This article by Darius Goodman first appeared on the Kennesaw State University website, republished with permission.

A Kennesaw State University professor and an alumnus were recently honored at the 2024 Georgia Engineering Awards hosted by the Georgia American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC Georgia). The awards highlight the exceptional talent and dedication within Georgia’s engineering community.

Gregory L. Wiles, associate professor in KSU’s Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, was named Engineer of the Year in Education while alumnus Ryan Waltman was named the 2024 Engineering Student of the Year. Both were featured in Engineering Georgia magazine following the award ceremony this spring.

“Our college is tied to Georgia industry and having both a faculty member and a student honored by the Georgia Society of Professional Engineers is truly a testament to the supreme talent that can be found in the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology,” Dean Lawrence Whitman said. “I very much look forward to continuing our tradition of excellence and congratulate Dr. Wiles and Ryan on their well-earned recognition.”  

Wiles attributes his success to his 27-year career as a professional engineer before transitioning to education for the last 17 years. He takes pride in watching the next generation of engineers matriculate through the Southern Polytechnic College of Engineering and Engineering Technology. 

“To be recognized for something career-oriented is an honor,” Wiles said. “I’ve been fortunate to be surrounded by a talented group of colleagues and administrators in my time at KSU. I enjoy watching young engineers graduate and take off into the wild blue yonder to find fruitful careers that make an impact on their communities.”

Wiles received nominations from several individuals, many of whom described him as a leader in engineering education. Throughout his teaching career, Wiles has taught 15 different courses across a wide range of engineering topics.

Waltman is a first-generation college student and discovered his passion for industrial engineering in high school through a project focused on efficiency and time management. He graduated from Kennesaw State with a 4.0 GPA, made the president’s list every semester and was named KSU’s Student of the Year in 2023. He held leadership roles in student organizations, including KSU’s chapter of the Institute of Industrial and System Engineers.

He gained valuable experience through internships with GE Appliances and HD Supply. During his senior project, he optimized a marble tube mill with Imerys, resulting in significant operational improvements.

Waltman was nominated for the award by faculty members Lois Jordan, Lin Li, and Parisa Pooyan, and former Alpha Pi Mu president Emily Lawton, each of whom highlighted different aspects of his academic and extracurricular achievements.