Dear Scheller Community,
The start of the fall semester has filled our campus with energy and excitement. We certainly missed the students!
This fall, we celebrate a historic moment in our enrollment. Scheller welcomed its largest-ever student body at both undergraduate and graduate levels, following a cycle that brought a record number of applications. Our Evening MBA program set new single-semester and annual enrollment highs, while the Full-time MBA program welcomed its highest percentage of women to date. Our M.S. Major in Management enrollment has more than doubled in size compared to last year. At the same time, a recent Poets&Quants analysis also identified our MBA to be the lowest cost option among the top 25 programs in the nation. These milestones underscore the growing recognition of the value and impact of a Scheller education.
As we reach new records in enrollment and recognition, we are also reaching new heights in philanthropic support. This summer, the College surpassed $100 million in commitments through Transforming Tomorrow: The Campaign for Georgia Tech. This is a meaningful milestone, but it represents only the beginning of what is needed. Continued investment will be essential to expand scholarships, fuel innovative programs that prepare our students to shape the business ecosystem, attract and retain world class faculty, and bring to life our future home in Tech Square Phase 3. Achieving our vision of becoming the world’s most connected, entrepreneurial, and experiential business school will require deep engagement and sustained generosity. We are grateful for every gift that moves us closer.
The investments fueling our growth make it possible to bring ambitious ideas to life. One example is Business Lab (MGT 4803), a new undergraduate course championed by Andre Calmon and Karthik Ramachandran. The class guides students through the entrepreneurial journey of building ventures from the ground up. Over the past year, students advanced through an idea tournament, conducted more than 200 customer interviews, and refined their business models. At last week’s Demo Day, five student-led startups created through Business Lab were introduced to the world. Moments like this are special and showcase how entrepreneurial thinking and hands-on learning come together at Scheller to create lasting impact.
That same innovative spirit is evident in our students’ work through the Carbon Reduction Challenge. Now in its ninth year, this summer program brought together students, alumni, and industry leaders to create strategies for measurable sustainability impact. Their projects, highlighted at last month’s Final Expo, demonstrate the power of learning in generating practical business solutions.
Innovation also shines through in our new Chief AI and Data Officer Certificate Program. Introduced last month, this Executive Education offering equips senior leaders with the tools to drive innovation and manage enterprise AI and data strategies. Registration is open now, with the inaugural cohort starting classes in December.
Our faculty continue to elevate Scheller’s reputation through impactful research, particularly in AI and innovation. Daniel Yue was honored with the Academy of Management’s Best Dissertation Award for his groundbreaking study on why AI firms openly share innovations, offering new insights into strategy and economics in the digital age. Meanwhile, a cross-disciplinary team of Georgia Tech students and researchers, advised by Sudheer Chava, developed the first benchmark to test whether AI can accurately interpret investment advice from financial influencers. This collaboration highlights the unique power of student–faculty partnerships at Georgia Tech and underscores the importance of ensuring AI systems are both reliable and responsible.
I am also looking forward to continued opportunities to engage with thought leaders through Tech Talks Business. We look forward to conversations with Beth Lowry of Holder Construction, Stephen Squeri of American Express, and Kim Greene of Georgia Power. These events are open to the community, and I hope you will register and join us.
Our alumni continue to be a vital part of our story. I was glad to see Ernie and Lisa Scheller, along with many other alumni, in Colorado for the opening game of the Georgia Tech football season. Later this month, we will host the Scheller MBA Alumni Fall Social, a chance for graduates to reconnect, network, and celebrate their shared Scheller experience.
Finally, I look forward to gathering with my colleagues at our annual faculty and staff retreats this month. These retreats are an opportunity to reflect, collaborate, and chart the course ahead as we continue building on our collective success.
Thank you for all you do to make Scheller such a great place to learn and grow. I am excited for the semester ahead and all we will accomplish together.
Best wishes,
Anuj Mehrotra
Dean and Stephen P. Zelnak Jr. Chair
Professor of Operations Management
Georgia Tech Scheller College of Business