The Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia (USG) recently honored Georgia Tech with 17 distinctions and awards, reflecting the Institute’s ongoing commitment to academic excellence, innovative practices, and impactful leadership.
The Board of Regents (BOR) may grant Regents’ distinctions for a period of three years to exceptional members of the USG’s academic and research community. To receive a Regents’ distinction, a candidate must be unanimously recommended by key leaders at their university: the president, the chief academic officer, the dean, and three additional faculty members appointed by the university president. Following this, final approval must be obtained from both the chancellor and the BOR Committee on Academic Affairs. The renewal process follows similarly rigorous guidelines.
These prestigious distinctions honor faculty and staff who have demonstrated exceptional achievements and have had an outstanding impact on their institutions.
Award for Excellence in High-Impact Practices
This year, Georgia Tech’s Vertically Integrated Projects program was honored with the Regents’ Award for Excellence in High-Impact Practices and Experiential Learning. This recognition underscores the program’s success in engaging students across disciplines to tackle real-world challenges through collaborative, project-based learning.
The following Georgia Tech faculty members were appointed or reappointed to distinguished positions:
Regents’ Researcher
- Stephen Balakirsky, Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), Aerospace, Transportation & Advanced Systems Laboratory *Reappointment
- Anton Bryksin, Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience *Reappointment
- Brad Fain, Center for Advanced Communications Policy, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts and Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), Electronic Systems Laboratory *Reappointment
- Brent Wagner, Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory
Regents’ Entrepreneur
- F. Levent Degertekin, George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
- Paul Kohl, School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Engineering
Regents’ Professorship
- Facundo Fernandez, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences *Reappointment
- M.G. Finn, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences
- Julia Kubanek, School of Biological Sciences and School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences
- Steven Liang, George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering
- Dana Randall, School of Computer Science, College of Computing and School of Mathematics, College of Sciences
- Beril Toktay, Scheller College of Business *Reappointment
- Marvin Whiteley, School of Biological Sciences, College of Sciences
Regents’ Innovator
Manos Antonakakis, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
Tarek Rakha, School of Architecture, College of Design
Academic Recognition Award
In addition to the faculty awards, Ashley Cotsman, a recent graduate of the School of Public Policy, received the prestigious Academic Recognition Award, which celebrates her outstanding academic achievements during her time at Georgia Tech.
Reflecting on Excellence
“These honors highlight the incredible talent, dedication, and innovation that define Georgia Tech,” said Steve McLaughlin, provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “From our transformative programs to our distinguished faculty, researchers, and students, these recognitions affirm our commitment to state-wide leadership in education and research.”
The Institute continues to demonstrate excellence in academics and research, setting a benchmark for higher education in the state of Georgia and beyond.
Three finalists have been chosen for the role of Executive Director of the Institute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society (INNS). Each finalist will meet with Georgia Tech faculty, staff, and IRI leadership and give a seminar on their vision for the INNS.
Finalist 2: Chris Rozell
Date: June 3rd, 2025
Time: 11a.m. - Noon
Location: Callaway Manufacturing Research Building (GT Manufacturing Institute)
813 Ferst Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30332, seminar room 114
Event Details
Three finalists have been chosen for the role of Executive Director of the Institute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society (INNS). Each finalist will meet with Georgia Tech faculty, staff, and IRI leadership and give a seminar on their vision for the INNS.
Finalist 2: Michelle LaPlaca
Date: June 9th, 2025
Time: 11a.m. - Noon
Location: Callaway Manufacturing Research Building (GT Manufacturing Institute)
813 Ferst Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30332, seminar room 114
Event Details
Three finalists have been chosen for the role of Executive Director of the Institute for Neuroscience, Neurotechnology, and Society (INNS). Each finalist will meet with Georgia Tech faculty, staff, and IRI leadership and give a seminar on their vision for the INNS.
Finalist 1: Lewis Wheaton
Date: May 28th, 2025
Time: 11a.m. - Noon
Location: Callaway Manufacturing Research Building (GT Manufacturing Institute)
813 Ferst Drive NW, Atlanta, GA 30332, seminar room 114
Event Details
Each spring, Georgia Tech recognizes the achievements and excellence of students, staff, and faculty across the Institute. Dozens of members of the College of Sciences community were honored during celebrations held in March and April 2025.
Please join us in congratulating the following honorees:
ANAK Awards
- Outstanding Faculty ANAK Award: Susan Lozier, Dean and Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Chair, College of Sciences
Center for Teaching and Learning Awards
- Innovation and Excellence in Laboratory Instruction Award: Emily Weigel, Senior Academic Professional, School of Biological Sciences
- Undergraduate Educator Award: Mary Holder, Senior Academic Professional, School of Psychology
- TA and Future Faculty Awards: Twenty members of the College of Sciences community were honored for teaching excellence during a ceremony in March 2025.
College of Sciences Student Excellence Awards
- A. Joyce Nickelson and John C. Sutherland Prize: Phat Phan
- Cynthia L. Bossart and James Efron Scholarship: Sabrina Downie
- Metha Phingbodhipakkiya Memorial Scholarship: Arya Akbarshahi
- Robert A. Pierotti Memorial Scholarship: Alexander Divoux, Jedrzej Konarkowski, Austin Shoemaker
- Roger M. Wartell, Ph.D., and Stephen E. Brossette, M.D., Ph.D. Award for Multidisciplinary Studies in Biology, Physics, and Mathematics: Rehaan Naik
- Virginia C. and Herschel V. Clanton Jr. Scholarship: Haelin Lee
Georgia Tech Chapter Sigma Xi Awards
- Best M.S. Thesis Award: Nikolas Alansson, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Advisor: Lynn Kamerlin
- Best Ph.D. Thesis Award: Yuqing Wang, School of Mathematics, Advisor: Molei Tao
- Best Undergraduate Research Award: Alice Heranval, School of Physics, Advisor: Laura Cadonati
- Young Faculty Award: Pengfei Liu, Assistant Professor, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Georgia Tech Division of Student Life and SGA Awards
- Dean George C. Griffin Award for faculty member of the year: Chris Jankowski, Director of Graduate Advising and Assessment and Assistant Director of Teaching Effectiveness, School of Mathematics
Institute Awards
Research Awards
- Outstanding Achievement in Research Program Development Award: TRU CoRE:NNSA Transuranic Chemistry Center of Research Excellence
- Henry Storms La Pierre, Associate Professor, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Julie Niklas, Research Scientist II, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Keisha Durggin, Research Admin Manager, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Staff Performance Awards
- Spirit of Georgia Tech Award: Christopher Pruitt, Facilities Manager II, School of Physics
Academic Advising Awards
- Outstanding Undergraduate Academic Advisor – Faculty Advisor: Meghan Babcock, Academic Professional, School of Psychology
Awards for Student Excellence
- Outstanding Learning Assistant Award: Emily Hill
- Outstanding Tutor Award: Eric Baker
- Provost’s Academic Excellence Award: Alexander Divoux
Event Details
Students from all majors are invited to register for the new Minor in Astrobiology at Georgia Tech. Welcoming its first enrolled students in Fall 2025, the minor is the latest degree offering from the College of Sciences and Georgia Tech Astrobiology Program.
Astrobio in focus
The Minor in Astrobiology will provide a broad, interdisciplinary introduction to the field of astrobiology while encouraging exploration beyond students’ primary fields of study.
The program will foster the development of well-rounded scientists and engineers who will graduate with confidence in their knowledge and ability to engage in cutting-edge endeavors across the astrobiology discipline.
The Minor in Astrobiology is open to all undergraduates at Georgia Tech. Students who enroll now and meet program requirements may graduate with the minor designation as early as the end of Fall 2025 term.
Enrolled students will learn about the physical and chemical conditions for development of a habitable planet; deeply understand Earth, space, and planetary science as well as the origin and evolution of life on Earth; and critically evaluate scientific issues related to astrobiology in media and popular culture.
Habitable Planet
The foundation of the new minor is the popular School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences (EAS) course EAS 1601: Habitable Planet. Led by EAS Assistant Professor Frances Rivera-Hernández, the course enrolls up to 300 students a semester and expands options for study and career horizons.
"Students from a lot of different majors enjoy 1601 where they get a true sense for the broadness of astrobio — stars, galaxies, biology, life beyond Earth, and how we create technology and science to explore those places,” Rivera-Hernández explains.
Like the new minor, EAS 1601 is also open to all majors. The class is offered in person across fall and spring semesters, and also available online during the summer term.
“We’re purposely very flexible with that course and the overall minor,” adds EAS Jean “Chris” Purvis Professor Jennifer Glass. “Students use EAS 1601 as a launchpoint to pick their interests for their wider field of study and to hone career interests — whether that’s space, biology, and autonomous rovers; hunting for chemical signs of life beyond our planet; or becoming an entrepreneur.”
Over the past five years, students in the class frequently asked for formal degree offerings in astrobiology. Glass and fellow faculty partnered with then-graduate fellow Tyler Roche to explore the idea of a minor, leveraging Sutherland Dean's Chair funding in 2021 to officially launch the Georgia Tech Astrobiology Program in tandem with the Astrobiology Graduate Certificate Program, Astrobiology Fellows, and ExplOrigins young researcher group.
Astrobio and beyond
The Astrobiology Program is now supported by the new Georgia Tech Space Research Initiative and co-directed by Rivera-Hernández and EAS Assistant Professor Christopher E. Carr, who holds a primary appointment in the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering.
Glass and Rivera-Hernández co-direct the Astrobiology Graduate Certificate Program, and co-direct the Astrobiology Minor with Nicholas Hud, Regents' Professor and Julius Brown Professor in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
The team’s collaborative approach to interdisciplinary leadership mirrors unique opportunities ahead for students who are interested in exciting careers across the field of astrobiology and beyond.
“The minor is designed across three broad divisions of study,” Glass adds. “Whether you’re curious about ‘Foundations of Life,’ want to dive deep into ‘Earth, Space, and Other Worlds,’ or are exploring career ideas for ‘Astrobiology in a Wider World,’ we’ve built a solid home for you in Astrobio at Tech.”
The Minor in Astrobiology will be listed in the 2025-26 Catalog beginning May 12.
Dr. Karen Ocorr, PhD
Assistant Professor
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
Presents: Space flight and hERG channel mutations cause cardiac remodeling and reveal a novel cardiac hypertrophy pathway
Hosted by: Dr. Greg Gibson and Dr. Shuyi Nie
Event Details
The campus community is invited to join us for a town hall to review the Institute’s phased approach toward a more in-person work model for the 2025-26 academic year.
Panelists include:
- Kim Toatley, Interim Executive Vice President for Administration and Finance, Chief Business Officer
- Ron Johnson, Chief of Staff and Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives, Professor of the Practice, Industrial and Systems Engineering
Time: 10 to 11 a.m.
Location: The Bill Moore Student Success Center, Clary Theater
In-person attendance is highly encouraged but space is very limited. RSVP here to attend in person so we can plan accordingly.
If you cannot attend in person, join us virtually via Zoom.
As always, we are reserving time for an open Q&A, and you are encouraged to take a minute to submit your questions in advance to evpaf@gatech.edu.
Event Details
Benjamin Freeman, assistant professor and Elizabeth Smithgall-Watts Endowed Faculty in the School of Biological Sciences, has been named a 2025 Early Career Fellow by the Ecological Society of America (ESA).
Freeman is one of only 10 Early Career Fellows and eight Fellows honored by ESA this year for advancing the knowledge and application of ecological science in a way that strengthens the field and benefits communities and ecosystems.
“Ecological science tells us how nature works, and my research uses birds as ‘canaries in the coal mine’ to learn how animals are responding to the rapid changes taking place on our planet,” he says. “I am delighted by this honor.”
Freeman studies why species live where they do and how their ranges are changing in response to climate change. He is recognized for integrating evolutionary and ecological approaches to address fundamental questions in bird biology and for communicating science to the public. Freeman leads the Mountain Bird Lab at Georgia Tech and launched the Mountain Bird Network, which aims to compile systematic survey data on mountain birds across the globe. He is currently developing “Tech Mountain,” a first-of-its-kind field site to study how birds and other organisms are responding to climate change.
Freeman, who joined the Institute in 2023, received a Ph.D. in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology from Cornell University.
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