May 23, 2023
By Chloe Arrington
Kathryn Kelly, a postgraduate student in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, has been named a 2023 Goizueta Foundation Fellow. Originally established by Roberto C. Goizueta, late CEO and chairperson of the board of directors of The Coca-Cola Company, this fellowship aims to support and promote exceptional doctoral students of Hispanic/Latino heritage at Georgia Tech.
Kelly completed her undergraduate degree at Florida International University (FIU) before beginning her Ph.D. Kelly is now studying robotics, focusing on robotic wire-arc additive manufacturing, a form of 3D printing with aluminum using a welding system.
As a Goizueta Foundation Fellow, Kelly will have the opportunity to attend meetings, social events, and luncheons with other Goizueta students and distinguished Hispanic and Latino faculty, as well as participate in leadership conferences and community service.
“This fellowship means a lot to me,” said Kelly, who is grateful to have found the support and new community she has at the Institute. “As a Hispanic woman from Miami, coming to Atlanta was a bit of a culture shock. It's amazing to see the Hispanic community on campus being active, even if I'm just passing by Tech Green. It’s amazing that Georgia Tech supports its Hispanic students in this way.”
Kelly’s advisor, Ring Family Professor and Associate Professor Christopher Saldaña, says she has been a fantastic addition to the Woodruff School and his research team.
“Kathryn is an outstanding scholar with a remarkable dedication to actively supporting diversity in STEM through outreach and mentoring,” he said.
Saldaña also pointed out the effect Kelly’s research will have with the aid of the fellowship, saying it will leave ‘a lasting positive impact’ on the Hispanic/Latino community in the Woodruff School and at Georgia Tech.
With her second year of graduate school about to begin, Kelly is looking forward to becoming more involved in the greater Georgia Tech community including joining the Tech to Teaching program this fall. Kelly also hopes to grow the Georgia Tech Graduate Student Discord Server she created. Available through the Student Hub for Georgia Institute of Technology on Discord, the server is for graduate students of all degrees and schools to share advice, organize get-togethers, and support those in the same classes and areas of study.