Welcome Wreck
Welcome Wreck is a Georgia Tech initiative designed to foster a welcoming environment for newly hired research faculty members.
The program invites seasoned research faculty ambassadors from across campus to act as emissaries to welcome newcomers to our community. This initiative symbolizes Georgia Tech’s commitment to nurturing a supportive and collaborative faculty community for all, ensuring that new members feel valued from the moment they join the Institute.
How it Works
With a primary goal of extending a heartfelt welcome to newcomers, the lead Welcome Wreck ambassador receives a list of newly hired research faculty and matches them with available ambassadors. After the matching process, an email is sent to both the ambassador and the newly hired research faculty member, providing details of their match and encouraging them to schedule a meeting. Subsequently, the ambassador and the newly hired research faculty member schedule a meeting, preferably at a campus location. During this meeting, the ambassador welcomes the newcomer to Georgia Tech and presents a welcome bag.
The welcome bag is more than just a collection of items—it is a tangible symbol of our commitment to hospitality and inclusivity. It is our way of saying “Welcome to the Georgia Tech family!”
Get Involved
Interested in contributing as an ambassador? Want more information about Welcome Wreck?
Reach out to Dr. Zerrin Ondin-Fraser at zondin6@gatech.edu. Dr. Ondin-Fraser is available to provide additional information, address inquiries, and assist with the ambassador onboarding process.
Thank you for considering participation.
Additional Resources for New Research Faculty
Faculty Handbook - Research Faculty Hiring and Promotion Guidelines
Research Faculty Promotion Workshop (Recording) - 05/21/2021
International Student and Scholar Services
Research Faculty Mentoring Network
USG New Hire Benefits Orientation (Recording) - 04/11/2023
EVPR's Research Resources Page
Georgia Tech Traditions - by Georgia Tech Alumni Association
Meet the Ambassadors
Ambassadors are seasoned members of the research faculty community at Georgia Tech who play a pivotal role in the “Welcome Wreck” initiative. These experienced research faculty members serve as emissaries, tasked with extending a warm welcome to newly hired research faculty members.
Founder
Carrie Bruce, Principal Research Scientist & Assistant Director MS-HCI, Institute for People and Technology & School of Interactive Computing
Current Lead
Zerrin Ondin-Fraser, Research Scientist II, Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation
Ambassadors
Maribeth Coleman, Regents’ Researcher, Institute for People and Technology
Christine Conwell, Director of Planning and Operations, Strategic Energy Institute
Alex Duncan, Associate Director of Student Experience for OMSCS, College of Computing
Elena Garcia, Senior Research Engineer, Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory
Anthony Giarrusso, Senior Research Scientist, Center for Spatial Planning Analytics and Visualization
Salimah LaForce, Senior Policy Analyst, Center for Advanced Communications Policy
Jeonghyun (Jonna) Lee, Director of Research in Education Innovation, Division of Lifetime Learning
Anna Österholm, Director of Organic Materials Characterization Lab, School of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Noah Posner, Research Scientist, Institute for People and Technology, School of Industrial Design
Hsiang Jui (Ray) Wang, Principal Research Scientist, School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences
Yusuf Yaras, Research Engineer II, Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering
Jeff Young, Senior Research Scientist, School of Computer Science
News & Events
New Research Faculty Orientation (Fall event date coming soon)
Welcome Wreck Program Supports New Research Faculty Hires - 06/04/24