We are delighted to announce that Dr. Catherine (Cassie) Thomas has officially been appointed Director of Academic Transition and Learning Communities within the Office of Experiential and Engaged Learning (E2L). In this role, Cassie will continue to serve as a key member of the Office of Undergraduate Education and Student Success’ (OUESS) leadership team, providing strategic oversight for all academic and institutional matters related to undergraduate learning communities, leading the Ignite program and its staff, and advancing initiatives that strengthen student success and engagement.
Cassie has already made a profound impact at Georgia Tech through her leadership of the Undergraduate Transition Seminars (GT 1000 and GT 2000), which serve thousands of first-year and transfer students annually. Her work has included:
- Curriculum innovation, including revising Canvas templates to integrate wellness and belonging frameworks.
- Faculty development, through sustained programming on inclusive teaching and the creation of Reading Circles to foster instructor community.
- Shared governance, by establishing Curriculum and Assessment and Awards and Recognition committees.
- Professional learning opportunities, such as the Seminar Scholars program for instructors and Team Leaders (TLs).
Her commitment to student success and high-impact practices is evident in every initiative she leads. Cassie’s efforts have strengthened the transition experience for new students and created meaningful engagement opportunities for faculty and staff.
Prior to joining Georgia Tech, Cassie served as Associate Dean for Student Success Programs at Georgia Gwinnett College, where she revitalized the GGC 1000 First-Year Seminar, launched learning communities, and advanced equity-focused course redesign through the Gateways to Completion initiative. She also brings extensive experience as a tenured faculty member and administrator at the College of Charleston.
Cassie is a 2023 Georgia Association for Women in Higher Education (GAWHE) Leadership Program Fellow and a graduate of Georgia Tech’s 2024 Inclusive Leaders Academy. Her scholarly contributions include a co-edited volume, Transforming Leadership Pathways for Humanities Professionals in Higher Education (Purdue UP), and recent work in Shakespeare and Comics (Arden/Bloomsbury). She holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in English from Penn State University.
Please join us in congratulating Cassie on this well-deserved appointment. We look forward to her continued leadership in advancing academic transition, learning communities, and student success at Georgia Tech.