Testimonial

Ryan Krauss

[Ph.D. ME 2006]
Assistant Professor
Mechanical Engineering Department
Southern Illinois University
Edwardsville, Illinois

e-mail: ryanwkrauss@gmail.com

My wife and I were looking for an excellent graduate program where she could teach in the inner city. Dr. Bill Wepfer was the associate chair for graduate studies at the time. He made us feel really welcomed and eventually got the university to give me a nice fellowship on top of my assistantship. That was a big part of Georgia Tech valuing me as a non-traditional student (though I was't that much older than the other students) and making it possible for me to go back to school and still reasonably support my family. I was also intrigued by all of the interesting research opportunities. I felt like Georgia Tech was where I wanted to be and it became clear through the recruitment process that they really wanted me to join them. Of course that includes bringing students from Michigan to visit the Woodruff School in March when it is spring in Atlanta and still snowing in Michigan. And, then the Atlanta Public School system offered my wife her choice of kindergarten openings and that sealed the deal to come to Georgia Tech. The Woodruff School, Georgia Tech, and Atlanta suited us perfectly.

When I left the Woodruff School I felt extremely well prepared for my career as an assistant professor. I did cutting edge research under the guidance of a very wise and renown advisor. I was given freedom to investigate almost anything that interested me and in the process, I learned how to find opportunities for future research. The classroom instruction was also excellent for a school with such a strong research focus. The Georgia Tech and Woodruff School names open a lot of doors and bring a lot of respect.

I benefited from two primary strengths of the Woodruff School: First, for being one of the nation's top graduate programs, I thought the environment was fairly relaxed. Second, The quality of the people attracted by the Woodruff School is phenomenal. It was really a great experience working along side students and faculty of such a high caliber.

I think the Woodruff School is truly outstanding. Some of the best graduate students in the nation are here and it is fun to take class with and do research along side such strong students.