Ramiah Martin was born in 2017 without a windpipe, an extremely rare and usually fatal condition. Her physicians placed a 3D-printed tracheal splint, lifesaving technology ushered in by Georgia Tech researcher Scott Hollister and developed in a lab at Georgia Tech. Just before Christmas, Ramiah turned four. She is in preschool, learning to communicate through sign language, and “is nothing short of a miracle,” according to her mom, Leanne. Ramiah’s story is why the work of leading research universities matters.

I’m delighted to deliver great news in my first newsletter of 2022. As we returned from the holiday break, we were thrilled to learn from the National Science Foundation that in fiscal year 2020, Georgia Tech became the top institution in the nation in terms of research and development expenditures among universities without a medical school.

This past weekend, we closed out one of the most remarkable and productive years in Institute history with three Commencement ceremonies at Bobby Dodd Stadium, our outdoor venue for these events while we navigate the pandemic.

Georgia Tech is committed to being not only one of the nation’s most research-intensive institutions, but also a leading source of sought-after talent in technology-related fields. Our latest enrollment numbers demonstrate we are making good progress.

This month, we welcomed a new iconic tech company to our neighborhood. I was honored to join Governor and First Lady Kemp, and other state, county, and city leaders, to celebrate Cisco’s establishment of a new innovation and talent center in the heart of Tech Square.