Georgia Tech announced today that President G. Wayne Clough will step down to become head of the Smithsonian Institution.

It’s very exciting to know that a Tech alumn and President has been selected for this honor. President Clough has done so much for the school, especially by creating a new emphasis on humanities and the connections between science, technology and the liberal arts. I’m pretty sure I have him to thank for my History of Technology degree. He will certainly be missed on campus, but will no doubt be a brilliant leader for the Smithsonian.

As Georgia Tech’s tenth president, Clough has led the university through more than a decade of unprecedented growth and expansion. Since his inauguration in September 1994, Clough has led the Institute to national and international prominence…

While improving Georgia Tech’s reputation for science and engineering, Clough has emphasized the importance of humanities education. He established two endowed chairs in poetry out of 20 in the nation, and strengthened the university’s commitment to public policy and public service. In all, 23 of the 25 new majors are in non-engineering disciplines or are interdisciplinary, including degrees in music and modern languages.

“Wayne Clough has been one of the greatest presidents in Georgia Tech’s history,” said Gary Schuster, provost of Georgia Tech. “His leadership and vision have been responsible for the unprecedented and revolutionary advance in Georgia Tech’s programs and stature during his tenure.