Peterson named finalist for presidency of Georgia Institute of Technology

The University System of Georgia announced this morning that Chancellor G.P. “Bud” Peterson has been named the finalist for the presidency of Georgia Institute of Technology. The following news release has been made concurrently by the University of Colorado at Boulder and CU System:

PETERSON NAMED FINALIST FOR PRESIDENCY OF GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) today announced that University of Colorado at Boulder Chancellor G.P. “Bud” Peterson is the finalist for the presidency of that institution.

“I am humbled to be considered for the post of president of the Georgia Institute of Technology,” said Peterson. “Georgia Tech is a wonderful institution and presents a special opportunity for me and my family.”

Peterson emphasized that he has not been named to the post of president, and said he looks forward to the continuation and completion of the search process in the coming weeks.

University of Colorado President Bruce Benson praised Peterson’s leadership at CU-Boulder.

“In leading CU-Boulder, Bud has challenged the campus to ascend to new heights,” Benson said. “If selected, it will be a great loss for the University of Colorado. He has done a great job of providing higher education leadership at CU-Boulder, in Colorado and nationally, so we are not surprised that an institution of the caliber of Georgia Tech would pursue him, particularly given his engineering background.”

Benson said CU would allow the Georgia Tech process to take its course before any decisions are made about the chancellor’s position on the Boulder campus.

Peterson was named CU-Boulder’s 10th chancellor in July, 2006. Before that, he served for six years as Provost at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. and in various posts at Texas A&M University. He earned his B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering in 1975, a B.S. degree in Mathematics in 1977 and an M.S. degree in Engineering in 1980, all from Kansas State University. He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Texas A&M University in 1985.

To view Georgia Tech’s news release, visit the University System of Georgia Web site at: http://www.gatech.edu/president/search/index.html?null=0&ga=1 . For biographical information about Dr. Peterson,click here.

CU spokesperson Bronson Hilliard said that until Peterson is appointed the president of Georgia Tech.

Stay tuned to CU Independent for updates as they become available.