For Georgia Tech President Angel Cabrera, it’s personal
During his Institute Address on Sept. 4, Georgia Tech President Angel Cabrera bemoaned the fact that there has been a 27 percent drop in international students at the university.
“These declines are not unique to Georgia. It’s part of a national trend,” Cabrera said, adding that “international students play a key role in strengthening research.”
Later Cabrera elaborated.
“I came to this country as an international graduate student,” said Cabrera, who had attended the best engineering school in Spain before becoming a graduate student at Georgia Tech in 1991. “It’s one of the biggest assets this country has. You get to choose the smartest people. We need to protect that. I’m not willing to give that up.”
Then he added that Georgia Tech students, staff, and faculty need to be understanding of the challenges international students are currently facing. “We need to do everything we can to show the love,” he said.
Cabrera pointed to Tech’s progress on numerous fronts, including an increase in research funding, the success of Georgia Tech students graduating in four years, national rankings showing Georgia Tech as a great return on investment and the institute accounting for 25 percent of the total $23.1 billion economic impact among state colleges and universities.
“The year ahead won’t be easy,” Cabrera said. “Universities are complex. You serve many different stakeholders with many needs.”
But he insisted: “It’s a lot of fun.”
Cabrera also highlighted that the university had received its largest individual gift, $100 million from the estate of John Durstine, a 1957 alum.
William J. Todd, former chair of the Georgia Tech Alumni Association, observed that the university has enjoyed a string of four outstanding presidents with Cabrera and his three predecessors: Bud Peterson, Wayne Clough and Pat Crecine.
Todd said leading an institution comes down to balancing stability with growth and progress.
“Over 140 years, Tech has had its ups and downs,” Todd said. “But for four straight presidential administrations, we have enjoyed this balance under the leadership of presidents Cabrera, Peterson, Clough, and even Crecine.”
— Maria Saporta
Carol Tomé and her five-plus years as CEO of UPS
During her Sept. 8 visit to the Rotary Club of Atlanta, UPS CEO Carol Tomé provided a window into the challenges of running a Fortune 100 company in today’s environment.
UPS delivers “6 percent” of the Gross Domestic Product, making it a pivotal part of the global economy. Yet given the volatility in U.S. policy on trade and tariffs, it’s hard to know what the future will bring.
“It’s very difficult now making a forecast,” Tomé told Hala Moddelmog, president and CEO of the Woodruff Arts Center, during a conversation. “I don’t do them anymore.”
UPS, which has been in the delivery business for 118 years, gets impacted when there are policy changes.
“Trade follows policy. What happens when you have tariffs, trade doesn’t stop. It moves,” Tomé said. “It is an unprecedented time of challenges and opportunities.”
Another change for UPS is its relationship with its largest customer – Amazon, which Tomé quickly explained is “not our most profitable” customer. UPS is winding down its volume of business with Amazon by 50 percent within the next year. “We are playing the long game,” she said.
Tomé also shared her view of being a CEO these days.
“We are no longer CEOs of companies,” she said. “We are CEOs of communities.”
— Maria Saporta
Sandy Springs Fall Arts Festival set for this weekend
The Sandy Springs Fall Arts Festival returns Sept. 13-14, showcasing more than 125 artists along the tree-lined streets of Sandy Springs. The free event will feature painters, photographers, sculptors, jewelers, and other makers, transforming the area into an outdoor art gallery.
Festival hours are Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors can watch artist demonstrations, enjoy live DJ performances, and take part in hands-on activities. A children’s area and food trucks will also be available. Organizers said the festival is open to all ages and is dog friendly.
Produced by the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces, the event is part of a larger fall and winter lineup that includes the Buckhead Arts Festival on Sept. 20-21, the Old Fourth Ward Arts Festival on Sept. 27-28, and the Fall Festival on Ponce on Oct. 11-12. More details are available at affps.com.
— Derek Prall
Fulton County launches free cybersecurity training for seniors
Fulton County has introduced a free cybersecurity training program aimed at helping older adults protect themselves from online fraud.
The Avoid Cyber Threats (A.C.T.) Cybersecurity Training initiative is designed as a self-paced course available online or at senior centers. It provides tools to recognize scams such as phishing emails and AI-driven voice cloning. The program began last month with a briefing at the HJC Bowden Senior Multipurpose Facility in East Point.
Officials said the training comes as scams against seniors continue to rise. Older adults account for nearly 40% of fraud-related losses nationwide, and Americans over 60 lost an estimated $4.9 billion to fraud in 2024. Georgia ranks seventh among states for senior financial losses, according to program leaders.
Fulton County hopes to train 2,000 seniors and caregivers by December 2025. Participants will receive a certificate upon completion. More information is available at fultoncountyga.gov/cybersecurityforseniors.
— Derek Prall
African American Culture & Arts Festival returns to Suwanee in October
Black Art, Culture & Education, Inc. will host the fifth annual African American Culture & Arts Festival on Oct. 4 at Suwanee Town Center Park. The free, day-long event will highlight Black culture through music, dance, poetry, food, fashion and art.
Organizers said the festival provides a space for healing, pride and community connection during challenging times. Performances will feature local artists, poets, dancers and a live band to close the evening. Vendors will offer a variety of food and culturally focused products. A Kids’ Zone with activities such as a bounce house will also be available.
Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and spend the day enjoying cultural programming and community fellowship.
“This festival is about joy,” said Andy Morgan, CEO of Black Art, Culture & Education, Inc. “It’s about honoring our history and heritage while creating space to celebrate, heal, and thrive together.”
The event is open to the public and free tickets are available online. Details can be found here.
— Derek Prall
Serenity Mental Health Centers launches Atlanta hiring effort
Serenity Mental Health Centers announced plans to hire more than 1,100 employees nationwide in the next year, including positions in Atlanta. The growing psychiatric care provider operates 35 outpatient clinics, with two in the Atlanta area, and intends to expand to more than 120 clinics over the next three years.
The company is recruiting psychiatrists, psychiatric nurse practitioners, ketamine nurses, transcranial magnetic stimulation technicians, patient care coordinators and support staff. Officials said the expansion will help meet rising demand for mental health services.
“Thousands of Atlanta residents wait months for psychiatric care,” said Ben Johnson, vice president of HR and recruiting. “Expanding our team is one way to make sure local patients can get help when they need it.”
New hires will receive training, professional development and opportunities to advance into leadership roles. Serenity offers treatments for depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD and other conditions, including transcranial magnetic stimulation and ketamine infusion therapy.
More information on career opportunities is available here.
— Derek Prall
South Fulton to host first Community Wellness Day focused on Black men’s health
South Fulton Councilwoman Natasha Williams-Brown, in partnership with 100 Black Men of South Metro Atlanta, will host the inaugural Community Wellness Day on Sept. 20 to address health disparities in Black communities, with an emphasis on Black men’s well-being.
The free event will be held from 7 a.m. to noon in the parking lot of Harold’s Chicken and Ice Bar on Old National Highway. It will feature cardiovascular assessments, cancer screenings, diabetes and HIV testing, dental and vision checks, mental health consultations and other services. Organizers expect to serve more than 500 men and families.
The initiative is backed by local leaders, healthcare providers including Kaiser, Grady and Piedmont Fayetteville, and state lawmakers. Activities will include a 5K run and walk, live entertainment, family-friendly programming and wellness vendors.
Grammy Award-winning artist Ceelo Green will be honored with the first Community Health Champion Award. Registration details are available here.
— Derek Prall
Corporate Volunteer Council honors Atlanta companies at IMPACT Awards
The Corporate Volunteer Council of Atlanta recognized businesses for their community engagement efforts during the 28th Annual IMPACT Awards on Sept. 9. The event, presented in partnership with Delta Air Lines, highlighted companies advancing volunteerism and social impact across the region.
Purpose Possible received the IMPACT Corporate Skills-Based Award for mobilizing a task force to help nonprofits navigate federal funding freezes earlier this year. Aprio earned the Corporate Innovative Project Award for its Building Resilient Entrepreneurs program, which supports underrepresented business owners through savings matches, mentorship and grants. Papa Johns was named Corporate Program of the Year for a career exposure initiative that connects high school students with professionals across the restaurant industry.
The awards luncheon, held at The Dogwood at Westside Paper, drew more than 300 guests and featured remarks from Giving Kitchen founder Jen Hidinger-Kendrick. Attendees also participated in a community service project preparing snack packs for Agape Youth and Family Center.
Sponsors included Chick-fil-A, Kaiser Permanente, Cox Enterprises, Norfolk Southern and others. More information is available here.
— Derek Prall
For insights into international student data and Georgia Tech’s leadership in this arena, see a story I wrote early this year for Site Selection. https://siteselection.com/economic-impact-of-international-students-breaks-record/