ATL Standard

Georgia Tech has announced that its School of Public Policy will now bear the names of former President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter. The Georgia Board of Regents gave its approval during a meeting on April 16, following the recommendation of Georgia Tech's President Ángel Cabrera.

Cassidy Sugimoto, who holds the Tom and Marie Patton Professorship and is the School Chair of the School of Public Policy, stated, "The Carter family is a true gem of Georgia, demonstrating what can be accomplished through a focus on public service, resilience, and a desire to improve the human condition." She added, "We are grateful to have the opportunity to honor the Carters for their work since the founding of the Carter Center in 1982, focused on preventing and resolving conflicts, enhancing freedom and democracy, and improving health."

Jimmy Carter’s long-standing connection to Georgia Tech began when he attended the institution as a student in 1942. Notably, he has received the Ivan Allen Jr. Prize for Service and Progress as well as the Ivan Allen Jr. Prize for Social Courage from Georgia Tech. The School of Public Policy, part of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, honors the legacy of former Atlanta Mayor Ivan Allen Jr., recognized for his impactful urban and ethical leadership.

At a 2017 event, Jimmy Carter said, “It’s a pleasure always to be associated with the Ivan Allen family in any way. We’ve been close to the family for a long time. In every respect, my heart is with Georgia Tech.” Rosalynn Carter remarked, “Mayor Allen was a beacon of light for Jimmy and for me and so many others actually in our whole country, standing up for what was good and what was right.”

The naming process involved a two-year collaboration with the Carter Center, with both Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter showing personal support and engagement. Their grandson, Jason Carter, expressed his family's gratitude, stating, "My family and I are honored by Georgia Tech’s naming of the School of Public Policy after my grandparents. Georgia Tech was extremely important to my grandfather, and I am so glad that this institution chose to celebrate my grandparents' decades-long partnership of service.”

Paige Alexander, CEO of the Carter Center, highlighted the importance of Georgia Tech to the Carters, emphasizing that "Georgia Tech always held a special place in President and Mrs. Carter's hearts. In fact, Mrs. Carter kept a Georgia Tech blanket draped across a chair in her office at The Carter Center — a sweet reminder of her very favorite Tech student — and it still sits there today. Georgia Tech played a formative role in their lives and it helped shape their policy perspectives from the Governor's mansion to the White House and beyond. It is only appropriate that the Georgia Tech School of Public Policy will now bear their names."

The newly named School of Public Policy, part of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, aims to educate leaders capable of ethically addressing societal challenges. It provides knowledge that supports sustainability and equity while fostering innovation at the junction of science and technology.