The College of Sciences is pleased to announce the renaming of the School of Psychology as the School of Psychological and Brain Sciences. Approved by Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera (M.S. PSY 1993, Ph.D. PSY 1995), the new name represents the breadth and impact of the School’s research and training mission at the intersection of mind, brain, behavior, and technology.
“Our renaming as the School of Psychological and Brain Sciences better captures both who we are and where we are headed,” says Tansu Celikel, School chair and professor. “It reflects a shared vision for the future of our School and the many contributions of our faculty, staff, students, alumni, and partners. I am deeply grateful for the support of the Institute, the College of Sciences, and our School throughout this process.”
“I congratulate Tansu and the entire School of Psychological and Brain Sciences community on this exciting new chapter,” says Susan Lozier, dean of the College of Sciences, Betsy Middleton and John Clark Sutherland Chair, and professor in the School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. “This is an important milestone in the School’s history and a testament to the vision and dedication of its faculty and staff.”
The Evolution of Psychology at Georgia Tech
Over the past century, psychology at Georgia Tech has evolved along with the Institute, expanding from a handful of courses in applied psychology to a dynamic, interdisciplinary offering. Today, the School is home to nationally ranked research and academic programs serving hundreds of students each year. It also includes more than two dozen laboratories focused on five distinct research areas: adult development and aging; cognition and brain science; engineering psychology; industrial/organizational psychology; and quantitative psychology.
According to Celikel, the new name follows a period of significant educational innovation and growth in the School’s research enterprise.
“In recent years, the School and its partners have advanced new academic opportunities in areas such as neuroscience, computation and cognition, mental health and well-being, learning, people analytics, and accelerated B.S./M.S. pathways,” he says. “These programs prepare students to study human thought, behavior, and brain function using tools and perspectives from psychological science, neuroscience, data science, computation, artificial intelligence, and human-centered technology.”
The School’s new interdisciplinary initiatives and collaborations include centers of excellence in computational cognition, neuroscience and neurotechnology, and human-AI-robot teaming. These areas bring together faculty, students, and partners from across the Institute and beyond to address questions with broad scientific, technological, and societal impact.
The update retains the School’s mission, degree titles, curriculum requirements, and academic programs. The new name also provides a “clearer and more accurate identity for the work already taking place across the School and positions it for continued growth in teaching, research, and external engagement,” says Celikel.
The School will host special events throughout the fall semester to mark the official launch of the School of Psychological and Brain Sciences — and a new era in research and education.
For more information, visit the School of Psychological and Brain Sciences FAQ.
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The School of Psychological and Brain Sciences is located in the J.S. Coon Building.
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Writer: Lindsay C. Vidal
