Testimonial

Wayne Whiteman

[Ph.D. September 1996]
Director of Student Services and Senior Academic Professional
Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology

e-mail: wayne.whiteman@me.gatech.edu

As an active duty Army officer, I received my Ph.D. from Georgia Tech in 1996. I then served as an associate professor, and later full professor, of mechanical engineering at the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York. In 2003, after retiring from the military, I joined Georgia Tech as a Senior Academic Professional and today I serve as the Director of the Office of Student Services.

I rate my educational experience at Georgia Tech extremely high. I had done my master's degree work, in the late 1980's, at another top-rated engineering school in the U.S. While my experience at this other school was a positive one, it could not compare with the environment at Georgia Tech. I found the faculty and folks at GT much more personable. I was treated like an important part of the team in an exceptional learning environment. Even as a graduate student, I felt more like a colleague than just another graduate student.

The quality of the faculty and student body at GT is as high, or higher, than any other school with which I am familiar. In addition, the faculty take a genuine interest in the progress of their students. Anecdotally, the amount of time that the Army had allowed me to complete my Ph.D. under their fully-funded program was three years. Because of career circumstances, I was forced to leave Georgia Tech after two years and prior to completing my dissertation and degree. Dr. Aldo Ferri was my advisor and continued to work with me in my non-resident student status to successfully complete my degree a year and a half later. I am convinced that this probably would not have happened at any other school.

Dr. Ferri's efforts are a testament to the dedication of the Georgia Tech faculty toward student success. I saw this same attitude in many of the other faculty I came in contact with during my Ph.D. studies. My overall experience at GT was outstanding and I would highly recommend the program to anyone considering pursuit of graduate studies in mechanical engineering.

After 25 years of military service, I recently found myself in the position of looking for a second career. Because of my interest in engineering and education, I sought out a position where I might have a positive impact on young individuals who will face tremendous engineering challenges in the future. Because of my positive experience during my graduate education at Georgia Tech, I was particularly delighted when the opportunity became available for me to rejoin the Woodruff School. I feel I couldn't have made a better choice. Georgia Tech and the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering are world class organizations and a wonderful place to work, play, and learn.