Woodruff School Announces New Members of Young Alumni Council

October 11, 2024
By Courtney Sykes

The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering has selected five new members to join the Georgia Tech Woodruff Young Alumni Council (YAC).

The YAC was established last year, with the goal of increasing engagement with current students and recent alumni by creating targeted professional development opportunities, amplifying entrepreneurial impact, and enhancing the student and young alumni experience.

An overwhelming number of applications were received for this year, reflective of the robust and engaged alumni community in the Woodruff School. After careful consideration of all applications, the following outstanding alumni have been chosen:

Jazmine Brite, ME 2015, Strategist
Cleve Fann, ME 2005, Vice President, Strategy & Support, Georgia Power Company
Ashley Goulding, M.S. ME 2016, Ph.D. MSE 2016, Director, Organization Effectiveness, Novelis
James Hazzard, ME 2021, Associate - Software Engineer II, BlackRock
Wale Odukomaiya, ME 2013, M.S. ME 2015, Ph.D. ME 2018, Advanced Concepts Team Lead, AtmosZero

In the notification letters, selected members were told, "We felt that your passion for the Woodruff School, as well as your leadership, vision, and expertise, truly stood out among many other highly qualified candidates. We are honored that you will be joining us as we work to achieve the Council’s goals."

The new members will play a key role in expanding the YAC's vision, identifying the best strategies for success, and collaborating with members of the Woodruff School community to strengthen its impact.

"We are confident that the skills, leadership, and enthusiasm our new members bring will be integral to the Council’s future success, and we look forward to the exciting journey ahead," said Devesh Ranjan, Eugene C. Gwaltney, Jr. School Chair and professor.

What is your view of mechanical engineering in 2050?

Jazmine Brite

The forward look of mechanical engineering will be facilitating a societal change in environmental stewardship and social equity through innovation and creativity.

Cleve Fann

Mechanical Engineering will change considerably in the next 25 years as robotics and AI continue to expand and advance. Mechanical Engineering will be essential in connecting mechanical systems with electrical, communication, and data systems.

Ashley Goulding

I believe that as we continue to see aggressive advancement in digitalization, technology, analytics, and artificial intelligence, that mechanical engineering will continue to be a foundational discipline in the engineering and design space. However, much like systems engineers, mechanical engineers will need to be able to support the integration of rapidly evolving technologies into the manufacturing, construction, and operations work of the future. Students will need to build a highly holistic, yet technical, skill set to be able to support the industry and their careers.

James Hazzard

I see mechanical engineering staying true to its roots as a leader in technology and problem-solving, just like it always has. However, it will take on a new shape by using AI, automation, and robotics to tackle more complex challenges. This integration will help mechanical engineers enhance traditional practices and provide tremendous opportunities for innovation and growth, to create solutions that meet the challenges of the future.

Wale Odukomaiya

I believe the most pressing mechanical engineering problems are becoming more interdisciplinary in nature, combining fundamental principals from mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, and more. I'm probably a little biased given my choice of career field, but I also believe that mechanical engineers will play an outsized role in solving to prevent the worst effects of climate change, which will require specialized training in climate and energy systems, markets and public policy, and more.

George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering

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