Diversity and Inclusion

The School of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) at Georgia Tech is one of the largest and most diverse programs in terms of the academic backgrounds and areas of research expertise of our faculty and students. In keeping with the affirmation that social diversity enhances the richness of our community, promotes outside-the-box thinking, emboldens an atmosphere of mutual understanding and respect, and fosters meaningful collaborations, our strategic plan outlines a key objective that MSE at Georgia Tech will recruit and retain faculty, staff, and students with a variety of experiences, backgrounds, and diverse opinions and perspectives. We value the diversity and inclusion of all of our constituents, and remain responsible and committed to adopting hiring and promotion practices that enable recruitment and retention of diverse faculty, staff, and students, including those from under-represented minority groups. The faculty and staff in MSE care about the well-being and welfare of students, and are dedicated to providing a quality education and supportive social environment that is conducive to learning and cultural collegiality.

Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusiveness builds on the culture that exists across all levels at Georgia Tech (http://diversity.gatech.edu/institute-commitment-diversity-equity-and-inclusion). The Diversity and Inclusion Council (https://coe.gatech.edu/news/diversity-inclusion-council-aims-enrich-student-staff-faculty-experience) initiated by Dean Steven McLaughlin in the College of Engineering aims to bring students, faculty, and staff together in the interest of creating a more inclusive community and providing an enriching experience for all. Professor Hamid Garmestani serves as the MSE representative on this council. The Office of Institute Diversity (OID) (http://diversity.gatech.edu/) provides leadership to establish priorities, policies, and programs that support our mission, consistent with Georgia Tech’s Strategic plan. OID works with Georgia Tech’s executive leadership team to ensure that we recruit, develop, retain, and engage a diverse cadre of students, faculty, and staff with a wide variety of backgrounds, perspectives, interests, and talents who will contribute to the institute’s mission and vision. OID also works to ensure that our core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion remain embedded in equal opportunity and non-discrimination practices.

We welcome the engagement of our students, staff, and faculty, in efforts to promote a diverse and inclusive culture in the School and the Institute, and encourage suggestions through the Undergraduate & Graduate Academic Offices, the Assistant Director for Administrative Operations, and the School Chair. For additional resources, please see the links below.