Georgia Tech Alumni Magazine Vol. 92, No. 1
P U B L I S H E R ’S LETTER
PL
PUBLISHER
A World of Learning at Tech
Joseph P. Irwin, IM 80 VP MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Dawn Churi EDITOR Roger Slavens ASSISTANT EDITOR Melissa Fralick
In the previous issue of the Georgia
Tech Alumni Magazine, we looked at the local impact of Tech alumni, faculty and students in Atlanta and throughout the state of Georgia. But we know that the Institute has a tremendous reach and impact across the globe. The world today occupies the same space in the universe that it did a million years ago, but it’s a much smaller place than ever before. Globalization impacts all of our lives each and every day. If you’re an equity investor, you’ve been watching your portfolio decline in value in part because of the slowing of China’s economy. While the decline in oil prices was certainly initiated by the introduction of new horizontal drilling technologies that enabled us to harvest more oil domestically, the continued decline in prices is the result of decisions about production being made by OPEC countries as they try to maintain market share. The list goes on and on. Universities play a vital role in educating the future leaders of a technologically ubiquitous global future, and of course, Georgia Tech is at the forefront of these efforts. Goal No. 4 of Tech’s strategic plan is nothing less than: “Expand our global footprint and influence to ensure that we are graduating good global citizens.” How can we accomplish this? For our students, it’s through exposure, experiential learning and an intellectually diverse community. You’ll note that half of our undergraduate students have at least one experience abroad—either studying or working. Our Georgia Tech-Lorraine campus in Metz, France, is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and we have agreements around the globe where opportunities are strategic for both Tech and our partners. Tech’s focus today is to build global partnerships in innovation, education and research that address global interdisciplinary problems. Meanwhile, the Institute continues to attract top international students in a wide range of studies, on both the undergraduate and 006
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DESIGNER Joshua Baker | joshbkr.com COPY EDITOR Rebecca Bowen STUDENT ASSISTANT Lauren Dognazzi EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Benton J. Mathis Jr., IM 81, Chair Robert N. Stargel Jr., EE 83, Past Chair Andrea L. Laliberte, IE 82, MS IE 84, Chair-Elect/Vice Chair of Roll Call
graduate levels, who see Tech as one of the best universities in the world. But it’s not just what Georgia Tech does that makes this a global institution. It’s what our alumni do after graduating from Tech. We have alumni leading multinational companies; international military efforts; large-scale engineering, science and medical initiatives; human improvement organizations and, in at least one case, even leading a country (see page 52). But it’s not all work and no play! A former Yellow Jacket hoops star—Stephon Marbury, Cls 99—has over the past few years established himself as a major brand in China (if not its basketball king, see page 20). And of course, Tech inspires our alumni to be adventurers and world travelers, including Brandon Cox, Mgt 03, who has been to all seven continents and 149 countries by the age of 35 (see page 24). Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal spoke at a Georgia Tech Foundation board meeting a couple of years ago and made a particularly telling comment. Deal said that when he goes abroad to help sell the state of Georgia to international audiences, they usually can name two things immediately about Georgia—Coca-Cola and Georgia Tech. Yes, Tech is a top global brand, too, and a rapidly growing one at that. Go Jackets!
David Bottoms, Mgt 00, Vice Chair of Finance Elizabeth Bulat Turner, IAML 04, Member at Large Paul S. Goggin, Phys 91, Member at Large James L. Mitchell, CE 05, Member at Large Elizabeth H. Wallace, Arch 96, Member at Large Joseph P. Irwin, IM 80, President & CEO BOARD OF TRUSTEES Stanley E. Anderson, IM 75; J. Paul Austin, Mgt 99; Dorothy B. Autin, ChE 80; Jeni S. Bogdan, Mgt 89 MS MoT 96; Julian A. Brown III, Mgt 97; Frank T. Campos, EE 80, MS MoT 97; C. Richard Crutchfield, IM 69; Richard DeAugustinis, IE 92; W. Keith Edwards, ICS 89, MS ICS 91, PhD ICS 96; D. Shawn Fowler, Mgt 88; Jeanene Fowler, IE 84; Rick L. Garcia, CE 73; Jeffrey V. Giglio, EE 77; Timothy A. Heilig, IE 75; Lara O’Connor Hodgson, AE 93; Justin C. Honaman Jr., IE 96; Julie Sumerford Johnson, Mgt 84; MG Ronald L. Johnson, MS OR 85; Garrett S. Langley, EE 09; Judy W. Liaw, ME 98; Mark E. Ligler, ME 76; Wonya Y. Lucas, IE 83; Errika N. Mallett, IE 96; Robert D. Martin, IE 69; Thomas J. O’Brien, IE 81; Whitney S. Owen, IA 03; Shantan R. Pesaru CmpE 05; Vicky S. Polashock, ChE 90, Phd ChE 95; Michael John Rafferty Jr., EE 02; William J. Ready, MatE 94 , MS MetE 97, PhD MSE 00; John L. Reese III, BC 80; Valerie Montgomery Rice, Chem 83; Kary E. Saleeby, NE 77, MS ME 78; Ricardo Salgado, IE 98; Jocelyn M. Stargel, IE 82, MS IE 86; Mayson A. Thornton, Mgt 05 ADVERTISING Holly Green (404) 894-0765 holly.green@alumni.gatech.edu GEORGIA TECH ALUMNI MAGAZINE (ISSN: 1061-9747) is published quarterly by the Georgia Tech Alumni Association, 190 North Ave. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30313. Periodical postage paid in Atlanta and additional mailing offices. © 2015 Georgia Tech Alumni Association POSTMASTER Send address changes to: Georgia Tech Alumni
JOSEPH P. IRWIN, IM 80
Magazine, 190 North Ave. N.W., Atlanta, GA 30313.
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Georgia Tech Alumni Association (404) 894-2391 Josh Meister