July 25, 2023
By Ashley Ritchie

Jonathan E. Gaines, ME 2005, has been selected to join the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering as the inaugural Associate Chair for Inclusive Excellence. He will begin his role on August 1.

As Associate Chair for Inclusive Excellence, Gaines will collaborate with faculty, staff, students, and alumni to enhance and expand the Woodruff School’s efforts in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB). He will also help to empower and advocate for others, aligning with the School's strategic plan and vision for a culture of Inclusive Excellence. Gaines will lead the implementation of this vision through his expertise in asset-based approaches, leadership development, and the leveraging of best practices in DEIB.

"I was deeply moved and inspired upon learning about the Woodruff School's vision for Inclusive Excellence and how Georgia Tech has embodied similar values at every level of leadership. I am enthusiastic about what a commitment to Inclusive Excellence means for Georgia Tech and the people of the Woodruff School," said Gaines. "In my new role, I will work to best leverage the value of increased diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging for the betterment of the School and the engineering profession. As an alum, I am most excited about the opportunity I have to give back, helping others achieve success within a community that embodies these essential values."

Previously, Gaines was the Assistant Director of Engineering Education Innovation for the Atlanta University Center Consortium, Inc. (AUCC) where he led collaborative initiatives between Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, and Spelman College. In this role, he advised senior leadership on best practices in engineering education and provided a comprehensive vision for the role engineering can play both within the AUC and amongst AUC partner institutions.

Gaines also served at the University of South Florida (USF) for ten years where he was an Associate Professor of Instruction in the mechanical engineering department. In addition, he was the inaugural Director of First Year Experiential Education and Learning and created the first-year engineering design curriculum around principles of community-engaged design. Gaines' expertise is in the areas of data acquisition, mechatronics, and engineering education research with an emphasis on engineering identity and service learning. He leveraged these skills to create and develop leadership opportunities and outreach initiatives for underrepresented engineering students during his time at USF.

Jonathan earned a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Virginia Tech in 2011 and graduated from Morehouse College and Georgia Tech through the dual degree engineering program in 2005 with degrees in applied physics and mechanical engineering. He lives by the quote from Morehouse College visionary Benjamin Elijah Mays who once said, “Every man and woman is born into the world to do something unique and something distinctive and if he or she does not do it, it will never be done.” As such, he strives to lead and inspire others to realize their potential to promote necessary and impactful change within the field of engineering.

"I am confident that under Jonathan's leadership in this new capacity, the Woodruff School will continue to flourish and make remarkable strides toward empowering our students, transforming their lives, and fostering a culture of Inclusive Excellence," said Devesh Ranjan, Eugene C. Gwaltney, Jr. School Chair.