One of the major findings from Georgia Tech’s Climate Assessment Survey in 2012 was an expressed desire for targeted professional development efforts for staff women. At Georgia Tech, we value the brilliance and power of our people and their perspectives, putting it all to work to define what’s next. As such, we are dedicated to creating a community of leaders who will guide Tech in the 21st century—an institution committed to inclusive excellence.
With the support of the Office of the President, Institute Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion launched Leading Women@Tech, a program to engage women leaders who are in assistant/associate director-level positions and above at the Institute.
Joi Alexander
Director, Wellness Empowerment Center
Joi plays a key role in proactively leading the development and implementation of health and wellness initiatives and programs aligned with evidence and best practices to create innovative approaches for the Georgia Tech community. She actively collaborates, on-and-o campus, with a variety of interdisciplinary on-and-on-campus stakeholders to enable the development and implementation of key programs and initiatives supporting staff, faculty, and student health and wellness. Joi is a true advocate for creating diverse and inclusive spaces that empower individuals to choose lifestyle choices, facilitate success, and lead to happy, healthy, and well communities.
Priti Bhatia
Director of Facilities and Capital Planning, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
Priti manages the facilities and capital planning portfolio, environments, and resources for IAC and its six schools. She’s a community leader working toward promoting women in facilities and campus planning leadership opportunities, and following inclusive practices to support students, faculty, staff, and the campus community. Her leadership style is collaborative and inclusive, and she believes in working smart, developing people, a culture of excellence, and trust, and most importantly continuous learning and improvement. Priti earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design from Georgia State University and her Master of Fine Arts in Interior Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design.
Ashley Coogan
Director of Development, College of Sciences
Ashley works directly with the Dean of the college and six school chairs to secure philanthropic support for students, faculty, and programs. Prior to serving in this capacity, Ashley was Director of Development for the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering and worked in Development at Emory University, UCLA, and UC Berkeley. Ashley is a graduate of Georgia Tech from the School of Psychology and holds a Master of Public Administration.
Amy W. Corn
Professor of the Practice & Academic Program Director, FinTech Professional Education Program
In her role, Amy leads the creation of programs to serve the evolving workforce development needs of the financial services ecosystem. Her professional career spans 25 years of progressive leadership in FinTech and telecommunications defining and implementing core strategic capabilities amid industry transformation. As a community advocate whose goal is implementing sustainable change to ensure everyone thrives, she serves on the boards of the United Way of Greater Atlanta and the Mercy Care Foundation. Corn is passionate about promoting gender diversity, equity, and inclusion within the financial services industry.
Ece Erdogmus, Ph.D.
Professor & Chair of the School of Building Construction
Ece has been the principal investigator on numerous external grants, such as the recently awarded $1.7M NSF grant on STEM education research assessing the impact of virtual/augmented reality technologies on career decision-making, student engagement, and diversity awareness of students. She was formerly the Associate Director of the Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the Chief Editor of ASCE’s Journal of Architectural Engineering. She has master’s and doctoral degrees in Architectural Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University and is a licensed Professional Engineer.
Juli Golemi
Director of Innovation Ecosystems, Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI2)
Juli’s background includes 20 years of experience in the field of economic development providing support to communities and universities with their innovation-led economic development initiatives. Juli serves on the board of directors of the University Economic Development Association (UEDA) and Georgia Tech's Faculty Executive Board. She completed her studies at Vanderbilt University before earning her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Tirana in Albania, and her master’s degree in Economics from Middle Tennessee State University.
Laura Haynes, Ph.D.
Faculty member and Director, Office of Outreach, Electrical and Computer Engineering
A former English professor, Laura holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Florida State University, a Master of Arts in English from Clark Atlanta University, and a Doctorate in English from Louisiana State University. With more than 20 years in higher education, Laura is committed to helping others cultivate their capacity for leadership through outreach and service.
Jillann Hertel Del Tejo
Creative Director and CoLab Director, School of Literature, Media, and Communication, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts
As an artist, educator, and director, Jillann imagines, develops, collaborates, and implements digital, material, and programmatic solutions at the intersection of student advocacy, communication, media, and art. Highlights from her time at Tech include being awarded for Innovation in Co-curricular Education as well as for Woman of Distinction. She designed and founded CoLab and co-founded the minor in social justice. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Florida and a Master of Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts.
Sharon Jackson
Director of Lab Business Operations, Georgia Tech Research Institute
In this position, Sharon directs the financial and compliance activities of the Lab Business Operations teams, as well as the teams that serve GTRI’s support units and directorate-level units. Prior to coming to GTRI in 2016, Sharon served as the Director of Accounts Payable and Travel at Georgia Tech for more than 20 years. Sharon received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan and her Master of Business Administration from the University of Edinburgh Business School in Scotland.
Aisha Johnson, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Academic Affairs & Outreach, Georgia Tech Library
An educator and scholar experienced in academic program assessment and administration, curriculum development, and outreach, Aisha’s scholarship focuses on the development of literacy in the African American community through the development of Southern public libraries. Her impact has been recognized with honors including the Distinguished Alumni Award from Florida State University’s iSchool in 2020 and the Freedom Scholar Award from the Association for the Study of African American Life and History in 2021.
Jeonghyun (Jonna) Lee, Ph.D.
Director of Research for Education Innovation, Center for 21st Century Universities (C21U)
Jeonghyun leads C21U’s research agenda to fulfill the mission of finding creative and innovative ways to solve complex problems in higher education. Based on her research background as a learning scientist, she is interested in examining how the application of cutting-edge technology facilitates effective learning as well as student success. Jeonghyun has served in a leadership role in C21U since 2019 and she strives to contribute to nurturing a culture of inclusive excellence within and outside of C21U.
Samantha Lie-Tjauw
Senior Research Scientist, Georgia Tech Research Institute
Samantha’s work can be defined community-level co-creation to develop strategic, sustainable solutions in tackling socio-technical issues related to public health, health care, and data science. Samantha leads teams in user-centered, mixed-methods research to provide a rich understanding of consumer health information technology needs to diverse clients, including the Georgia Department of Community Health, the US Department of the Army, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Samantha earned her bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Spanish at the University of Georgia, a Master of Public Health from Emory University, and a Master of Business Administration from Georgia Tech.
Candice McLemore
Director of Operations, Master of Science in Analytics Program
In her role, Candice is responsible for admission & academic operations, alumni engagement, and special projects & initiatives. In 2015, Candice joined the MS Analytics leadership team to establish the Corporate Relations function for the program. Additionally, Candice has over 18 years of Talent Acquisition and Human Resources experience. Candice received her undergraduate degree in Business Economics from Florida A&M University and a master’s degree in Human Resource Development from Georgia State University.
Georgia Parmelee
Director of Research Communications, Institute Communications
Prior to her time at Tech, Georgia worked in the software industry for eight years as a marketing communications professional. As a content creator and communications professional, she has collaborated with and led teams across academia and industry to produce compelling and impactful stories that move the needle on brand engagement. Parmelee holds her Bachelor of Arts in Film studies from Emory University and Master of Arts in film studies from the University of Chicago.
Ana Rusch, Ph.D.
Associate Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Student Life; Online Master of Science in Computer Program
Ana’s dissertation was an ethnographic exploration of Cuban immigration and integration in Germany, and her research focuses on immigration and integration studies, Cuban diaspora studies, identity studies, and gender studies. Currently, she is looking at how different dimensions of identity such as gender, race, sexuality, social class, immigration status, geographic locations, and (dis)ability intersect in tech to address barriers of equity through an intersectional lens of diversity and inclusion. She holds a bachelor’s degree in International Relations, Geography, and Physical Science, a master’s degree in Geography, and a doctorate in Sociology from Florida International University.
Beatriz Rodriguez
Assistant Director for Undergraduate Programs, Scheller College of Business
Beatriz oversees undergraduate student services for Scheller, including leading the academic advising team, implementing academic advising procedures and practices, and managing programs aimed at guiding students in their academic careers at Georgia Tech. Beatriz is a higher education professional with experience in counseling, coaching, advising, leadership, program management, teaching, and student development. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Kennesaw State University and a Master of Science in Professional Counseling from Georgia State University, and she’s a National Certified Counselor and a Co-Active trained coach and is bilingual in Spanish and English.
Kelly Rowland Prather
Director of Catering, Tech Dining
Kelly got her start as a marketing representative for a building products company shortly after graduating from Hampton University where she received a Bachelor of Science in Marketing. After moving to Georgia and while raising three beautiful children, she began working with her father-in-law at one of Atlanta’s premiere Black-owned catering companies, which led her to a career in food service. She then landed leadership roles within Sodexo and Wolfgang Puck where she honed her sales and operational skills at various universities and event centers. Kelly will soon be pursuing her life-long goal of earning a master’s degree in Learning, Leadership, and Organization Development, and she enjoys traveling with her husband, interior decorating, and planning special events for friends & family
Elizabeth Ryan
Associate Director of Athletic Communications and Public Relations
Elizabeth serves as the contact for women’s basketball, women’s tennis, and Georgia Tech’s Total Person Program. She is also the chair of Tech’s awards huddle, serves on the department’s equity, diversity, and inclusion huddle, and is the editor of the Georgia Tech football gameday program. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science and History from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her master’s degree in Sports Management from Georgia Southern University.
Carrie Shepler, Ph.D.
Principal Academic Professional and Assistant Dean for Teaching Effectiveness, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Sciences
Carrie leads efforts to improve student learning experiences through robust support of faculty through mentoring and formative assessment while contributing to college initiatives focused on increasing diversity in and inclusiveness of campus learning spaces. She was named a 2021 Diversity and Inclusion Fellow and helped found the Inclusive STEM Teaching Institute at Georgia Tech. She earned her Ph.D. in Radiochemistry from Washington State University.
Romy Smith
Chief Counsel, Georgia Tech Research Institute
Romy is an attorney in the Office of the General Counsel and has served as Chief Counsel for GTRI since May 2020. Prior to working at Georgia Tech, Romy served as the Director of Legal Services and Senior Counsel for the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) and served as an Assistant Attorney General in the employment litigation section of the Georgia Attorney General’s office. Romy began her legal career as a judge advocate in the US Air Force. Romy received her bachelor’s degree from Emory University and her law degree from the University of Oklahoma.
Mattie Smyth
Assistant Director of Fraternity & Sorority Life
In her current role, Mattie facilitates the development and empowerment of the Collegiate Panhellenic Council sororities, to which 27 percent of undergraduate women at Georgia Tech belong. She is a West Coast native and Southern transplant, having spent six years in the Midwest for her post-secondary degrees. As a fraternity & sorority professional, Mattie is committed to addressing cultural norms to create spaces where all members can be their authentic selves. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Creighton University and her Master of Arts in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University.
Shannon Thomas, Ph.D.
Director of Information Technology, Scheller College of Business
Shannon has been in IT leadership for more than 20 years and has served information technology organizations with strategy, innovation, and excellence. She is a Distinguished Alumnus at Albany State University and serves on the board of directors for Social Butterflies, the Technology in Business School Roundtable, and she co-authored Understanding the Game of Executive Leadership: Strategies to Win. Shannon holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from Walden University, and is a 2014 graduate of the Leadership Clayton, one of the most prestigious leadership programs in the Southeast.
Nazanin Tork
Associate Director of Graduate Education
Nazanin has worked in higher education since 2010. Her experiences have ranged from working with international agencies and universities, U.S. Federal TRIO programs, women’s colleges, and historically Black colleges and universities. In her current role, she provides leadership and coordination of all on-campus and online graduate program admissions and recruitment. Prior to her position at Georgia Tech, she served in leadership roles at both public and private universities as well as an international pathway program. Nazanin attended the University of Cincinnati where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Cultural Anthropology.
Lindsay Vaughn
Vice President of Strategic Communications, Georgia Tech Alumni Association
Lindsay oversees a team of strategists responsible for the website, social media channels, Alumni magazine, video production, internal and external communications, and the brand of the GT Alumni Association. Recipients of CASE Circle of Excellence awards in 2020 and 2021, the strategic communications group helps reach and inspire more than 185,000 Yellow Jackets. Prior to working at the Alumni Association, Vaughn held leadership roles at Arthritis Foundation, global PR firm MLSGROUP, advertising agency Brunner Inc. and within a variety of other sectors.
May Dongmei Wang, Ph.D.
Wallace H. Coulter Distinguished Faculty Fellow and Professor, Depts. of Biomedical Eng., Electrical and Computer Eng., and Computational Sci. and Eng., Georgia Tech and Emory University
Dr. May D. Wang (BEng@TsinghuaUniversity and MS&PhD@GeorgiaTech) is Director of Biomedical Big Data Initiative, Georgia Distinguished Cancer Scholar, Petit-Fellow, Kavli-Fellow, IEEE-Fellow, AIMBE-Fellow, and IAMBE-Fellow. She researches Biomedical and Health Informatics (BHI) with AI-Driven Intelligent Reality for Personalized, Predictive, and Participatory Health.
Kimberly Wynn White
Senior Director of Enterprise Customer Relationship Management, Office of Information Technology
Kim is an energetic leader who has been privileged to work with innovative and dedicated technology professionals in OIT for more than 20 years. Kim assumed her current role in August 2021, overseeing the campus Salesforce platform and team. She previously spent four years serving as director of the IT Portfolio and Project Management Office where she oversaw the central IT portfolio and established project management framework, methodology, and best practices for the entire product lifecycle. Kim holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Prairie View A&M University and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Lehigh University.