February 26, 2020

Georgia Tech’s President Newsletter: February 26, 2020

The new George Tower will be named in honor of donors William W. “Bill” George, IE 1964, Hon. Ph.D. 2008, and his wife Penny George. It will be the new home for the No. 1-ranked
H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, among other programs.

Dear Georgia Tech Friends and Supporters:

One of the unique qualities that sets Georgia Tech apart is the generational connection that our alumni have with current students. Leading the way is the Alumni Association, which not only offers a host of services for its members but also sponsors very important programs for students such as the Student Alumni Association, Student Ambassadors, Mentor Jackets, and the Student Foundation.

That strong connection between alumni and students was most visible at the annual Gold and White Honors Gala on Feb. 13, where 500 alumni and friends gathered with students, faculty, and staff to honor six outstanding alumni and to name two honorary alumni who have made a difference in their communities and have represented Georgia Tech with excellence. The gala highlighted the achievements of our alumni and the potential of our students, strengthened the ties among the them, and helped raise more than $400,000 to support those important student programs.

The commitment of our alumni to our students and the future of Georgia Tech also became apparent, in a big way, with the Feb. 11 announcement of an eight-figure commitment that will help build the second tower of the Tech Square Phase III development. The new George Tower will be named in honor of donors William W. “Bill” George, IE 1964, Hon. Ph.D. 2008, and his wife Penny George. It will be the new home for the No. 1-ranked H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering, as well as other programs, and will complement the Scheller Tower, which will house Scheller College of Business graduate and executive education programs. Both towers are expected to open by the end of 2022. The Scheller and George towers will honor two exemplary alumni who have been extraordinarily successful in their careers and immensely generous with their alma mater.

Bill George has taught leadership at Harvard Business School since 2004. He’s a prolific management scholar and has written extensively on the power of authentic, values-based leadership. His books and his teachings, which have influenced the way I think about my own leadership journey, draw from a remarkable business career that has culminated with a decade at the helm of a medical technology giant, Medtronic, and his service on the boards of iconic companies like Goldman Sachs and Novartis.

Penny George is a renowned psychologist, the head of the couple’s family foundation, and a national advocate of integrative medicine. I first met the Georges at the World Economic Forum years ago. I was taught leadership by Bill at Harvard, and was then delighted to work with him for several years on the Georgia Tech Advisory Board. The Georges are longtime supporters of Georgia Tech. Their legacy of support can be seen and felt in the experiences of our students who benefit from various scholarships and fellowships, and through the work of our faculty.

As I often remind our students, Georgia Tech would simply not be what it is today without the support of our alumni.

Regards,

Ángel Cabrera
President, Georgia Institute of Technology