiences came from the College of Sciences, and I want to use what I\u0027ve learned to benefit as many future scientists as possible,\u201d he says.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003ELikewise,\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EEdward Freeman\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E(Biology 2021), who also joins the board this year, views his involvement in student and alumni programming as an opportunity to give back.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cThe College of Sciences gave me the foundation and skills that made my transition into graduate school and the biotech industry possible,\u201d he explains. \u201cI want to pay that forward by sharing what I\u0027ve learned with the next generation.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch2\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E2026 College of Sciences Young Alumni Board\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESathya \u201cSat\u201d Balachander, Ph.D.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EPh.D. Biology 2018\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJalen Borne\u003C\/strong\u003E*\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Chemistry 2022; M.S. Materials Science and Engineering 2024\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKatherine Bridges\u003C\/strong\u003E*\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Mathematics 2025\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERiana Burney\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Biochemistry 2015\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAsheley Chapman, Ph.D.\u003C\/strong\u003E*\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EPh.D. Biochemistry 2021\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EStephen Crooke, Ph.D.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EPh.D. Chemistry 2018\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERalph Cullen\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Psychology 2008; M.S. Psychology 2011\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMorgan Foreman, Ph.D.\u003C\/strong\u003E*\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Psychology 2017\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEdward Freeman\u003C\/strong\u003E*\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Biology 2021\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAlison Graab\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Earth and Atmospheric Sciences 2008\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EClaire Haskell\u003C\/strong\u003E*\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Mathematics 2025\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAustin Hope\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Psychology 2014\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEvelyn Ligon, Ph.D.*\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EPh.D. Chemistry 2019\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHannah Liu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EM.S. Bioinformatics 2017\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAnita Mohammad\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Psychology 2012\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EPiper Rackley\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Biology 2022; M.S. Biology 2023\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAnne Marie Sweeney-Jones, Ph.D.\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EPh.D. Chemistry 2020\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EKristel Topping, Ph.D.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EPh.D. Applied Physiology 2021\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYusuf Uddin, Ph.D.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Biology 2012; Ph.D. Biology 2018\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChiamaka Ukachukwu*\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Biochemistry 2013\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMegen Wittling\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Biology 2018\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAshley Zuniga\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cbr\u003EB.S. Biochemistry 2014\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E*\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Enew member\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/em\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ELaunched in fall 2024, the volunteer leadership group is composed of alumni who obtained an undergraduate degree from the College within the past two decades or a master\u2019s or Ph.D. degree within the past decade.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The volunteer leadership group is composed of alumni who obtained an undergraduate degree from the College within the past two decades or a master\u2019s or Ph.D. degree within the past decade. "}],"uid":"36583","created_gmt":"2026-01-26 16:22:58","changed_gmt":"2026-01-27 19:38:28","author":"lvidal7","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-01-26T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-01-26T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"679084":{"id":"679084","type":"image","title":"During a 2025 \u201cMaking Science Accessible\u201d event, CoSYAB members provided feedback to graduate students testing new ways of presenting their research to the public.","body":null,"created":"1769445888","gmt_created":"2026-01-26 16:44:48","changed":"1769542743","gmt_changed":"2026-01-27 19:39:03","alt":"Group of 14 students and recent alumni standing in front of a projector screen in a classroom ","file":{"fid":"263201","name":"Making-Science-Accessible-september-2025.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/26\/Making-Science-Accessible-september-2025.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/26\/Making-Science-Accessible-september-2025.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3384739,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/26\/Making-Science-Accessible-september-2025.jpg?itok=ClgVhLBj"}}},"media_ids":["679084"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/young-alumni-board","title":"College of Sciences Young Alumni Board"},{"url":"https:\/\/cos.gatech.edu\/news\/college-sciences-announces-new-leadership-group-young-alumni","title":"College of Sciences Announces New Leadership Group for Young Alumni"}],"groups":[{"id":"1278","name":"College of Sciences"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192249","name":"cos-community"},{"id":"4896","name":"College of Sciences"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWriter: Lindsay C. Vidal\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["lvidal7@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"687251":{"#nid":"687251","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Yellow Jackets Featured Among Most Influential Georgians ","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor their leadership across various industries and positive contributions to their communities, 12 Georgia Tech alumni are among \u003Cem\u003EGeorgia Trend\u003C\/em\u003E\u2019s 100 Most Influential Georgians for 2026.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBrian Blake, EE 1994 \u2013 President, Georgia State University\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGuided by his BluePrint to 2033, Blake recently announced that 16 of the plan\u2019s 20 initiatives are underway, including work on the new Panther Quad and Campus Greenway expansion on the Atlanta campus. Georgia State recently received an $80 million donation from the Robert W. Woodruff Foundation \u2014 the largest in the university\u2019s history.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u00c1ngel Cabrera, M.S. PSY 1993, Ph.D. PSY 1995 \u2013 President, Georgia Institute of Technology\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnder Cabrera\u2019s leadership, Georgia Tech has become the state\u0027s largest university. With record enrollment, campaign fundraising, and research expenditures, Tech is delivering on the president\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/news\/2025\/09\/04\/georgia-techs-big-bets-delivering-record-results\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003EBig Bets strategy\u003C\/a\u003E. A $100 million bequest from alumnus John Durstine in September 2025 is the largest in Tech history and will transform the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELisa Cupid, ME 2000 \u2013 Chair, Cobb County Board of Supervisors\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFirst elected in 2020, the second-term chair of the Cobb County Board of Commissioners declared her \u201cunwavering commitment to forward motion\u201d in a 2025 address that highlighted economic growth, improving equity, and the expansion of critical resources in Cobb County. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAndre Dickens, ChE 1998 \u2013 Mayor, City of Atlanta\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EReelected to a \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/news.gatech.edu\/news\/2025\/11\/04\/dickens-elected-second-term-atlanta-mayor\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Esecond term as Atlanta\u2019s mayor\u003C\/a\u003E, Dickens has led the city since 2021, establishing positive working relationships with state leadership, reducing violent crime rates, and building affordable housing. Under his leadership, the city achieved an AAA bond rating, the highest in the city\u2019s history. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERoderick McLean, M.S. EE 1993 \u2013 Vice President and General Manager, Air Mobility and Maritime Missions, Lockheed Martin\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMcLean is the vice president of Lockheed Martin\u2019s Air Mobility and Maritime Missions division and site general manager of the company\u2019s 5,000-employee Marietta facility. The C-130J Super Hercules aircraft, built at the facility, was named the winner of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce\u2019s inaugural \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gachamber.com\/news\/lockheed-martin-c-130j-super-hercules-wins-coolest-thing-made-in-georgia-competition\/\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003ECoolest Thing Made in Georgia competition\u003C\/a\u003E. \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJannine Miller, MBA 2013 \u2013 Executive Director, SRTA, GRTA, and Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESince 2023, Miller has led the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority, the Atlanta-Region Transit Link Authority, and the State Road and Tollway Authority. Her team continues to work toward easing congestion around metro Atlanta, including 16 miles of planned express lanes on GA 400, expected to be completed in 2031.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EValerie Montgomery Rice, Chem 1983 \u2013 President and Dean, Morehouse School of Medicine\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ERice has led the Morehouse School of Medicine since 2014, and under her leadership, the number of Morehouse\u0027s M.D. candidates has doubled. She has also worked to expand access to education with regional medical campuses in Albany and Columbus. In 2025, Rice was elected to the Georgia Power board of directors.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHonorary:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEd Bastian, HON Ph.D. 2024 \u2013 CEO, Delta Air Lines\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs the CEO of metro Atlanta\u2019s largest private employer, Bastian was named \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/tonyjannus.com\/awards\u0022 rel=\u0022noreferrer noopener\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022\u003Ethe 2025 Tony Jannus Award recipient\u003C\/a\u003E by the Tony Jannus Distinguished Aviation Society.\u0026nbsp; The award is given annually to individuals who have made major and lasting contributions to the commercial aviation industry.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ERaphael Bostic, HON Ph.D. 2022 \u2013 President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAs president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta since 2017, Bostic has beenresponsible for overseeing monetary policy, bank supervision, and payment services. He will retire at the end of his term in February. \u0026nbsp;He also serves on the Federal Open Market Committee, the monetary policymaking body of the Federal Reserve System.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EJames Quincey, HON Ph.D. 2020 \u2013 Chair and CEO, The Coca-Cola Company\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAfter serving as Coca-Cola\u2019s CEO since 2017, Quincey announced his intention to step down in December. He will remain with the beverage giant as its executive chairman after reshaping the company\u2019s strategy and adding more than 10 billion-dollar brands during his tenure as CEO. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECarole Tom\u00e9\u003C\/strong\u003E, \u003Cstrong\u003EHON Ph.D. 2025 \u2013 CEO, UPS\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn 2025, Tom\u00e9 began leading the company through what she called the \u201cmost significant strategic shift in the company\u2019s history,\u201d while helping customers navigate the most\u201cprofound shift in trade policy in a century.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EChris Womack, HON Ph.D. 2023 \u2013 President, CEO, and Chair, Southern Company\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWomack leads the energy provider that serves over 9 million customers. In 2025, he was awarded the title of Georgia Trustee by the Georgia Historical Society \u2014 the highest honor the state can confer.\u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"Twelve Georgia Tech alumni are among \u0027Georgia Trend\u2019s\u0027 100 Most Influential Georgians for 2026.  "}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ETwelve Georgia Tech alumni are among \u003Cem\u003EGeorgia Trend\u2019s\u003C\/em\u003E 100 Most Influential Georgians for 2026. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Twelve Georgia Tech alumni are among \u0027Georgia Trend\u2019s\u0027 100 Most Influential Georgians for 2026.  "}],"uid":"36418","created_gmt":"2026-01-13 19:28:14","changed_gmt":"2026-01-13 19:32:14","author":"sgagliano3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-01-13T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-01-13T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678972":{"id":"678972","type":"image","title":"GA-Trend-2026-FINAL_0.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003ETop: Brian Blake, \u00c1ngel Cabrera, Lisa Cupid, Andre Dickens, Roderick McLean, Jannine Miller. Bottom: Valerie Montgomery Rice, Ed Bastian, Raphael Bostic, James Quincey, Carole Tom\u00e9, Chris Womack.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1768332211","gmt_created":"2026-01-13 19:23:31","changed":"1768332453","gmt_changed":"2026-01-13 19:27:33","alt":"2026 Georgia Trend Honorees","file":{"fid":"263077","name":"GA-Trend-2026-FINAL_0.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/13\/GA-Trend-2026-FINAL_0.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/01\/13\/GA-Trend-2026-FINAL_0.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":1217704,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/01\/13\/GA-Trend-2026-FINAL_0.jpg?itok=LaHAQtEU"}}},"media_ids":["678972"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.georgiatrend.com\/2025\/12\/31\/2026-100-most-influential-georgians\/","title":"2026 100 Most Influential Georgians"}],"groups":[{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"},{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"132","name":"Institute Leadership"},{"id":"194611","name":"State Impact"}],"keywords":[{"id":"11644","name":"Georgia Trend"},{"id":"190533","name":"state impact"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:steven.gagliano@gatech.edu\u0022\u003ESteven Gagliano\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013\u0026nbsp;Institute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686871":{"#nid":"686871","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Meet CSE Profile: Ph.D. Graduate Ziqi Zhang","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EPh.D. student \u003Cstrong\u003EZiqi Zhang\u003C\/strong\u003E has built a career blending machine learning with single-cell biology. His work helps scientists study cellular mechanisms that advance disease research and drug development.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThough\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/award-winning-computer-models-propel-research-cellular-differentiation\u0022\u003Edecorated with awards\u003C\/a\u003E and appearances in leading journals, Zhang will achieve his greatest accomplishment tonight at McCamish Pavilion. He will join the Class of 2025 in walking across the stage, receiving diplomas, and graduating from Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore he \u201cgets out\u201d of Georgia Tech, we interviewed Zhang to learn more about his Ph.D. journey and where his degree will take him next.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGraduate:\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/peterzzq.github.io\/\u0022\u003EZiqi Zhang\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EResearch Interests:\u003C\/strong\u003E Machine learning, foundational models, cellular mechanisms, single-cell gene sequencing, gene regulatory networks\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEducation:\u003C\/strong\u003E Ph.D. in Computational Science and Engineering\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFaculty Advisor\u003C\/strong\u003E: School of CSE J.Z. Liang Early-Career Associate Professor\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/xiuweizhang.wordpress.com\/\u0022\u003EXiuwei Zhang\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat persuaded you to study at Georgia Tech?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI chose Georgia Tech because it is one of the top engineering institutions in the United States, known for its strength in machine learning and data science. The university offers exceptional research resources and the opportunity to work with leading scholars in my field. Georgia Tech also has very good research infrastructure. The \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cse.gatech.edu\/coda\u0022\u003ECoda Building\u003C\/a\u003E is one of the most well-designed and productive research environments I have experienced. Having access to such a space has been a genuine privilege.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow has working on your CSE degree helped you so far in your career?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWorking toward my CSE degree has been instrumental in my career development. As an interdisciplinary program, CSE has equipped me with strong computational skills while also deepening my understanding of key application domains. This breadth of training has opened more opportunities during my job and internship searches. In addition, CSE community events, such as\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/hotcse.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EHotCSE\u003C\/a\u003E, the weekly coffee hour, and faculty recruiting activities, have helped me strengthen my scientific communication skills, which are essential for my long-term career growth.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat research project from Georgia Tech are you most proud of?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMy favorite research project was\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41467-023-36066-2\u0022\u003EscMoMaT\u003C\/a\u003E, a matrix tri-factorization algorithm for single-cell data integration. I invested a significant amount of time and effort into this work, iterating on the model many times. I\u2019m very proud that it ultimately evolved into a clean, robust, and elegant algorithm.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat advice would you give someone interested in graduate school?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIt is important to find an advisor who is supportive and genuinely invested in your career development. A Ph.D. is not an easy journey, and you will inevitably encounter challenges along the way. Having an advisor who can provide thoughtful guidance and dedicated mentorship is one of the most crucial factors in helping you navigate those difficulties.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat is your most favorite memory from Georgia Tech?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECSE\u2019s new student campus visit day every year was one of my favorite times of the year. It was always fun to meet new people, have good food, and enjoy the beautiful view from the Coda rooftop.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhat are your plans after graduation?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI plan to keep working in academia after graduation. I\u2019m on the job hunt, currently applying for positions and preparing for interviews.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EPh.D. student \u003Cstrong\u003EZiqi Zhang\u003C\/strong\u003E has built a career blending machine learning with single-cell biology. His work helps scientists study cellular mechanisms that advance disease research and drug development.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThough\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/award-winning-computer-models-propel-research-cellular-differentiation\u0022\u003Edecorated with awards\u003C\/a\u003E and appearances in leading journals, Zhang will achieve his greatest accomplishment tonight at McCamish Pavilion. He will join the Class of 2025 in walking across the stage, receiving diplomas, and graduating from Georgia Tech.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore he \u201cgets out\u201d of Georgia Tech, we interviewed Zhang to learn more about his Ph.D. journey and where his degree will take him next.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Ph.D. graduate Ziqi Zhang will join the Class of 2025 in walking across the stage, receiving diplomas, and graduating from Georgia Tech."}],"uid":"36319","created_gmt":"2025-12-11 15:58:37","changed_gmt":"2026-01-09 13:36:26","author":"Bryant Wine","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-11T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-11T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678827":{"id":"678827","type":"image","title":"Meet-CSE_Ziqi-Zhang.jpg","body":null,"created":"1765468731","gmt_created":"2025-12-11 15:58:51","changed":"1765468731","gmt_changed":"2025-12-11 15:58:51","alt":"Meet CSE Ziqi Zhang","file":{"fid":"262915","name":"Meet-CSE_Ziqi-Zhang.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/11\/Meet-CSE_Ziqi-Zhang.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/11\/Meet-CSE_Ziqi-Zhang.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":119733,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/11\/Meet-CSE_Ziqi-Zhang.jpg?itok=LsnALgbn"}}},"media_ids":["678827"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"50877","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"},{"id":"194606","name":"Artificial Intelligence"},{"id":"138","name":"Biotechnology, Health, Bioengineering, Genetics"},{"id":"193157","name":"Student Honors and Achievements"}],"keywords":[{"id":"654","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"166983","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"},{"id":"194880","name":"2025 fall commencement"},{"id":"9167","name":"machine learning"},{"id":"2556","name":"artificial intelligence"},{"id":"187812","name":"artificial intelligence (AI)"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193655","name":"Artificial Intelligence at Georgia Tech"},{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBryant Wine, Communications Officer\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:bryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ebryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686865":{"#nid":"686865","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Shaping Tomorrow\u2019s Talent: Alumna and CNN VP on Giving Back, Leadership, and Real-World Impact","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/elbanks\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EErica Banks\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, vice president of technology for CNN\u2019s platforms group, oversees the teams that alert millions of people worldwide to breaking news. She\u2019s also a computer science alumna who credits her Georgia Tech education with shaping her problem-solving skills and preparing her for a fast-paced career in global media technology.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHer own financial challenges as a student inspired her to establish a needs-based scholarship supporting first-generation and underrepresented students in the College of Computing.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBanks shares her story and why she wants to expand opportunity and help future technologists build their own paths forward in the following Q\u0026amp;A.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHow did your time at Georgia Tech influence the trajectory that brought you to your current role with CNN?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EImagine millions of people rushing to\u0026nbsp;CNN.com\u0026nbsp;and CNN apps the moment breaking news happens, all while your teams are deploying a major platform update! That is my world. My B.S. in computer science taught me to think in systems and logic, not just write software code.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EToday, I lead an organization of 80+ engineers and technical leaders building CNN\u0027s news publishing platforms and frameworks. As a VP of Software Engineering, I balance system design, crisis response, organization strategy, and diverse problem-solving all at scale.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EIt sounds like your team hires many early-career software engineers. What skills or qualities do you look for in new talent, and how do Georgia Tech students stand out?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAcademic achievements matter because they demonstrate your technical intellect and prove you can master complex concepts. Georgia Tech students naturally excel in pushing through intellectual challenges and rigorous curricula. What stands out beyond your GPA are curiosity, willingness to learn, ability to collaborate, and resilience. Can you go from abstract ideas to tactical software directions? Can you debug your own thinking? Do you ask great questions to understand risks and uncertainties? How well do you work on project teams? The best technologists I have hired have strong technical fundamentals, the ability to collaborate, and the humility to learn. This self-awareness is invaluable.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYou\u0027re helping expand internship\u2014and potentially co-op\u2014pipelines in Atlanta, New York, and Ottawa. What opportunities do you hope these pathways will create for students?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDuring my undergraduate years at Georgia Tech, I worked as an intern and co-op at IBM. Transitioning to full-time at IBM after graduating was significantly easier with this real-world work experience. I was already experienced with shipping \u0022real\u0022 code, understanding production systems, and learning how corporate organizations operate. I hope to create the same real impact through new hiring pathways, where early experience across different industries equips students with sufficient real-world experience and career jump-starts.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EAs a HOPE Scholar who faced challenges with living expenses, how did those experiences shape your perspective on access and affordability in higher education?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI\u0027m incredibly grateful to have been a HOPE Scholar during my undergraduate years at Georgia Tech. The program had just started 2 years prior to my entry, so I knew my tuition, fees, and books were covered for 4+ years as long as I maintained a 3.0 GPA or higher. However, I did not qualify for need-based aid because I came from a middle-class family. I did not have the resources to cover my room and board to live on campus. This taught me the lesson that \u0022access\u0022 requires far more than admission. I was fortunate to have supportive parents and income from my internships and co-op experiences. But I can only imagine how much more difficult it is for brilliant students to fill financial gaps each semester. Financial stress doesn\u0027t just limit opportunities. It steals focus from learning and creates a \u0022ceiling\u0022 for how far you can go academically.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYour existing scholarship fund supports\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Efirst-generation and\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;underrepresented students. Why is this focus especially meaningful to you?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnderrepresented students often carry what I call an \u0022invisible\u0022 weight: how to navigate environments without a clear roadmap on what\/who\/why\/when\/how, all while trying to build their own future. During my undergraduate years, I was frequently the only, or one of a few, women and\/or people of color in my computer science classes. This same pattern has continued throughout my 25+ year career, especially as I have climbed higher on the tech leadership career ladder. As a VP, I have personally met only 10 or so other black female VPs in technology (ever). I established my scholarship fund at Georgia Tech to help change this narrative for future generations. I want to support underrepresented students in pursuing their dream degree at one of the best schools in this country!\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EYou\u0027ve made a new commitment\u2014$100K over five years\u2014that will qualify your scholarship for the Invest in the Best match. What inspired you to expand your support at this moment?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI am very grateful that the Invest in the Best Match will help my scholarship fund reach a level where a significant financial impact can be achieved every academic year. I am at a stage in my career where I can accelerate what I wish had existed for me. I am personal proof that only one semester of financial security can change a student\u0027s entire trajectory. This commitment is also a huge stepping stone toward my ultimate goal of my scholarship fund reaching the $1 million level in future years, creating sustainable support that outlasts my own contributions and my lifetime.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhen you think about the long-term impact of a $200K need-based endowed scholarship, what outcomes or student stories do you hope to see?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI hope scholarship recipients will graduate and then find rewarding careers or seek entrepreneurship that changes their lives. This is how my personal journey has progressed: I continue to seek life-fulfilling challenges, overcome any hurdles, and fulfill my life\u0027s purpose by helping others. I hope they reach a point in their life where they look back with gratitude and choose to pay it forward. I am looking forward to reading their alumni newsletter feature one day, where they announce their new self-named scholarship fund and tell the next generation of students, \u0022Someone invested in me. Now I am investing in you.\u0022\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMany alumni want to give back but aren\u0027t sure where to start. What advice would you offer to donors who want their philanthropy to be meaningful and aligned with their values?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EI had the idea of starting a scholarship fund at Georgia Tech for over 10 years. I feared making the financial commitment and kept deferring the decision for years. Finally, in 2021, I decided to reach out and request information on the starting steps. There is flexibility in how to meet the initial commitment, including funding sources and the timeframe. Start with this, then focus on scaling the fund later.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe bigger picture is that you are helping future students with their financial needs and letting them know that a Georgia Tech alum believes in them. This profound impact is far greater than any fears over starting a fund.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ELooking ahead, how do you envision partnerships between industry leaders like CNN and academic institutions like Georgia Tech shaping the next generation of computing talent?\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe best partnerships treat students as colleagues, not just pipelines of talent. We need stronger two-way connections between academia and industry, where theoretical boundaries merge with real-world opportunities. Take streaming video delivery as a concrete example: millions of simultaneous viewers need to watch a live presidential debate or a live March Madness game on their iPhones. How do you maintain quality when network bandwidth drops during a debate? How do you scale real-time infrastructure when traffic spikes from 10 million viewers to 20 million viewers at one time? How do you personalize video delivery by various factors without introducing latency? The next generation of technologists will greatly benefit from learning to solve these problems while actively earning their degrees.\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EComputer science alumna and CCN VP Erica Banks has endowed a needs-based scholarship for the College of Computing.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"A computer science alumna has endowed a needs-based scholarship for the College of Computing."}],"uid":"32045","created_gmt":"2025-12-11 15:00:45","changed_gmt":"2026-01-09 13:36:15","author":"Ben Snedeker","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-11T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-11T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678834":{"id":"678834","type":"image","title":"Erica Banks at Georgia Tech","body":null,"created":"1765558853","gmt_created":"2025-12-12 17:00:53","changed":"1765559002","gmt_changed":"2025-12-12 17:03:22","alt":"Erica Banks at Georgia Tech","file":{"fid":"262923","name":"EB-georgia-tech-2.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/12\/EB-georgia-tech-2.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/12\/EB-georgia-tech-2.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":92118,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/12\/EB-georgia-tech-2.jpg?itok=86eVZS9t"}}},"media_ids":["678834"],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"},{"id":"193234","name":"Campaign Stories"}],"keywords":[{"id":"10199","name":"Daily Digest"},{"id":"181991","name":"Georgia Tech News Center"},{"id":"596","name":"Alumni Association"},{"id":"194752","name":"transforming tomorrow"},{"id":"2284","name":"Giving"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBen Snedeker, Communications Mgr. II\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech College of Computing\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003Ealbert.snedeker@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686984":{"#nid":"686984","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Community and Collaboration Shape the Class of 2025","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJust as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community of faculty, mentors, research collaborators, and staff to raise a Georgia Tech graduate.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Yellow Jacket community swarmed campus for the final time of the fall semester to celebrate Commencement ceremonies held Dec. 11 to 13. Graduates from the School of Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) were among the 7,177 new alumni \u201cgetting out\u201d of Tech. \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe are immensely proud of School of CSE and CSE programs graduates in the Class of 2025,\u201d said Haesun Park, Regents\u2019 Professor and Chair of the School of CSE.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cOur collaborative approach to CSE education has prepared these graduates to attain roles in academia, national labs, industry, government, and beyond, where they will lead the next generation of interdisciplinary research.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlong with administering its flagship CSE Ph.D. and M.S. CSE programs, the School of CSE offers doctoral degrees in computer science and machine learning. Ph.D. graduates who received their diplomas and doctoral hoods on Dec. 11 at McCamish Pavilion included:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/grantbruer\u0022\u003EGrant Bruer\u003C\/a\u003E (Ph.D. CSE-CSE 2025), advised by School of CSE Professor and Associate Chair Edmond Chow\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.jinchoi.xyz\/\u0022\u003EDongjin Choi\u003C\/a\u003E (Ph.D. CSE-CSE 2025), advised by School of CSE Regents\u2019 Professor and Chair Haesun Park\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ae.gatech.edu\/event\/2023\/06\/27\/phd-proposal-hyungu-choi\u0022\u003EHyungu Choi\u003C\/a\u003E (Ph.D. CSE-AE 2025), advised by Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering Regents\u2019 Professor Dimitri Mavris\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EMaxfield Comstock\u003C\/strong\u003E (Ph.D. CSE-CSE 2025), advised by Elizabeth Cherry, College of Computing Associate Dean for Graduate Education and School of CSE Associate Professor\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/dilab.gatech.edu\/andrew-hornback\/\u0022\u003EAndrew Hornback\u003C\/a\u003E (Ph.D. CS-CSE 2025), co-advised by School of CSE Assistant Professor Yunan Luo and Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering Professor May Wang\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/grad.gatech.edu\/events\/phd-defense-ayush-jain\u0022\u003EAyush Jain\u003C\/a\u003E (Ph.D. CSE-MSE 2025), advised by School of Materials Science and Engineering Regents\u2019 Entrepreneur and Professor Rampi Ramprasad\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/anurendk\/\u0022\u003EAnurendra Kumar\u003C\/a\u003E (Ph.D. CS-CSE 2025), co-advised by School of CSE J.Z. Liang Early Career Associate Professor Xiuwei Zhang and Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering Professor Saurabh Sinha\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/jxie1997.github.io\/\u0022\u003EJiajia Xie\u003C\/a\u003E (Ph.D. CSE-BME 2025), advised by Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering Associate Professor Cassie Mitchell\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/night-chen.github.io\/\u0022\u003EYuchen Zhuang\u003C\/a\u003E (Ph.D. ML-CSE 2025), advised by School of CSE Edenfield Early Career Associate Professor Chao Zhang\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/peterzzq.github.io\/\u0022\u003EZiqi Zhang\u003C\/a\u003E (Ph.D. CSE-CSE 2025), advised by School of CSE J.Z. Liang Early Career Associate Professor Xiuwei Zhang\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESeven CSE Ph.D. students completed M.S. degrees this fall and will continue their studies at Georgia Tech. They are:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/jesusarias9\/\u0022\u003EJesus Arias\u003C\/a\u003E (M.S. CSE-CSE 2025), advised by School of CSE Assistant Professor Spencer Bryngelson\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/isabel-berry\/\u0022\u003EIsabel Berry\u003C\/a\u003E (M.S. CSE-CHEM 2025), advised by Regents\u2019 Professor C. David Sherrill, who is jointly appointed with the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the School of CSE\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/maxhawkins.info\/\u0022\u003EMax Hawkins\u003C\/a\u003E (M.S. CSE-CSE 2025), co-advised by School of CSE Professor Rich Vuduc and Assistant Professor Spencer Bryngelson\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/xiao-jing-738641a3\/\u0022\u003EXiao Jing\u003C\/a\u003E (M.S. CSE-AE 2025), advised by Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering Regents\u2019 Professor Dimitri Mavris\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/haoyunli.wordpress.com\/\u0022\u003EHaoyun Li\u003C\/a\u003E (M.S. CSE-CSE 2025), advised by Professor Felix Herrmann, who is jointly appointed with the Schools of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Electrical and Computer Engineering, and CSE\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/yuan-qiu-a47404227\/\u0022\u003EYuan Qiu\u003C\/a\u003E (M.S. CSE-CSE 2025), advised by School of CSE Assistant Professor Peng Chen\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/william-schertzer\/\u0022\u003EWilliam Schertzer\u003C\/a\u003E (M.S. CSE-MSE 2025), advised by School of Materials Science and Engineering Regents\u2019 Entrepreneur and Professor Rampi Ramprasad\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s CSE graduate program includes 12 schools and departments participating as home units. These home units represent the colleges of Computing, Engineering, and Sciences. This approach facilitates an immersive, interdisciplinary experience in which students study computational approaches within domain fields.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech jointly celebrated master\u2019s graduates at a ceremony on Dec. 13 at Bobby Dodd Stadium. After the Institute celebration, graduates were recognized during ceremonies held by their respective colleges.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMawutor Kofi Amanfu (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESunyoung An (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENischal Bandi (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EElijah Bellamy (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMeiwen Bi (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHao-Cheng Chang (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETianyu Chen (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYilong Chen (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EZhiyu Chen (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESeung Eun Choi (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EVinodhini Comandur (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EZhiyi Dai (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlejandro Danies-Lopez (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EZixing Fan (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStefan Faulkner (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMihiri Fernando (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAlexandra Freeman (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYuhan Fu (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJack Ganem (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOmar Atef Garib (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMartin Graffigna (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBochun Guo (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMoyi Guo (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EXinyu Guo (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYuqi Han (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETianyang Hu (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EMingzheng Huang (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPo-Han Huang (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWentao Jiang (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBoxiao Jin (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWilliam-Michael Johnson (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGaryoung Lee (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETzu Jung Lee (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECongyan Li (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPeiru Li (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYuhan Li (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EZhiyun Liang (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYuexi Liao (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EChenyu Liu (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHonglin Liu (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShuojiang Liu (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EXuanzhang Liu (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYue Lu (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFang Lunt (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJinrui Ma (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYu Miao (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHui-Chun Mo (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPrajwal Kumar (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EKavya Krishnan (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFelicity Nielson (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJonathan Perng (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYinzhu Quan (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDevanshi Shah (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYuxuan Shen (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESteven Stewart (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELinjun Su (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJingyun Sun (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAbdul Rehman Tariq (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYu Chu Tsai (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EXunzhi Wen (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJinghua Weng (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAndi Xia (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EZihao Xiao (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYunxiang Yan (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EZiyuan Ye (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELinyuan Yu (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBingqing Zhang (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETiankuo Zhang (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYu Zheng (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBoye Zhou (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EXinjie Zhu (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EZilu Zhu (M.S. CSE 2025)\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJust as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community of faculty, mentors, research collaborators, and staff to raise a Georgia Tech graduate.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Yellow Jacket community swarmed campus for the final time of the fall semester to celebrate Commencement ceremonies held Dec. 11 to 13. Graduates from the School of Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) were among the 7,177 new alumni \u201cgetting out\u201d of Tech. \u0026nbsp; \u0026nbsp;\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"The Yellow Jacket community swarmed campus for the final time of the fall semester to celebrate Commencement ceremonies held Dec. 11 to 13. Graduates from the School of Computational Science and Engineering (CSE) were among the 7,177 new alumni \u201cgetting o"}],"uid":"36319","created_gmt":"2025-12-18 14:56:42","changed_gmt":"2025-12-18 14:57:35","author":"Bryant Wine","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-12-18T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-12-18T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678889":{"id":"678889","type":"image","title":"Fall-2025-Masters-Commencement.jpg","body":null,"created":"1766069812","gmt_created":"2025-12-18 14:56:52","changed":"1766069812","gmt_changed":"2025-12-18 14:56:52","alt":"Fall 2025 College of Computing Masters Commencement","file":{"fid":"262979","name":"Fall-2025-Masters-Commencement.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/18\/Fall-2025-Masters-Commencement.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/18\/Fall-2025-Masters-Commencement.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":105246,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/18\/Fall-2025-Masters-Commencement.jpg?itok=pWTczKbt"}}},"media_ids":["678889"],"related_links":[{"url":"https:\/\/www.cc.gatech.edu\/news\/community-and-collaboration-shape-class-2025","title":"Community and Collaboration Shape the Class of 2025"}],"groups":[{"id":"47223","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"50877","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"},{"id":"42901","name":"Community"},{"id":"153","name":"Computer Science\/Information Technology and Security"},{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[{"id":"654","name":"College of Computing"},{"id":"166983","name":"School of Computational Science and Engineering"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39431","name":"Data Engineering and Science"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EBryant Wine, Communications Officer\u003Cbr\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:bryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u0022\u003Ebryant.wine@cc.gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}},"686904":{"#nid":"686904","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Design, Build, Launch: New CS Capstone Turns Students into Entrepreneurs","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFrom zero to working prototype in just four months, students in the College of Computing\u2019s new entrepreneurial Junior Design Capstone tackle real-world problems with guidance from startup mentors.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003ELed by School of Computing Instruction faculty member and Georgia Tech alumna \u003Cstrong\u003EJennifer Whitlow\u003C\/strong\u003E, the course gives students a founder\u2019s perspective on building technology that meets real user needs.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EA Startup Approach to Junior Design\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnlike the traditional CS Junior Design course where teams work with sponsors, students in the entrepreneurial track act as their own clients. They begin the semester with no predetermined problem and follow a structured process, which is anchored by deliverables that reflect professional expectations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cStudents come in with nothing,\u201d Whitlow said. \u201cThey identify a problem, conduct customer discovery, realize which assumptions were wrong, refine their direction, figure out what to build and then build it. And they own it 100 percent.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECustomer-discovery interviews ensure every idea is grounded in real user needs, and the semester culminates in a fully functioning prototype paired with a written justification of the decisions behind it. This combination of development and reflection gives students a framework that mirrors startup practices.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EExpert Alumni Coached and AI-Driven Development\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo further simulate a startup environment, Whitlow recruited alumni coaches with startup or executive experience. Coaches were paired with teams based on their areas of expertise, advising anywhere from one to four groups. The roster includes a former chief technology officer and longtime startup advisor, along with alumni startup founders.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStudents also incorporate AI tools into development, accelerating early prototype work while still making critical decisions themselves.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cAI can accelerate the early stages,\u201d Whitlow said. \u201cBut students have to understand their design well enough to guide it. AI doesn\u2019t replace their decision-making.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003ETop Teams Earn CREATE-X Acceptance\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESixteen teams completed the entrepreneurial capstone this fall.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe top two scoring projects earned automatic acceptance into \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/create-x.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECREATE-X Launch\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Georgia Tech\u2019s startup accelerator:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003ECodeOrbit\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESonara\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThese teams showcase the program\u2019s ability to quickly bring student ideas to a level that\u2019s ready for real-world startup incubation.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003EPutting the Process into Action: Lunchbox\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne team that exemplifies how the capstone\u2019s structure supports innovation is LunchBox. Created by computational media major \u003Cstrong\u003EAbigail Rhea\u003C\/strong\u003E and her teammates, LunchBox helps parents and caregivers of neurodivergent children navigate limited safe-food options.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe idea evolved after early customer discovery revealed that the original concept had too much competition, so the team narrowed its focus.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cDuring research, one of our teammates came across a testimonial from the mother of an autistic child,\u201d Rhea said. \u201cIt spoke to all of us and helped us shift toward a truly underserved demographic.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team conducted more than 20 interviews with caregivers and special education teachers, reshaping its approach. \u201cWe realized families didn\u2019t need another daily task,\u201d Rhea said. \u201cThey needed personalized guidance that runs in the background. Everything we built came directly from those conversations.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe team\u0027s biggest technical challenge was engineering a dynamic, emotionally supportive roadmap for food-exposure therapy. While AI accelerated development of SwiftUI code, all core decisions remained human-driven.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAt the Capstone Expo, attendees connected strongly with the project. \u201cSo many people told us how applicable LunchBox is to their lives,\u201d Rhea said. \u201cMost joined the waitlist. We couldn\u2019t be more excited for what\u2019s next.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch5\u003ELooking Ahead\u003C\/h5\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhitlow sees the pilot already fulfilling its purpose: giving students the tools and confidence to turn ideas into real ventures. Teams can continue work by applying to CREATE-X programs or building on their prototypes after the semester.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThis course shows students they can create something real,\u201d Whitlow said. \u201cThat\u2019s the goal: empowering them to innovate.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Startup Approach to Junior DA Startup Approach to Junior Desi\u003C\/strong\u003EUnlike the traditional CS Junior Design course where teams work with sponsors, students in the entrepreneurial track act as their own clients. 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","file":{"fid":"262940","name":"Junior-Design-Expo-Fall-2025_V7A0510.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/16\/Junior-Design-Expo-Fall-2025_V7A0510.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/16\/Junior-Design-Expo-Fall-2025_V7A0510.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3303194,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/16\/Junior-Design-Expo-Fall-2025_V7A0510.jpg?itok=7oVGZkI-"}},"678851":{"id":"678851","type":"image","title":"Image--12-.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ETeam CodeOrbit took first place at the Expo. Photo by Jennifer Whitlow.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1765899847","gmt_created":"2025-12-16 15:44:07","changed":"1765899847","gmt_changed":"2025-12-16 15:44:07","alt":"Team CodeOrbit took first place at the Expo. Photo by Jennifer Whitlow. ","file":{"fid":"262941","name":"Image--12-.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/16\/Image--12-.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/16\/Image--12-.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":192539,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/16\/Image--12-.jpeg?itok=h7JX9G11"}},"678852":{"id":"678852","type":"image","title":"Image--13-.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003ETeam Sonara took second place at the Expo. Photo by Jennifer Whitlow.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1765899847","gmt_created":"2025-12-16 15:44:07","changed":"1765899847","gmt_changed":"2025-12-16 15:44:07","alt":"Team Sonara took second place at the Expo. Photo by Jennifer Whitlow. ","file":{"fid":"262942","name":"Image--13-.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/16\/Image--13-.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/12\/16\/Image--13-.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":198161,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/12\/16\/Image--13-.jpeg?itok=eC6e_Y2c"}},"678853":{"id":"678853","type":"image","title":"Image--14-.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EWhitlow, who has years of experience working with startups, leads the new section of Junior Design Capstone. Photo by Kevin Beasley\/ College of Computing.\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1765899847","gmt_created":"2025-12-16 15:44:07","changed":"1765899847","gmt_changed":"2025-12-16 15:44:07","alt":"Whitlow, who has years of experience working with startups, leads the new section of Junior Design Capstone. 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File your taxes? Defend you in a trial?\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo help people answer these types of questions, researchers at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) have developed SatisfAI, a serious tabletop and digital card game that encourages players to consider how much agency they are willing to share with AI-based systems to solve real-world problems.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ESatisfAI uses a player-judge mechanic to promote both introspection and consideration of the preferences of others, indexing real-world objectives against Max Neef\u2019s model of fundamental human needs, and asks players to indicate their preferred level of autonomy, from choices such as \u201cNo AI,\u201d \u201cAssistant,\u201d and \u201cSurrogate.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cWe wanted to create a tool to better understand how people prefer to interact with AI,\u201d said Moon Kim, a GTRI senior research associate and project co-lead. \u201cWe focused on two key questions: Would you use AI for a particular task? And if so, how much automation would you prefer? Our motivation was to elicit insights that could inform the design and alignment of AI systems to human needs.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOriginally supported by GTRI\u2019s Independent Research and Development (IRAD) program between 2021 and 2023, the game has since been played by approximately 270 K-12 teachers and education professionals across Georgia. It has received enthusiastic feedback from educators, who value the meaningful conversations it sparks during and after gameplay.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOne teacher shared the following: \u201cWhat SatisfAI gives teachers is a humanizing experience of talking with each other about AI based on their values, a conversation that was likely often skipped over when ChatGPT was released upon the world.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAnother said: \u201cSatisfAI causes you to think about what using AI really means and how it impacts you.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor classroom use, SatisfAI is currently being customized to help students explore the tradeoffs of AI, fostering critical thinking and encouraging intentional decision-making about their learner agency. Through gameplay and guided discussions, GTRI aims to equip teachers and students with valuable insights as part of preparing for an AI-driven future in education.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn each round of the game, which is playable in person and online, one player acts as the judge. The judge player is given a real-world objective and is asked to decide whether AI should solve this objective, and how much agency they prefer to retain.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor example, a scenario might state the objective of taking care of a sick family member, asking the judge to imagine what different solutions might exist for various levels of AI automation \u2014 from a robotic assistant, an intelligent medication dispenser, a medical information advisor, or possibly no AI at all \u2014 then decide which level they prefer. Other players then try to predict the judge\u2019s choice, earning points when they match the judge, with the highest score winning.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cUltimately, SatisfAI is not based on the assumption that more AI is naturally better,\u201d said Ethan Trewhitt, a GTRI senior research engineer and project co-lead. \u201cInstead, it investigates how much automation people want and where they want AI involved in their life.\u201dLooking ahead, the researchers plan to expand the game\u2019s reach to more K-12 partners across the state and beyond, with future considerations to extend the game to industry partners and government sponsors to further explore the tradeoffs and broader implications of AI adoption and its impact on human agency.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf you are interested in learning more about SatisfAI, please contact Moon Kim at \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:moon.kim@gtri.gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Emoon.kim@gtri.gatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E or Ethan Trewhitt at \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:ethan.trewhitt@gtri.gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Eethan.trewhitt@gtri.gatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWriter: Anna Akins\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EPhotos: Sean McNeil\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003EGTRI Communications\u003Cbr\u003EGeorgia Tech Research Institute\u003Cbr\u003EAtlanta, Georgia USA\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor more information, please contact \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:gtri.media@gtri.gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Egtri.media@gtri.gatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo learn more about GTRI, visit: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gtri.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGeorgia Tech Research Institute | GTRI\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EResearchers created SatisfAI to gather insights crucial for designing AI systems that align with human needs.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Researchers created SatisfAI to gather insights crucial for designing AI systems that align with human needs. "}],"uid":"35874","created_gmt":"2025-11-06 14:48:03","changed_gmt":"2025-11-06 14:59:22","author":"Anna Akins","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-11-06T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-11-06T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678559":{"id":"678559","type":"image","title":"2025_0804_image_ICL_SatisfAI-Card-Game_05.JPG","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIn SatisfAI, players take turns as the judge, deciding how much AI involvement they prefer in real-world scenarios, while others predict their choice to earn points (Photo Credit: Sean McNeil, GTRI).\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1762440545","gmt_created":"2025-11-06 14:49:05","changed":"1762440545","gmt_changed":"2025-11-06 14:49:05","alt":"A photo of two GTRI researchers playing a game they developed called SatisfAI. ","file":{"fid":"262611","name":"2025_0804_image_ICL_SatisfAI-Card-Game_05.JPG","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/06\/2025_0804_image_ICL_SatisfAI-Card-Game_05.JPG","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/06\/2025_0804_image_ICL_SatisfAI-Card-Game_05.JPG","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":16059294,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/11\/06\/2025_0804_image_ICL_SatisfAI-Card-Game_05.JPG?itok=lc35W5R9"}},"678558":{"id":"678558","type":"image","title":"2025_0804_image_ICL_SatisfAI-Card-Game_15--2-.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EGTRI Senior Research Associate Moon Kim (left) and GTRI Senior Research Engineer Ethan Trewhitt co-developed SatisfAI to help players reflect on how much agency they\u2019d share with AI to solve real-world problems. So far, about 270 K-12 educators in Georgia have played, with expansion plans underway (Photo Credit: Sean McNeil, GTRI).\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1762440545","gmt_created":"2025-11-06 14:49:05","changed":"1762440545","gmt_changed":"2025-11-06 14:49:05","alt":"A photo of two GTRI researchers standing in front of a GTRI sign. ","file":{"fid":"262610","name":"2025_0804_image_ICL_SatisfAI-Card-Game_15--2-.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/06\/2025_0804_image_ICL_SatisfAI-Card-Game_15--2-.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/06\/2025_0804_image_ICL_SatisfAI-Card-Game_15--2-.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2101901,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/11\/06\/2025_0804_image_ICL_SatisfAI-Card-Game_15--2-.jpg?itok=8ySxRM_1"}}},"media_ids":["678559","678558"],"groups":[{"id":"1276","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI)"}],"categories":[{"id":"130","name":"Alumni"},{"id":"42911","name":"Education"},{"id":"194612","name":"Workforce Development"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"415","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"},{"id":"11243","name":"Information and Communications Laboratory"},{"id":"187812","name":"artificial intelligence (AI)"},{"id":"192019","name":"K-12 education STEM research"},{"id":"46351","name":"K-12 education"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"193653","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EFor more information, please contact \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:gtri.media@gtri.gatech.edu\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003Egtri.media@gtri.gatech.edu\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWriter: Anna Akins (anna.akins@gtri.gatech.edu).\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}