Sybrina Atwaters

Sybrina Y. Atwaters is an interdisciplinary sociologist with research interests in sociology of technology (exploring knowledge production through virtual world technologies); and social inequality (examining patterns of inequality within science, engineering and higher education).  Her broad experience includes collaborative research with the National Academies, Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), Iowa State University, the Fund for Theological Education, and the Association of Theological Schools. She has presented her work at both national and international professional conferences.  Her research has been published by Spring International and John Hopkins University Press.

Dr. Atwaters currently serves as Director, OMED: Educational Services, for Institute Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Georgia Institute of Technology. She supervises several programs and grant initiatives under her purview, including the 9-time award winning African American Male Initiative (AAMI); Challenge, OMED’s signature 5-week summer academic intensive residential program; and Focus, an annual institute-wide diversity graduate recruitment program; and the Women of Color Initiative (WOCI), a city-wide collaborative with Georgia Tech, Spelman, Emory, and STEM Atlanta Women non-profit. Most recently she became affiliated faculty with the School of History and Sociology.

Prior to serving as director (and assistant director) of OMED, Dr. Atwaters held various faculty, research, engineering, and consulting roles. She served on the RF wireless design team for AT&T wireless (formerly Bellsouth Mobility) during the 1996 Olympic games. She was responsible for much of the cellular design infrastructure along the Georgia Tech 75/85 corridor and east Atlanta.  She has taught at Emory University, Morehouse, and Georgia Tech.

Sybrina is a 3-time graduate from Georgia Institute of Technology, receiving her B.S. in electrical engineering and master’s and Ph.D. in sociology of technology and science. She also earned her master’s degrees from Emory University in Theological Studies and Georgia State University in Instructional Technology. Dr. Atwaters has over nine years of experience as a senior wireless design engineer, eight years in STEM diversity research and programming, and 15 years in higher education instruction.

Dr. Atwaters serves on several boards, steering committees, taskforces, and strategic planning working groups; including Georgia Million Women Mentors, Complete College of Georgia, and Georgia Tech Alumni Association Board of Trustees.

She is a native of Atlanta, educated through the Atlanta Public School system, becoming the first salutatorian of Alonzo A. Crim High School.   She has been featured in Voyage Atl online magazine and Stemming in Stilettos podcast series. She is the proud mother of a Georgia Tech biomedical engineering honors graduate, Milan Johnson.