Wyatt C. Whitley
Encyclopedia
Wyatt C. Whitley was an American chemist
, professor of chemistry
and a former director of the Engineering Experiment Station at the Georgia Institute of Technology
(now known as the Georgia Tech Research Institute
) from 1963 until 1968.
in Chemistry from Wake Forest College
in 1929. He received a Master of Science
in Chemistry from the Georgia School of Technology
in 1934, and attended the University of Wisconsin for his PhD.
His association with the Engineering Experiment Station (now known as the Georgia Tech Research Institute) began in 1955 as chief of the chemical sciences division. He was later raised to the position of associate director and, upon the assignment of Station director Robert E. Stiemke
to the post of Administrator of Research in the office of the Dean of Faculties, became the Station's director in 1963. During his tenure as director, the level of research activity increased from $4 million to $7 million and the number of full-time staff increased by 33 percent. In 1966, the completion of the Electronics Research Building allowed a large number of the Engineering Experiment Station's research activities to come together under one roof, after being housed in more than a dozen temporary locations. Additionally, the construction of the Baker Building (currently home to the GTRI Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory
) was well underway when Whitley retired in 1968.
Chemist
A chemist is a scientist trained in the study of chemistry. Chemists study the composition of matter and its properties such as density and acidity. Chemists carefully describe the properties they study in terms of quantities, with detail on the level of molecules and their component atoms...
, professor of chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry is the science of matter, especially its chemical reactions, but also its composition, structure and properties. Chemistry is concerned with atoms and their interactions with other atoms, and particularly with the properties of chemical bonds....
and a former director of the Engineering Experiment Station at the Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
(now known as the Georgia Tech Research Institute
Georgia Tech Research Institute
The Georgia Tech Research Institute is the nonprofit applied research arm of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia, United States...
) from 1963 until 1968.
Education
Whitley received a Bachelor of ScienceBachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
in Chemistry from Wake Forest College
Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is...
in 1929. He received a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in Chemistry from the Georgia School of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
in 1934, and attended the University of Wisconsin for his PhD.
Career
As a graduate student at Georgia Tech, Whitley began working as a chemistry instructor. After receiving his PhD at the University of Wisconsin, he returned to Georgia Tech where he was named a full professor of chemistry in 1944.His association with the Engineering Experiment Station (now known as the Georgia Tech Research Institute) began in 1955 as chief of the chemical sciences division. He was later raised to the position of associate director and, upon the assignment of Station director Robert E. Stiemke
Robert E. Stiemke
Robert E. Stiemke was an American civil engineer, director of the Georgia Tech School of Civil Engineering from 1950 to 1962, director of the Georgia Tech Research Institute from 1961 to 1963, and Georgia Tech's first Associate Dean of Faculties and Administrator of Research after July 1,...
to the post of Administrator of Research in the office of the Dean of Faculties, became the Station's director in 1963. During his tenure as director, the level of research activity increased from $4 million to $7 million and the number of full-time staff increased by 33 percent. In 1966, the completion of the Electronics Research Building allowed a large number of the Engineering Experiment Station's research activities to come together under one roof, after being housed in more than a dozen temporary locations. Additionally, the construction of the Baker Building (currently home to the GTRI Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory
GTRI Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory
The Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory is one of eight labs in the Georgia Tech Research Institute. It conducts basic and applied research into electro-optical topics and supports electro-optical education at the university level....
) was well underway when Whitley retired in 1968.