George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering

10/15/2026

🎙️ The Webb Communication Program has kicked off a new season of Communication Mechanics: A Podcast for Engineers.

In Season 5, Episode 1, titled Defining Complex Problems, Frank K. Webb Academic Professional Chair in Communication Skills Jill Fennell talks to Georgia Tech alumnus Lawson Sumner, ME 2021, to discuss the importance of defining complex engineering problems and navigating different audience needs and expectations in requirements engineering.

🎧 Listen to the episode ⬇

Education Podcast · Updated Biweekly · Welcome to Communication Mechanics! Hosted by the Webb Communication Program at Georgia Tech’s Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering. In each episode, we explore how communication shapes the succe…

10/14/2026

The American Nuclear Society (ANS) recently selected a nuclear and radiological engineering (NRE) Capstone Design team as one of four finalists in the 2026 ANS Student Design Competition, marking the fourth time in five years that an NRE team has earned finalist recognition.

The team will present its project, “Gone Fission: Deep Borehole Pressurized Water Reactor Analysis,” at the society’s Winter Conference & Expo in Phoenix in November.

Team members Kendal Chunn, Colin Gold, and Derek Lewis were NRE seniors when they completed the project under the guidance of Professor Bojan Petrovic. The team will also receive up to $1,000 in travel assistance to present its work at the conference for final judging.

10/13/2026

Georgia Tech alumnus and Executive Vice President for Research Tim Lieuwen has been named interim president of Georgia Tech by University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue, effective Nov. 1.

With more than 25 years of experience in higher education and academic leadership, Lieuwen oversees Georgia Tech’s record-breaking $1.4+ billion research enterprise, along with economic development initiatives and sponsored projects.

A double Yellow Jacket, Lieuwen earned his master’s degree and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering at Georgia Tech. 🐝

The search for Georgia Tech’s next permanent president is ongoing. | c.gatech.edu/4zucvba

10/12/2026

✈️⚙️ For Woodruff School student Alexa Hoang, attending a guest lecture on campus led to a summer internship at StandardAero and an opportunity to gain firsthand experience in the aerospace industry.

Hoang, a third-year mechanical engineering major, first learned about StandardAero when Russell Ford, the company’s CEO and a Woodruff School alumnus, spoke about his journey from studying mechanical engineering to leading one of the world’s largest independent maintenance, repair, and overhaul providers as part of the College of Engineering's Dean's Distinguished Lecture Series.

“I was searching for internships in the aerospace industry at the time, so after listening to [Ford’s] lecture, I talked with him to learn more,” Hoang said. “He was incredibly friendly and made me realize that StandardAero could be a place where I could learn and gain experience in the aviation industry.”

Read the full story: https://bit.ly/4dj2Zz3

10/06/2026

Meet Ryan Vice, who joined the Woodruff School in July as director of business operations. From his career in finance and public service to his experiences growing up around technology and robotics, Ryan has followed a path shaped by curiosity, creativity, and a commitment to continuous growth.

In this Q&A, learn about his career path, his first impressions of Georgia Tech, and the passions and interests that shape him both personally and professionally: https://bit.ly/4xSHMDp

10/05/2026

Fourth-year mechanical engineering student Andrew Belli gained hands-on experience in renewable energy this summer during an internship with Terreva Renewables, where he worked alongside Woodruff School alumni Thomas Arlotto, ME 1982, COO; Jason Byars, ME 1996, CEO; and Robert Warren, ME 2017, project developer.

"My internship with Terreva helped me understand how important the renewable energy industry is," Belli said. "It was immensely satisfying work and encouraged me to pursue engineering opportunities that allow me to use my knowledge and skills in ways that give back to the world."

10/02/2026

🏎️🐝🎉 The Georgia Tech Student Competition Center (SCC) celebrated its 25th anniversary at its Fall 2026 kickoff event, bringing together student teams, alumni, faculty, and friends of the center. The evening began with photos by the Campanile before moving into a welcome video celebrating the SCC and its teams, an introduction of leadership, and networking.

The event also featured speakers from across the SCC and Woodruff School community, including Himanshi Lonare, SCC president; Carolyn Seepersad, Eugene C. Gwaltney Jr. School Chair; Bill Bulpitt, B.S. ME 1970, M.S. ME 1972, who drove Georgia Tech’s entry in the 1970 Clean Air Car Race; Paul Allen, ME 1987, founder of GT Motorsports; Professor Emeritus Ken Cunefare; Jake Tompkins, mechanical engineer III; and SCC Interim Director Richard Simmons.

📸 View a photo gallery from the event: https://bit.ly/4rEWXP6

10/01/2026

The Woodruff School recently welcomed alumni recognized as part of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association’s 40 Under 40 Class of 2026 to campus for a panel discussion with students, faculty, and staff. Niall Brown, ME 2013; Bachir El Fil, Ph.D. ME 2021; Roshan Kalghatgi, M.S. ME 2012; Raj Siyasena, ME 2014; and Jeffrey Twum, ME 2013, shared their career journeys and experiences as Yellow Jackets.

Following the panel, the honorees joined Eugene C. Gwaltney Jr. School Chair Carolyn Seepersad for a coffee chat, providing an opportunity to connect, share updates and perspectives, and hear about priorities for the Woodruff School.

View a photo gallery from the event: https://bit.ly/4hJdhtU

10/01/2026

Zhuomin Zhang, J. Erskine Love Jr. Professor, has been selected by his peers in the Woodruff School to receive the Jack M. Zeigler Outstanding Educator Award in recognition of his long standing and sustained excellence in engineering education.

Created in 1999, the award recognizes an outstanding educator among the Woodruff School’s academic faculty and is a lifetime achievement award that a person can receive only once.

Zhang will deliver the Jack Zeigler Outstanding Educator Lecture on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 1:00 p.m. in MRDC 4211. His talk, titled "Why is 'Nanoscale Heat Transfer' so popular?," will explore his career experience, starting from a relatively new research area that has evolved into a dynamic and increasingly popular field.

Read more: https://bit.ly/47vysus

09/29/2026

Attention students: The Women of Woodruff (WoW) will host the third annual WoW Leadership Symposium on Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the John Lewis Student Center in the Rafael Bras Meeting Room.

At the event, students will have a chance to attend sessions on career readiness, strategic networking, and effective leadership to earn the WoW Leadership Certification from the Woodruff School. Sessions will be led by alumni leaders from Amazon, Graphic Packaging International, and OE Partners LLC. The event will also include a panel discussion with alumni from Southern Company.

Registration is required and open to undergraduate and graduate students. Space is limited, and food will be served. The event is sponsored by Anheuser-Busch, First Mechanical Group, Neptune Technology Group, Parker Hannifin, and Techwood Precisions.

Register for the event: https://cglink.me/2y3/r375389