Kelly Griendling, Ph.D.

Director of the Clark Scholars Program

Kelly leads the administration and operations of both the Clark Scholars and Dean's Scholars programs in the College of Engineering, working closely with campus partners and helping shape a high-impact scholar experience. She also serves as a key connector among students, faculty, staff, and leadership, helping to create meaningful opportunities that support student success and engagement.

Kelly has taught an array of undergraduate courses in the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering since 2019 and has been recognized with numerous awards for her commitment to student success and creative approaches to teaching and learning. Prior to Georgia Tech, she served as a senior project manager for the Center of Innovation for Aerospace, a program of the Georgia Department of Economic Development, and as a division director in Georgia Tech’s Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory. Outside of work, she volunteers with Georgia swimming community as an official and Georgia’s open water chair. In her free time, she loves all forms of “making,” being outdoors, wakeboarding, and spending time with her family.

Lauren Morton, D.Min.

Assistant Director, Education Outreach Initiatives

Lauren Morton serves as the assistant director of education outreach initiatives for the Clark Scholars Program at Georgia Tech. She is the operations, academic, and well-being resource for the students. She focuses her approach on getting every Scholar to and through the Institute, centering her efforts on collaboration, creativity, service and experiential learning.

Morton joined Georgia Tech in the fall of 2021 and also serves in the same capacity for the College's Dean's Scholars Program. Morton's pre-higher education experience included progressive senior management in an acute care hospital system and grassroots community development work.

Chirag Patel

Academic Program Manager

Chirag Patel serves as academic program manager for the Clark Scholars Program at Georgia Tech. He coordinates scholarship applications and recruitment efforts, supports student programming and onboarding activities, provides mentoring to scholars, and contributes to program assessment, development, and reporting.

Patel has many years of advising and mentoring experience, including in the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering and at Gwinnett Technical College, New York University, and Georgia State University. He joined Georgia Tech in 2021 and came to the College of Engineer Scholars Programs in 2025. He also serves as academic program manager for the Dean’s Scholars Program.