The Georgia Institute for Technology (Georgia Tech)
Georgia Tech is a top-ranked public research university situated in the heart of Atlanta, a diverse and vibrant city with numerous economic and cultural strengths. The Institute serves more than 45,000 students through top-ranked undergraduate, graduate, and executive programs in engineering, computing, science, business, design, and liberal arts. Georgia Tech's faculty attracted more than $1.4 billion in research awards this past year in fields ranging from biomedical technology to artificial intelligence, energy, sustainability, semiconductors, neuroscience, and national security. Georgia Tech ranks among the nation's top 20 universities for research and development spending and No. 1 among institutions without a medical school.
Georgia Tech - At a Glance:
Mission & Values:
Georgia Tech's mission is to develop leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. The Institute has nine key values that are foundational to everything they do:
Students are our top priority.
We strive for excellence.
We thrive on diversity.
We celebrate collaboration.
We champion innovation.
We safeguard freedom of inquiry and expression.
We nurture the wellbeing of our community.
We act ethically.
We are responsible stewards.
Over the next decade, Georgia Tech will become an example of inclusive innovation, a leading technological research university of unmatched scale, relentlessly committed to serving the public good; breaking new ground in addressing the biggest local, national, and global challenges and opportunities of our time; making technology broadly accessible; and developing exceptional, principled leaders from all backgrounds ready to produce novel ideas and create solutions with real human impact.
Academic Excellence:
Georgia Tech is ranked #3 in Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs. All of Georgia Tech's graduate engineering programs rank in the top 10 (Source: U.S. News & World Report).
Scheller College of Business ranks #21 among all Undergraduate Business Programs and #17 for their Part-Time MBA (Source: U.S. News & World Report).
Computer Science ranks #6 by U.S. News & World Report's Undergraduate Program Rankings, #7 by U.S. News & World Report's Graduate School Rankings, #17 by Times Higher Education World University Rankings, and #28 in The Guardian's QS World University Rankings.
In the category of Statistics and Operational Research, Georgia Tech ranks #9 in The Guardian's QS World University Rankings. Georgia Tech's graduate urban planning program is ranked #6 in the U.S. and #2 in Big City Programs by Planetizen.
Diversity:
The Institute is consistently ratedamong the top universities in the nation for graduation of underrepresented minorities in engineering, physical sciences, and architecture and planning.
With more than 60 chartered student organizations exploring religious, racial, sexual, and ethnic identity (but open to all), Georgia Tech's students find a way to celebrate, strengthen, and share their part of the robust cultural melting pot that thrives in the university's community.
Georgia Tech Office of Development (DEV)
The Office of Development is committed to securing the philanthropic resources that are transforming Georgia Tech. We engage alumni, friends, families, corporations, and foundations in the life of the Institute and encourage financial investment in Tech's future.
The fundraising team at Georgia Tech currently consists of 100+ professionals who are focused on securing transformative philanthropy (major and principal gifts) to support the strategic priorities of the Institute and its colleges, schools, and programs including Athletics.
Learn about the groups that make up the Office of Development:
Georgia Tech has achieved the most successful fundraising year in its history, raising nearly $300 million in philanthropic support in fiscal year 2025. This achievement marks a significant milestone for Georgia Tech. More than 25,000 donors contributed to this year’s success — including alumni, foundations, corporations, and first-time supporters.
“Georgia Tech’s brand has never been stronger. People close to campus and those across the nation are seeing Georgia Tech as a problem-solver in a changing world. We simply can’t thank our friends, alumni, volunteers, and staff enough for the great work that’s being done on so many levels,” said Jim Hall, vice president for Development.
This monumental success marks a 20% increase over the Institute’s previous record-setting year and fuels momentum for Transforming Tomorrow: The Campaign for Georgia Tech, the most ambitious philanthropic effort in the Institute’s history, which now totals $1.592 billion and counting. Fiscal Year 2025 places Georgia Tech on pace to achieve its $2 billion campaign goal by the end of 2027.
Georgia Tech Office of Development (DEV) - Leadership Spotlight:
Ashley Coogan - Assistant Vice President of Development
Ashley Coogan
Assistant Vice President of Development
Ashley is an accomplished senior member of the Georgia Tech Development team with a robust track record of enhancing fundraising strategies and supporting access in higher education. With a Master of Public Administration from San Francisco State University and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a Biology minor from Georgia Institute of Technology, Ashley combines academic excellence with over a decade of professional experience in development roles across prestigious institutions.
Currently serving as the Assistant Vice President of Unit Development overseeing the College of Design, College of Sciences, Library, and Scheller College of Business, Ashley leads a dynamic team in designing and executing comprehensive fundraising strategies to support the priorities of her deans. Prior to this role, Ashley served as the Director of Development for the College of Sciences and the Director of Development for the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering both at Georgia Tech. In these roles, Ashley’s efforts expanded individual major giving and corporate engagement significantly, reflecting her aptitude for building robust, diverse stakeholder relationships.
Earlier in her career, Ashley served as Director of Development and Associate Director of Development at Emory University's Winship Cancer Institute, achieving notable success in securing substantial gifts and revitalizing donor engagement strategies. Her tenure at UCLA as Director of Stewardship and at the Cal Alumni Association at UC Berkeley further honed her skills in managing high-profile donor relations and developing strategic stewardship initiatives.
Ashley is recognized for her creative problem-solving skills, strategic vision, and dedication to supporting her team and alma mater.
Ashley, her husband, and their two young children are avid Georgia Tech fans who can often be found cheering on the White and Gold.
College of Lifetime Learning
The College of Lifetime Learning, established in September 2024, is Georgia Tech’s seventh College and its first in more than three decades. It houses the Center for 21st Century Universities; the Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing; Georgia Tech Professional Education; and Georgia Tech-Savannah. The College seeks to transform how individuals learn across their lifetime and how organizations provide access to reskilling and upskilling. With a focus on providing accessible, affordable, and transformative opportunities, it serves groups across the spectrum of learning, including K-12 students, working professionals, and lifelong learners.
College of Lifetime Learning – Leadership Spotlight
William Gaudelli – Dean of Georgia Tech’s College of Lifetime Learning
William Gaudelli
Dean of Georgia Tech’s College of Lifetime Learning
Georgia Tech announced William “Bill” Gaudelli as the inaugural dean of its College of Lifetime Learning, effective August 1st, 2025. Gaudelli brings more than 35 years of experience as an educator, researcher, and academic administrator to this role.
Gaudelli was previously the senior vice provost for Educational Innovation and Assessment at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania. Earlier, he served as dean of the College of Education at Lehigh, where he developed innovative programs to connect traditional and nontraditional learning pathways. He also served as chair of the Department of Arts and Humanities at Teachers College, Columbia University, where he directed the social studies program and later led the department.
An internationally recognized scholar on global citizenship education and teacher development, Gaudelli has authored more than 85 scholarly works, including several books on the topic of teaching and learning through a global lens. He also co-founded the Global Competence Certificate program, a blended learning initiative developed in partnership with World Savvy and the Asia Society. This certificate program fosters global education by leveraging digital technologies to deliver interactive learning experiences that build tangible global skills essential for living and working.
Gaudelli earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in social studies education from Rutgers University’s Graduate School of Education. He began his career teaching social studies at Hunterdon Central Regional High School in New Jersey, where he worked for a decade before transitioning to higher education.
Under Gaudelli’s leadership, the College of Lifetime Learning will expand its innovative programs and continue to support Georgia Tech’s strategic goal of doubling its educational reach by 2030.
The Opportunity: Director of Development, College of Lifetime Learning
The Director of Development, College of Lifetime Learning will be an experienced and successful fundraiser responsible for planning and implementing a coordinated program of fundraising activities. The Director will use advanced relationship-building skills to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major and principal gift prospects, including individuals, corporations, and/or foundations. This position will establish and effectively manage relationships with critical, high-profile prospects. The Director will design and implement strategic fundraising plans as well as manage special events to involve and cultivate prospects. The Director will collaborate with deans and faculty, and coordinates with other development and alumni relations staff. This position will be required to identify stewardship opportunities for major donors and may service complex fundraising markets or regions. Typically, this position solicits gifts in the range of $100,000+ and manages a portfolio size (average annual fundraising accountability) of $1-2.5M for DOD I and $2.5-5M for DOD II. The prospect pool managed is up to 150 prospects. This position will interact on a regular basis with major and principal donors and prospective donors. This position typically will advise and counsel: Deans, school chairs, faculty, academic unit and program leadership, unit volunteer leadership, and other development officers. This position may supervise assigned staff.
The Role and Responsibilities
Responsibilities:
Design and implement comprehensive fundraising plans for assigned college, school, program, region, or constituency.
Use advanced professional relationship building skills to develop and implement plans and strategies for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major and principal gift donors and prospective donors.
Close major gifts and commitments, personally and consistently, with a typical gift solicitation range of $100,000 to $5 million. Maintain ongoing relationships and provide exceptional donor stewardship to encourage future giving.
Establish and maintain a high degree of collaboration with other development officers and staff, as well deans, school chairs, faculty, and other Institute academic and executive officers.
Submit timely contact reports, prospect plans, and solicitations into tracking system.
Prepare written development materials including case statements, proposals, and fundraising initiative/ campaign related literature for assigned college, school, and/ or program(s).
Manage special events and/ or advisory board meetings to involve and cultivate prospects.
Perform other duties as assigned.
Skills and Qualifications
Skills:
Broad knowledge of fundraising approaches.
Highest levels of interpersonal skills, ethical standards, and good judgement.
Excellent skills in building long-term relationships.
Persuasive written and verbal communications skills.
Abilities in prioritizing, negotiating, influencing, strategic planning, project management, program administration and organization.
Self-motivation, ability to work independently and as a team member.
Capacity for multi-tasking.
Use of office-related computer applications is required.
Qualifications:
Required Qualifications
Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
4+ years of progressively responsible experience in fundraising and/or relevant experience in sales and marketing, or other related fields.
Travel is an essential part of the position as is participation in evening and weekend activities.
Applications & Nominations
The Georgia Institute for Technology has partnered with Boyden Executive Search. For more information about this opportunity or to submit a cover letter and resume, please email:
Lisa Vuona has decades of experience in executive search and human resource management, primarily in the non-profit, healthcare and education sectors. She is distinguished by her track record and network, and by her approach, which combines the strategic power of data with a finely tuned ability to understand the client’s organization and identify high-caliber leaders who fit the culture.
Leslie Smith has helped numerous individuals and organizations achieve their goals. She works with non-profits and educational institutions, helping to define leadership needs and connecting them with the right talent. Along with extensive knowledge of the non-profit sector, she has a passion for strengthening mission-driven organizations and advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
Don’t check off all the boxes or meet every single requirement? We have learned that potential candidates hesitate when applying for a job unless they meet every single requirement. Boyden Boston is dedicated to inclusivity and valuing diversity and equity in the workplace. If this opportunity excites you, but your background may not be a perfect match, we still encourage you to apply.
Georgia Tech - Director of Development, College of Lifetime Learning - Job Description (PDF Download)
