Georgia Tech Academics Roundup — August 27, 2026

Georgia Tech’s Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Research shared a wide-ranging academic and research update on August 27, 2026, covering leadership transitions, entrepreneurship milestones, research funding, and campus infrastructure news.

Leadership Transitions. Susan Lozier announced she will conclude her term as dean of the College of Sciences on November 1. During her tenure, Lozier guided significant growth and launched a strategic plan centered on the principle that “science is for everyone.” She will continue at Georgia Tech as a professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. Separately, Angus Wilkinson, associate chair and professor in the School of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the School of Materials Science and Engineering, has been elected chair of Georgia Tech’s Faculty Executive Board, where he will help lead faculty governance of curriculum and student affairs. On the administrative side, Karin Elliott, currently vice chancellor for Human Resources for the University System of Georgia, has been named interim vice president and chief human resources officer, beginning September 1 and reporting to EVP Tricia Chastain. Shreyes N. Melkote of the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering has also been named interim associate vice president of Corporate Engagement, effective September 1.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation. Georgia Tech’s Startup Launch program surpassed 200 startup teams this spring — the largest cohort in the program’s history. On September 3, more than 150 of those startups will showcase their ventures at CREATE-X Demo Day at LOOP, Georgia Tech’s newest creative arts and performance venue. In a related move, Lara Hodgson has been named inaugural executive director of The Venture Arcade (formerly Velocity Startups), a new startup accelerator designed to help founders bridge the gap between early-stage programs like CREATE-X and later-stage growth capital.

Research Funding Landscape. As the fall semester begins, federal research priorities are coming into focus, with the Department of Energy’s AI Genesis Mission and the NSF’s X-Labs advancing. At the same time, many grant programs face delays, fewer solicitations, and uncertain timelines. The Office of the Executive Vice President for Research held a Research Town Hall on August 27 — a recording is available on Georgia Tech’s MediaSpace — advising faculty to engage proactively with program managers, pursue unsolicited opportunities, and explore new partnership models as agencies experiment with novel funding approaches.

Course Accessibility and Professional Development. The Institute’s digital accessibility team launched a new Course Accessibility Roadmap for Instructors, designed to help faculty build more accessible course materials through a practical, step-by-step guide. A series of upcoming training sessions cover document remediation, accessible math and scientific content via MathType, and website accessibility scanning tools. Registration is open through the provided Microsoft Forms link. Additionally, the 11th cohort of Georgia Tech’s Emerging Leaders Program has been selected for the 2026–27 academic year, offering leadership development through retreats, workshops, small-group activities, and individualized coaching for senior and principal academic and research faculty.

Campus Life. Brittain Dining Hall — a campus landmark since its original construction in 1928 — reopened on August 17 following an extensive two-year renovation. The building’s signature Collegiate Gothic exterior has been preserved while its kitchen, service areas, and systems have all been modernized. Looking ahead, registration and a call for proposals are now open for Georgia Tech’s third annual Graduate Education Summit, set for November 12 in the Exhibition Hall under the theme Advancing the Graduate Ecosystem Through Collaboration.

Source: Academic and Research Update — August 2026, Office of the Provost and EVPR, Georgia Institute of Technology.