The newest cohort of Georgia Tech’s Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) has been announced, and Erin Ratcliff, assistant professor in Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (ChBE), is among those selected. The eight-month program, established in 2016, is a collaboration between the Office of the Provost, the Office of the Executive Vice President for Research, the Institute for Leadership and Social Impact, and the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty. Through workshops, small-group activities, and coaching, the program supports participants’ leadership development.

Ratcliff joined MSE in fall 2024 and brings prior leadership experience from the University of Arizona. She said she is interested in continuing to build her leadership skills in her new role at Georgia Tech. “I am hoping to refine my high-level communication and leadership skills, build more network capital across the Institute, and gain a more comprehensive understanding of Georgia Tech’s administrative and operational landscape,” Ratcliff said.

As part of her development, Ratcliff is also participating in the Leadership Exploration Program, where she has focused on relationship styles and building trust. She aims to strengthen her ability to communicate across different audiences and navigate complex institutional environments. “Specifically, I am looking to sharpen my skills in navigating difficult institutional conversations, managing conflict across teams, and effectively communicating technical and administrative value to executive leadership and external industry partners,” she said.

The ELP brings together faculty from across the Institute, providing opportunities to build connections and collaborate. Ratcliff described herself as someone who values team-based environments and supporting colleagues, particularly early-career faculty. “I look forward to sharing experiences, discussing different leadership and relationship styles, and building a trusted network of colleagues that I can collaborate with—and lean on—for years to come,” she said.

Ratcliff sees opportunities to apply what she learns through the program to her work in MSE. She is interested in helping align the school’s research and educational initiatives with broader institutional priorities, while supporting its role in interdisciplinary collaboration. Her research in electrochemical systems often requires large, multidisciplinary teams. “I hope to bring the connections I make through this program back to MSE to help assemble the competitive teams needed for large-scale center grants and support broader institutional initiatives,” Ratcliff said.

Ratcliff will be the fourth MSE faculty member to participate in this program. She will be joining the ranks of Associate Chair for Graduate Studies and Professor Meisha Shofner (2017-2018 cohort), Associate Chair for the Undergraduate Program, MSE Faculty Fellow, and Associate Professor Mary Lynn Realff (2021-2022 cohort), and MSE Faculty Fellow, Dean’s Education Innovation Professor, and MSE Professor Mark Losego (2022-2023 cohort).