Kelly Griendling

Lecturer of Aerospace Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
Dr. Kelly Griendling is a seasoned lecturer in the prestigious Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering with a passion for active learning and innovative teaching practices. She teaches an array of courses with the aerospace undergraduate program and has been recognized with numerous awards for her commitment to student success and creative approaches to teaching and learning. Some of her particular focus areas in the classroom include the use of entrepreneurial-minded learning, alternative assessment practices, inclusive learning practices, and the integration of sustainability into engineering courses.

Dr. Griendling also serves as the K-12 Outreach Lead for both the School of Aerospace and the Georgia Space Grant Consortium, running an expansive outreach program that encourages undergraduate and graduate students to engage with K-12 students around Georgia. She founded and is currently the director of the Science, Technology, and Engineering Program (STEP), an innovative initiative creating valuable engineering experiences accessible to all high school students in Georgia. She is also a Co-I for Georgia Tech’s NASA KIDS award, playing a key role in developing a machine-learning and artificial intelligence curriculum for students in grades 6-12 that will be deployed across the southeastern US. She served as the outreach coordinator for Georgia Tech's inaugural DARPA-funded MENTOR program and as the curriculum development lead for the follow-on MENTOR 2.

She earned her Bachelor's, Master's, and Ph.D. in aerospace engineering at Georgia Tech. During her graduate studies, she distinguished herself as a Sam Nunn Security Fellow, showcasing her dedication to the intersection of aerospace and security.

Dr. Griendling's journey in aerospace education includes a significant tenure as the chief of the Advanced Systems Engineering division for the Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory (ASDL) within the AE School. In this capacity, she successfully managed a diverse portfolio of research projects, focusing on the development of advanced methodologies tailored for addressing large, complex challenges in the aerospace and defense sectors. Prior to her current role, she served as a senior project manager at Georgia's Center of Innovation for Aerospace, where she played a pivotal role in providing data analytics and technical guidance to bolster the state's aerospace industry.