Cybersecurity Research Hub

The College of Computing has reached an agreement with South Korean games company Nexon to create a new cybersecurity research hub. 

The MapleStory Security Research Fund (named after one of Nexon’s biggest games) will support research into cybersecurity for massive multiplayer online role-playing games. Nexon currently operates over 80 live games in 100 countries.

The hub will be led by Professor Taesoo Kim and located in the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy. The $600,000 grant will fund supplies, equipment, travel to conferences, and other research expenses.

“The MapleStory Security Research Hub at Georgia Tech represents a transformative step in securing the digital entertainment ecosystem,” said Michael Bailey, school chair in Cybersecurity and Privacy. “Online gaming is a microcosm of cybersecurity challenges faced across industries — from protecting vast user communities to mitigating evolving threats in complex online environments.”

To make a gift to the College of Computing, contact Jason Zwang, senior director of Development, College of Computing, at jason.zwang@cc.gatech.edu.

Dean's Scholarship Supports Student's Passion for Helping Vulnerable Populations

Malia Everett was a few months into her Georgia Tech career when she saw an ad for a biomedical engineering conference in Washington, D.C. The field had captured her interest after she was diagnosed with leukemia as a student at Kennesaw’s North Cobb High School, but she was still uncertain about her focus area.

A $2,000 Dean’s Scholars enrichment scholarship allowed Everett to attend the event, where officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stressed the important connection between engineering and public policy. She returned to Atlanta with a clear direction: using biomedical engineering to help vulnerable and underserved populations.

The College of Engineering’s Dean’s Scholars Program awards promising undergraduates $10,000 scholarships per year for up to four years. Dean’s Scholars also benefit from a cohort-based environment that includes faculty mentorship, leadership retreats, and engagement with campus leaders and alumni.

The program has grown from 45 to 77 endowed scholarships since last spring, thanks to a dollar-for-dollar matching opportunity. A $150,000 gift qualifies for the match and will establish one Dean’s Scholarship in perpetuity. The goal is to endow 100 by the end of the campaign. April marked the end of Everett’s first year at Georgia Tech. More importantly, it was the month she celebrated one year of remission from leukemia.

To make a gift to the College of Engineering, contact David Zaksheske, senior director of Development, at davez@coe.gatech.edu.

School of Building Construction Chair Named

Georg Reichard has been named the new chair of Georgia Tech’s School of Building Construction, effective July 1. He joins the College of Design from Virginia Tech, where he is currently a professor and head of the Department of Building Construction and the associate director of Operations in the Myers-Lawson School of Construction.

“Georg Reichard brings a wealth of experience to the School and the College. I am particularly excited to collaborate with him on expanding our undergraduate program, strengthening our links to Atlanta’s vibrant construction and real estate development industry, and expanding our important applied research portfolio,” said Ellen Bassett, dean and John Portman Chair of the College of Design. 

“Construction 4.0, a key part of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, is unfolding before our eyes and being embraced by stakeholders across the board. It’s our moment to lead, innovate, and redefine the future of building,” Reichard said.

To make a gift to the School of Building Construction, contact Kelly Smith, director of Development, College of Design, at kelly.smith@design.gatech.edu.

Grant to Help Improve Atlanta Neighborhoods

The Southern Company Foundation awarded a $2.5 million grant to the Georgia Tech Center for Urban Research to support Mayor Andre Dickens’ effort to address socioeconomic inequities in Atlanta neighborhoods.

“This investment is a major step forward in Mayor Dickens’ effort to improve the quality of life of all Atlantans,” said David Edwards, the founding executive director of the Center for Urban Research and policy advisor for neighborhoods in the City of Atlanta Office of the Mayor.

The Center, housed in the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School of Public Policy, is a collaboration between Georgia Tech and the mayor’s office. It brings together university, community, nonprofit, and municipal leaders to develop and evaluate solutions that address inequities in urban centers. Current projects include neighborhood improvement plans and climate-oriented engineering for housing and facilities on public land.

The Center will use this grant to evaluate and inform the mayor’s “Achieving Fairness of Place” initiative, which is investing in seven historically disinvested neighborhoods to improve outcomes in housing, education, health, and economic mobility.

To make a gift to the Center for Urban Research, contact Lauren Kennedy, director of Development in the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, at lauren.kennedy@dev.gatech.edu.

Will Ratcliff Named Sutherland Professor

The College of Sciences named Will Ratcliff as the first recipient of the John C. and Leslie C. Sutherland Professorship. This endowed faculty position recognizes outstanding contributions in research and teaching, particularly those that advance the understanding of biological systems through quantitative applications of chemistry, mathematics, and physics.

Ratcliff, an evolutionary biologist and associate professor in the School of Biological Sciences, was selected for his innovative research and dedication to education, which have made a significant impact on the scientific community and the Institute. His appointment is effective July 1.

“Will has established himself as a leading scientist studying the evolution of biological complexity, developing an innovative research program that demonstrates the tremendous power of integrating physics and biology to understand fundamental questions in life science,” said Todd Streelman, professor and chair of the School of Biological Sciences.

To learn more or make a gift to the School of Biological Sciences, contact Dan Warren, director of Development for the College of Sciences, at dan.warren@cos.gatech.edu.

Georgia Tech Atrium Opens in Peachtree Corners

The first Georgia Tech Atrium opened at Peachtree Corners Curiosity Lab in April, marking a significant leap forward in research, collaboration, and community engagement. In a ceremony attended by Gov. Brian Kemp and other government and Institute officials, President Ángel Cabrera highlighted the initiative’s significance. “The Georgia Tech Atrium represents the future of higher education,” Cabrera said, “where learning extends beyond the classroom and broad community collaboration creates novel opportunities and advances.”

College of Lifetime Learning Interim Dean Nelson Baker emphasized the GT Atrium’s role in our communities. “With leadership by our Center for 21st Century Universities, it provides an experimental platform for breaking down barriers to higher education,” he said. “As the new College works to elevate the academic study of learning at all levels and ages, the GT Atrium allows us to foster government, industry, and education collaboration.” The space will be available to the Georgia Tech community, including staff, faculty, and students.

To make a gift to the College of Lifetime Learning, contact Ashley Coogan, assistant vice president for Unit Development, at ashley.coogan@dev.gatech.edu.

Tech Square Phase 3 Shapes the Future of Innovation

Tremendous progress is underway on Tech Square Phase 3, Georgia Tech’s bold next step in advancing innovation and collaboration. Slated for completion in 2026, the project features the 14-story Scheller Tower and 18-story George Tower, named in honor of benefactors Ernest Scheller Jr., IM 1952, HON Ph.D. 2013, and Bill George, IE 1964, HON Ph.D. 2008, and his wife Penny.

Located in the heart of Midtown, Tech Square Phase 3 will house Scheller College of Business graduate and executive education programs and the H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering. It will serve as a vibrant hub for interdisciplinary collaboration, corporate innovation, and experiential learning.

A partnership between the State of Georgia, Georgia Tech, and private philanthropists, this newest development builds on the original Tech Square vision to strengthen the innovation ecosystem in Atlanta and beyond.

To make a gift in support of Tech Square Phase 3, contact Duante Stanton, senior director of Development, Scheller College of Business, at duante.stanton@scheller.gatech.edu, or Nancy Sandlin, senior director of Development, Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, at nancy.sandlin@isye.gatech.edu.

Fanning Center Topped Out

Georgia Tech Athletics celebrated another milestone in the construction of the Thomas A. Fanning Student-Athlete Performance Center on March 7 with a topping-out ceremony, commemorating the placement of the final steel beam in the 100,000-square-foot facility. 

Named in honor of Georgia Tech alumnus and Transforming Tomorrow co-chair Thomas A. Fanning, IMGT 1979, M.S. IMGT 1980, HON Ph.D. 2013, the Fanning Center is located in the northeast corner of Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field. It is being constructed on the footprint of the former Edge/Rice Center and will serve as a state-of-the-art hub for Georgia Tech student-athletes, with areas dedicated to strength and conditioning, sports medicine (including mental health services), nutrition and analytics, as well as expanded and enhanced meeting and office space exclusive to Georgia Tech football.

Fanning, Athletics staff, and the DPR Construction crew were invited to sign the building’s final beam before it was lifted into place.

Construction of the Fanning Center is on schedule to conclude in Spring 2026, and a grand opening celebration is in the works to recognize all who contributed to the project.

To make a gift or commitment to Athletics, contact Robby Poteat, executive associate athletics director for development and executive director of athletics development, at rpoteat@athletics.gatech.edu.

Enhancing Alumni and Donor Engagement

The Georgia Tech Foundation is excited to announce a significant investment in time and resources aimed at strengthening the connection with our growing alumni and donor base. To enhance alumni engagement, donor philanthropy, and stewardship, the Foundation has recently hired three new staff members and implemented cutting-edge tools and platforms to keep donor and alumni information updated and accessible. This initiative is designed to foster stronger relationships and ensure that our alumni and donors are continually informed and involved in the vibrant community at Georgia Tech. Alumni can easily update their information using the following link: https://myportal.gtf.gatech.edu/edit-profile/login. We look forward to seeing the impact of these efforts in our ongoing mission to support Georgia Tech’s excellence and growth.

The Georgia Tech Library by the Numbers

The Georgia Tech Library is focused on student success, partnering with faculty, and stewarding scholarship and learning. See the Library’s 2024 Impact Report to view more stats like these:

• Through course reserves, Interlibrary Loan, Gadgets, locker rentals, and room reservations, the Georgia Tech Library saved students, faculty, and staff more than $2.12 million in 2024.
• In-person services increased 49%, and student use of electronic resources increased 796%.
• The Library saved faculty and staff more than $1.6 million in author publishing costs through its read and publish agreements.
• The Georgia Tech Archives announced the digitization of hundreds of acquisitions of materials associated with former Institute President Lyman Hall.

Click here to review 2024 highlights and the Library’s interdisciplinary work at the center of scholarship at Georgia Tech.

To make a gift to the Library, contact Heather Howarth, director of Development for the Library, at heather.howarth@library.gatech.edu.

Smart Pacifier Could Monitor Baby Vitals

Newborns in the hospital need their vitals checked frequently — particularly, their electrolyte levels. Currently, the only way to monitor electrolytes is through multiple daily blood draws. This can be painful and frightening for babies, and challenging for medical staff, who may have trouble drawing blood from tiny, underdeveloped blood vessels.

Now, researchers at Georgia Tech have developed a smart pacifier that could address the discomfort of frequent blood draws for newborns. To create this noninvasive solution, Hong Yeo, associate professor of biomedical engineering and mechanical engineering in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, and his team figured out how to collect a baby’s saliva by channeling it into sodium and potassium sensors embedded in a pacifier device. Compatible with Bluetooth, the system relays real-time, continuous flows of data about a baby’s vitals to a physician’s phone or tablet.

This constant data flow paints a fuller picture of babies’ health, meaning serious issues can be detected sooner. If any abnormal signs arise during monitoring, the system would alert the medical staff.

To make a gift to research, contact Meagan Burton-Krieger, executive director of Campaign Operations and chief of staff, at meagan.burton-krieger@dev.gatech.edu.

Promoting Dialogue at Georgia Tech

At Georgia Tech, safeguarding freedom of expression and inquiry is one of our strategic values. Through the open exchange of ideas, Georgia Tech students learn to see the world from different perspectives, hone their critical thinking skills, and refine their unique viewpoints.

Student Engagement and Well-Being leads the freedom of expression initiative by providing Georgia Tech students with guidelines, education, and support to help them effectively express their beliefs and values, as well as to listen actively and communicate thoughtfully with others who might have a different opinion or worldview. “We emphasize that free speech is a right that also comes with responsibilities as a member of the Yellow Jacket community,” said Luoluo Hong, vice president for Student Engagement and Well-Being. 

One helpful resource for students is Perspectives, powered by the Constructive Dialogue Institute. This online course equips students with a useful framework and shared language for engaging in compassionate and caring conversations. Starting in the fall semester of 2025, in compliance with USG policy, the Perspectives course will be mandatory for all new Georgia Tech students.

To make a gift to Student Engagement and Well-Being, contact Emily Wong, director of Development for Parent Giving, at emily.wong@dev.gatech.edu.

Meet Roll Call's Youngest Donor

When 9-year-old Trey Turnipseed III donated to Roll Call, it wasn’t just a nice gesture — it was the continuation of a family legacy deeply rooted in appreciation for Georgia Tech. “My grandson loves Tech,” said Trey’s grandfather, George Ben Turnipseed, CE 1969. “Trey’s father and one of his aunts went to Tech, and he sees and knows how much I love it.” Trey’s Roll Call gift was inspired by his family. “Trey learns by seeing people do things,” Turnipseed said. “He saw his father donate and said, ‘I want to give some money to Georgia Tech.’” Trey’s gift of $3 may have been small, but it speaks volumes about the values passed down through generations. Every gift, no matter its size, counts. Whether you’re the youngest Roll Call donor, the oldest, or somewhere in between, your support will help advance Georgia Tech and its impact for years to come.

Click here to make your gift to Roll Call.