Episode 258 features Dr. Susan Burns, Professor of Civil Engineering at Georgia Tech and my former geotechnical engineering professor. In this reunion conversation, Dr. Burns shares her journey from a NASA engineer's daughter to becoming a beloved educator and administrator at one of the nation's top engineering schools.

We discuss:

• Growing up in a science-oriented family (NASA father, chemist mother)

• The evolution of Georgia Tech from "harsh" to nurturing

• Why civil engineering is a people-serving profession

• The importance of mentorship in engineering

• Her current role as interim AVP for Research

• How alumni donations transformed Tech's campus

Dr. Burns reminds us that engineering isn't just about structures and calculations—it's about relationships, service, and preparing the next generation to literally hold lives in their hands.

A genuine conversation about transitions in academia, engineering, and life.

#Engineering #Education #GeorgiaTech