Georgia Tech has a strong reputation as a visionary institution and hub for innovation. Throughout my career, I’ve seen many ideas born and developed here, some of which I’ve had the good fortune to be a part of. I have seen technology advance and adapt, expanding opportunities for educational delivery. I have witnessed countless individuals who, without a non-traditional pathway to reskilling and upskilling, could have been left behind, along with K-12 children who, with the help of Georgia Tech programs, have a brighter future and are more prepared for their careers. 

It is thrilling to be part of this Institute creating its seventh college—the first in over thirty years—bringing together innovative thinking on lifetime learning. Our students, our communities, the companies, and other organizations we work with have been telling us about their changing needs for higher education. This is evidence that we listened! 

The College will offer academic programs and conduct research on an individual’s lifetime learning arc—how technology can be deployed to reach more people effectively, how individuals are learning in different ways, and how policy needs are different today than they were before. We will continue our existing work, helping students and teachers in the K-12 systems, researching ways to define the next generation of educational practices and technologies, and supporting the programming efforts for adult learners who seek new knowledge through our professional development and online credit programs.  

Your feedback, insights, and trust in us as a public research university have been invaluable. New programs will be added in the future based on our findings and your needs. We are forever grateful for your role in this journey and look forward to continuing to listen to and learn from you. 

To our faculty, staff, and learners, both current and former, your work has allowed the Institute to impact our community with innovative programs, research, and services. The foundation for the College of Lifetime Learning lies in the learners who participate in our online and in-person programs, including 29,000 degree-seeking and over 71,000 non-degree credential-earning learners, together with more than 30,000 K-12 students and the hundreds of thousands of others who access our MOOC offerings annually.

Even with all this excitement, there is still much more to learn and do, so I invite you to join my leadership team, staff, faculty, and me on the lifetime learning journey.   Also, if you are interested in supporting the mission of the new college, which builds upon over a century of work at Georgia Tech, you can do so at our “Sustain our Mission” page.

In progress and service,

Nelson Baker, Ph.D., Inaugural Interim Dean, College of Lifetime Learning 
Professor, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering