Rendering of people interacting in outdoor installation

Inaugural Alumnae Honorees Named for Celebration of Georgia Tech Women 

Renderings and animation: Gray Matters 

Celebrating Georgia Tech Women: Pathway of Progress is the new name of the forthcoming, permanent tribute to the impact of women from Georgia Tech, now under construction near the John Lewis Student Center and Stamps Commons. Set to open in Fall 2024, the physical installation and accompanying digital experience will celebrate 70 graduates, as well as 98 women and events with historical significance to the Institute. 

The Institute is proud to reveal the inaugural alumnae whose names and legacies will be recognized. The historical honorees will be announced this fall.

The Pathway of Progress was made possible by generous support from Andrea L. Laliberte, IE 1982, M.S. IE 1984, and designed by Merica May Jensen, MGT 2008, M. ARCH 2011. Extending from the ground up to the trees, this tribute comprises 2,946 tensioned mirrored tiles, with 168 of them inscribed with names and stories. With a table and seats at the ground level, the piece will serve as a central gathering space for reflection, contemplation, and celebration of the ongoing work by women from Tech.

 

Woman outside looking at installation.
Hundreds of hexagonal mosaics will tell the stories of women who graduated from Georgia Tech, forming a collective constellation across the campus treeline. 

 


“As we break ground on this significant project, we embark on a journey to celebrate the permanent mark women have left on Georgia Tech. Nestled amid the vibrant heartbeat of our campus, this installation will serve as a testament to their remarkable achievements and enduring legacies. This space will not only honor their past triumphs but also inspire future generations, fostering reflection and contemplation. We eagerly anticipate its completion, marking a milestone in our ongoing commitment to recognize and celebrate the pivotal role of women at Georgia Tech.” 

– Shantay N. Bolton, Executive Vice President for Administration and Finance


 

A committee of alumni, faculty, administrators, and students oversaw the criteria and selection process for the inaugural class of honorees. Following a wide call for nominations in Spring 2022, the committee reviewed hundreds of submissions and selected the women whose stories are the foundation for the Pathway. 

Those stories also will be featured in the interactive website for Celebrating Georgia Tech Women. This fall, users will find resources and in-depth information about the people, places, events, and networks represented, extending the experience. 

Plans are underway for celebratory events surrounding Celebrating Georgia Tech Women: Pathway of Progress, including a campuswide event on Nov. 9 during Homecoming week, to include many of the women honorees and their families and friends. 

Moving forward, the Georgia Tech Alumni Association will lead an annual process to nominate and recognize additional women each year, telling the ongoing stories of women from Georgia Tech. 

Map showing location of installation.
The installation will be a transformative structure in the heart of campus near the John Lewis Student Center.
Aerial view of installation
Andrea L. Laliberte's vision will come to life, promoting awareness and public recognition of the history of Georgia Tech women in a visually compelling way.

Inaugural Alumnae Honorees

Jane Chumley Ammons 

Ph.D. IE 1982 

College of Engineering 

Annie Antón 

ICS 1990, M.S. ICS 1992, Ph.D. CS 1997 

College of Computing 

Pam Arlotto 

HS 1980 

College of Sciences 

Malory Hunter Atkinson 

BC 2008 

College of Design 

Sybrina Y. Atwaters 

EE 1994, M.S. HSTS 2009, Ph.D. HSTS 2014 

Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts 

Banafsheh Azizi 

IA 2004, M.S. IA 2008 

Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts 

Jennifer P. Bailey 

CerE 1970, M.S. CerE 1971 

College of Engineering 

Laurie L. Baker 

AE 1967, M.S. AE 1969  

College of Engineering 

Kelly H. Barrett 

IM 1986 

Scheller College of Business 

Cathy Anne (Caseman) Berdahl 

IM 1977 

Scheller College of Business 

Elizabeth Córdoba 

AE 2005 

College of Engineering 

Jan Davis 

Bio 1975 

College of Sciences 

Tiffany Nicole Davis 

AE 2016, M.S. CS 2021 

College of Computing 

Tawana Myngtria Derricotte Miller 

IM 1976 

Scheller College of Business 

Danielle M. Donehew 

IE 2001 

College of Engineering 

Merrill Elam 

Arch 1971 

College of Design 

Ashley Elleby 

IE 2008 

College of Engineering 

Maj. Kisha Ford Torres 

Mgt 1998 

Scheller College of Business 

Sandra Adamson Fryhofer, M.D. 

ChE 1979

College of Engineering 

Robyn Gatens 

ChE 1985 

College of Engineering 

Jyoti Gupta 

Ph.D. ChE 2009 

College of Engineering 

Paula T. Hammond 

M.S. ChE 1988 

College of Engineering 

Evelynn M. Hammonds 

EE 1976 

College of Engineering 

Lara O’Connor Hodgson 

AE 1993 

College of Engineering 

Sarabrynn Hudgins 

IA 2009 

Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts 

Elaine Ho Johns 

IE 1985 

College of Engineering 

Joy F. Jordan 

ChE 1992 

College of Engineering 

Deborah Kilpatrick 

ESM 1989, M.S. ME 1994, Ph.D. ME 1996 

College of Engineering 

Andrea L. Laliberte 

IE 1982, M.S. IE 1984 

College of Engineering 

Tameeka Law Walker, M.D. 

ChE 1997 

College of Engineering 

Ivenue Love-Stanley 

Arch 1977 

College of Design 

Chaunté Lowe 

Econ 2008 

Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts 

Wonya Lucas 

IE 1983 

College of Engineering 

Sandra Hall Magnus 

Ph.D. CerE 1996 

College of Engineering 

Kavya Kamal Manyapu 

AE 2006 

College of Engineering 

Kristen Marhaver 

Bio 2004 

College of Sciences 

Jessica Dreger McDermott, M.D. 

Bio 2004 

College of Sciences 

Mary McElroy 

M.S. Mgt 2000 

Scheller College of Business 

Jennifer McKeehan 

IE 2005 

College of Engineering 

Shirley Clements Mewborn 

EE 1956 

College of Engineering 

Valerie Montgomery Rice, M.D. 

Chem 1983 

College of Sciences 

Elizabeth Moore 

ChE 1974 

College of Engineering 

Jennifer Lentz Moore 

AE 2005 

College of Engineering 

Deborah Anne Nash 

IE 1978 

College of Engineering 

Truc T. Ngo 

ChE 1997, Ph.D. ChE 2001 

College of Engineering 

Anu Parvatiyar 

BME 2008 

College of Engineering 

C. Anne Patterson, M.D. 

AE 1971 

College of Engineering 

Yvonne Pendleton 

AE 1979 

College of Engineering 

Patrise Perkins-Hooker 

IM 1980 

Scheller College of Business 

Kathy Pham 

CS 2007, M.S. CS 2009 

College of Computing 

Amy Phuong 

IA 2005 

Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts 

Rosalind Wright Picard 

EE 1984 

College of Engineering 

Lauren B. Priddy 

Ph.D. BioE 2015 

College of Engineering 

Cathleen Thomas Quigley 

EE 1984 

College of Engineering 

Jean Marie Richardson 

Mgt 2002 

Scheller College of Business 

Megan Reinertsen Ross 

M.S. Psy 1999, Ph.D. Psy 2001 

College of Sciences 

Kelly Sepcic Pfeil 

M.S. Chem 1992, Ph.D. Chem 2003 

College of Sciences 

Suzanne Shank 

CE 1983 

College of Engineering 

Dianna Shelander 

AP 1976  

College of Sciences 

Leslie R. Sibert 

EE 1985 

College of Engineering 

Ronda R. Sides 

IE 1983 

College of Engineering 

Arlyne Simon 

ChBE 2008 

College of Engineering 

Mary Lynn Smith 

EE 1988 

College of Engineering 

Yvette Hill Smith 

IE 1990 

College of Engineering 

Maria J. Soto-Giron 

Ph.D. BI 2018 

College of Computing 

Jocelyn Stargel 

IE 82, M.S. IE 1986 

College of Engineering 

Wendi Sturgis 

IM 1990 

Scheller College of Business 

Blair Dowling Sullivan 

CS 2003, AM 2003 

College of Sciences 

Janice Nease Wittschiebe 

Arch 1978, M. Arch 1980 

College of Design 

Carolyn (Lyn) D. Wylder 

CE 1975, M.S. CE 1978 

College of Engineering 

To read more about women at Tech, check out these features:

Credits

Release written by: Doug A. Goodwin, Merica May Jensen, Anne Stanford, Kelsee Ward
Release page design by: Julie Watson
Editor: Stacy Braukman

Design Team
Architect + Artist: Merica May Jensen, MGT 2008, M. ARCH 2011, Gray_Matter(s) + OBJ
Structural Engineers: Shear Structural, Silman Engineering + Maffeis Engineering
Landscape Architects: Breedlove Land Planning
Lighting Designers: Tillotson Design Associates
Writers and Researchers: Beth Gibson, Emma March, Emily Martin, Thomas De Monchaux
Interpretive Graphics Consultant: Signature Design
Graphic Designer: Emma Gregoline
Website Designers: Design Systems International

Vice President for Engagement at Georgia Tech Alumni Association: Janet Kinard
(Former) Georgia Tech Alumni Historian: Jennifer Rogers
Georgia Tech Head of the Archives, Records Management & Digital Curation: Jody Thompson
Georgia Tech University Archivist: Alex McGee

Fabricators + Contractors
Cable Net Contractor and Design Assist: Arcus Wire Group
Site Contractor + Project Manger: Gilbane
Bench Fabricator: Fine Concrete

Georgia Tech Project Directors
Institute Landscape Architect: Jason Gregory
Project Manager, Planning, Design, and Construction: Carla Barbour
(Former) Project Manager, Planning, Design, and Construction: Kinthia Gaines