The position requires the candidate to have a doctoral degree in facility management, building construction, real estate, or a related field. Yang met this requirement as a PhD from Cornell University in Design and Environmental Analysis, with her dissertation Diffusion of Innovation in Sustainable Building Practices and the role of Major Stakeholders.
As a new faculty member, Yang will be expected to teach graduate courses in Facility Management, develop a sponsored research program, advise and mentor students, collaborate with other faculty in multidisciplinary research, participate in outreach activities, and be involved in service to the Institute and the profession. Yang explained, “I would love to make a huge difference. I know there will be a learning curve. I want to develop the Facility Management track in a way to enhance the depth of the knowledge and skills the student can get.”
Yang’s candidate visit was in March 2016 and she provided a presentation on Sustainable and Healthy Built Environment. In addition to her PhD from Cornell, Yang has her MS in Building Construction and Facility Management from Georgia Tech, and BS in Architecture Engineering from Sung Kyun Kwan University, South Korea. She holds memberships in several professional associations-International Facility Management Association, Building Owners & Managers Association, The American Institute of Architects, and International Association for People-Environmental Studies.
Joseph Geierman, Senior Operations Manager, Troutman Sanders, and alum of the GT Master’s program in Facility Management, served on the search committee. Geierman said, “Dr. Yang is an excellent choice for the BC Program’s new associate professor position. Her research resides in an important intersection between academia and real world Facility Management. Because of this, she has a unique opportunity to build bridges between Georgia Tech and the larger FM Community. I am very excited to see what she does.”
Professor Yang begins her tenure August 15, 2016, In addition to her teaching and research responsibilities, she will chair the Integrated Facility and Property Management track within the School of Building Construction’s masters programs. Yang said, “I can bring a strong research component to the school and a connection to industry. Perhaps I can develop an academic final project(Capstone) or an FM community studio.” Yang continued, “I see a great benefit offering a research methods type course in the master’s program. This is an opportunity for working professionals and traditional students to benefit from a research skills, to consume the knowledge, get the right resources, and think critically in their careers.
The School of Building Construction and the College of Architecture welcome Professor Yang. “Dr. Yang is a great addition to our faculty. She brings industry experience and relevant research on sustainable building performance, in addition to a thorough knowledge of our curriculum. We are very confident that she will take the facility management program to the next level while meaningfully collaborating in other areas of our School such as construction management, real estate development, and occupational safety and health.” Said, Daniel Castro, Ph.D., P.E. Professor and Chair School of Building Construction.
