Sybrina Atwaters

Sybrina Y. Atwaters is an interdisciplinary sociologist and engineer 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. She has more than 15 years of experience in higher education leadership, teaching, and research; as well as STEM program development and consulting.

Dr. Atwaters currently serves as Executive Director of the Office of Student Achievement within the Office of the Provost at Georgia Institute of Technology. She supervises several programs, initiatives, teams, and grants under her purview, including Challenge Summer Academic Intensive and ILARC Academic Enrichment services. She designed and led collaborative efforts to launch the WOCI City-wide Collaborative in Higher Education, Career Pathway and Exploration Program (advancing co-op, internship, and experiential learning opportunities), Peer-I-scope (advancing the success of Atlanta Public School and She designed and led collaborative efforts to launch the WOCI City-wide Collaborative in Higher Education, Career Pathway and Exploration Program (advancing co-op, internship, and experiential learning opportunities), Peer-I-scope (advancing the success of Atlanta Public School and HBCU transfer student success at Georgia Tech), Tech 411 Transfer Summer program, A first of its kind Global Innovation Program in South Africa and Namibia, and TILE (Technology and Innovation Experiential Learning) program with the city of Atlanta and ACES institutions. Previously, Atwaters served as the director of OMED:Educational Services. Her work led to national and global recognition, culminating in selection as a finalist for the prestigious Presidential Awards for Excellence in Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Mentoring (PAESMEM) in 2024. She also serves as 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 has been featured in magazines and podcasts, such as Celebrity Boss magazine-STEM issue and STEMming in Stilettos. She has as received numerous awards including being named the Ivan Allen College Distinguish Alumni, Greek Hall of Fame Inductee, AASU Outstanding Faculty member, Faces of Inclusive Excellence, and most recently she is one of 70 inaugural alumnae featured in the historic Pathway to Progress Art Installatio

She has served 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 has received several honors and awards for her work in STEM, gender equity, and education.

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 and STEM Celebrity Boss online magazine and Stemming in Stilettos podcast series. She is the proud mother of a Georgia Tech biomedical engineering honors graduate, Milan Johnson.