Tech Topics - Fall 2007 - (Page 34)

Burdell&Friends David, 3, at the family’s home in Duluth, Ga. Julia is a sales representative with the Weyerhaeuser Co. and Angelo is a project manager with PM Technologies. Allison Fennessy Peck, IE 99, and Nathan Peck, IE 99, announce the birth of a son, Davis Michael, on March 9. Davis joins brother Matthew, 3, at the family’s home. Allison is a fulltime mother and Nathan is a student in the Leaders for Manufacturing program at MIT. Melissa Mobley Rehberg, IE 96, and Jeff Rehberg, IE 96, of Doraville, Ga., announce the birth of a daughter, Isabella Grace, on April 9. Melissa is a project manager at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, for which Jeff is a senior performance improvement consultant. Stefan Resenhoeft, IE 94, and his wife, Gabriela, of Miami Springs, Fla., announce the birth of a son, Jan, on June 4. Resenhoeft is assistant general manager of SIDASA, a distributor/representative for industrial equipment manufacturers, in Guatemala. Michael J. Robison, Mgt 97, has become a member of the Buckhead Coalition. Robison is chairman and CEO of Lanier Parking Holdings and chairman of the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau. Heather Smith Rocker, IE 98, has been hired to serve as the first executive director for Women in Technology, the premier society in Georgia for the advancement of women in technology careers. Jason Schmitt, ME 95, and his wife, Jenny-Rebecca, announce the birth of a daughter, Phoebe Katherine, on April 4. Schmitt is product manager at Steelbox Networks in Atlanta. Karl Sillay, EE 95, and his wife, Elizabeth, announce the birth of a son, Andrew Karl, on May 25. Sillay is the director of functional neurosurgery at the University of Wisconsin. The family lives in Madison, Wis. Eric Smith, IE 99, and his wife, Ashley, of Suwanee, Ga., announce the birth of a daughter, Avery Lauren, on Jan. 10. Smith is a sales executive with Radiant Systems. 34 Role Models Engineering alumnae eager to serve in academic careers By Teri Nagel T was a place that I could blossom, enhance my his fall, civil current knowledge and engineering be a part of a cuttingstudents at Rice and edge research Texas A&M may find community that was role models in their committed to professors. Jamie contributing to Padgett and Monique society.” Hite earned doctorates Beyond that, both from the Georgia Tech women are quick to School of Civil and attribute a successful Environmental journey at Georgia Tech Engineering this year to the strong, studentand are beginning focused mentorship tenure-track faculty they experienced. positions at Rice Members of the Monique Hite, left, and Jamie Padgett earned doctorates from the School of Civil University and Texas same graduate research and Environmental Engineering this year and landed faculty positions in Texas. A&M, respectively. program, Hite and With the Padgett shared engineering work force still notably lagging in diversity, both academic adviser Reggie DesRoches. The associate professor Hite and Padgett are hoping to become role models and and associate chair of the School of Civil and Environmental positive influences for students. Engineering, DesRoches is heavily involved with outreach “Diversity in engineering, particularly with regard to programs designed to further diversity in engineering. women, can be improved,” said Padgett. “But it’s important to Additionally, Hite earned a FACES fellowship while encourage all young people to explore science and engineering pursuing her doctorate. FACES, which stands for Facilitating careers. For me, that’s one of the most exciting aspects of Academic Careers in Engineering and the Sciences, is a multibecoming a professor — the responsibility to bring forth university, multidiscipline effort funded by the National opportunities for students and alleviate any imbalances or Science Foundation to increase the number of minorities biases simply by providing support.” pursuing advanced degrees in engineering and science. Hite also said it’s the service aspect of the profession that Through FACES, Hite gained access to workshops specially made choosing a career path in academia easy. “Academic designed to help students excel in graduate school and prepare careers offer rewarding opportunities to mentor students, work them for careers in research or academia. with exceptional people and make an impact on both the Padgett noted a unique opportunity to collaborate with engineering community and community at large.” researchers and professionals across multiple disciplines that But service was a common force throughout the academic enriched her education. “It’s something I never really thought journeys of both women. Choosing to pursue undergraduate of — the importance of working with parties outside degrees in civil and environmental engineering, Hite traditional civil engineering, from experts in social sciences to (University of Delaware) and Padgett (University of Florida) emergency management agencies, to tackle a multifaceted committed early on to the civic-minded discipline. problem like mitigating risk.” Both women dedicated their graduate research to natural The U.S. Department of Labor estimates job market hazard risk mitigation in the structural engineering graduate growth of 17 percent for civil engineers and 27 percent for research program. Simply put, since most bridges weren’t environmental engineers through 2014, more than any other designed to withstand the damaging effects of a powerful engineering discipline. hurricane or earthquake, their research focused on different Ethical issues and civic duty are inherently present in civil methods of reinforcement, or “retrofitting,” to mitigate the risk and environmental engineering research and education. of natural hazards on transportation networks, specifically in Experts on the construction market are hoping these values the central and southeastern United States. will attract more talent — and more diverse talent — to meet Hite, who came to Tech after earning a master’s degree at the growth projection. Hite and Padgett are part of an the University of Delaware, says the service-oriented influential group of young professors contributing to this curriculum and research activities were a selling point. “I felt it pressing need. TERI NAGEL Michael Sobers, AE 98, has been promoted to major in the Air Force and named Young Engineer of the Year by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Rocky Mountain region. An assistant professor in the department of astronautics at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., he is beginning work on a doctorate in the aerospace department at Georgia Tech this fall. S.K. Sundaram, PhD CerE 94, has been elected a fellow of the American Ceramic Society for his accomplishments and contributions in the area of ceramic/glass science and his service to the society. He will be recognized at the TECHTOPICS Materials Science and Technology 2007 conference in September in Detroit. Marcie Dodd Svetz, ME 93, and her husband, Paul, announce the birth of twins, Alison Annabelle and Andrew Joseph, on June 27. Ali and Drew join brother Ryan Thomas, 3, at the family’s home in Buford, Ga. Jonathan D. Thackeray, ISyE 96, and his wife, Jaclyn, announce the birth of a son, Henry David, on June 20. Henry joins brother Charlie, 2, at the family’s home in Columbus, Ohio. Thackeray is a child abuse physician at Columbus Children’s Hospital. Gregory Vincent, CE 98, married Rebecca Schatzkin | FALL 2007

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Tech Topics - Fall 2007

Contents Mail Call Alumni House Historic Renovation 007 Buzz Bash Dazzling Daylilies Living History Cover Story: Key to the City The Hill Tapping Technology Robotics Rivalry No Easy Ride Giving Back Balancing Act Student Life Burdell & Friends Epic Story of Heroism Yellow Jackets Very Good Team Passport to Retirement Real World

Tech Topics - Fall 2007

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