Timothy Charles Lieuwen to Lead Georgia Tech
The executive vice president for research will step in as interim president on November 1, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in People
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Timothy Charles Lieuwen will assume the role of interim president at Georgia Tech starting November 1, 2026. This appointment follows the departure of Ángel Cabrera, who has led the Atlanta-based institution since 2019.
Why it matters
The transition ensures continued institutional leadership while a 14-member committee conducts a nationwide search for a permanent successor. This process is intended to maintain stability for the university and its research operations.
Timothy Charles Lieuwen, who holds the David S. Lewis Jr. Chair in Aerospace Engineering, currently oversees $1.4 billion in annual sponsored research awards. A 14-member search committee is now tasked with identifying the permanent leadership for the university.
The players
Timothy Charles Lieuwen
He is the current executive vice president for research at Georgia Tech and holds the David S. Lewis Jr. Chair in Aerospace Engineering.
Ángel Cabrera
He has served as the president of Georgia Tech since 2019 and is departing his role at the end of October 2026.
The details
The University System of Georgia Chancellor appointed Lieuwen to serve as interim president during the leadership search. The current search committee aims to provide the board of regents with three to five unranked candidates for the final selection process.
Timeline
Ángel Cabrera began his tenure as president in 2019.
A 14-member search committee was established in July 2026.
Ángel Cabrera leaves the university on October 31, 2026.
Timothy Charles Lieuwen begins his interim presidency on November 1, 2026.
Market Landscape
This leadership transition follows the established protocols of the University System of Georgia Board of Regents presidential selection bylaws. The process reflects a standard administrative procedure for academic institutions navigating executive search cycles to ensure operational continuity.
The leadership change is an administrative transition that does not currently alter tuition, academic policies, or daily university services for students and faculty. The appointment of an interim president aims to maintain the stability of the research and academic programs at the Atlanta campus.
The takeaway
Lieuwen steps into the interim role as the university continues its high-level research output during the executive transition. The search process highlights the importance of institutional planning in managing leadership changes at major academic centers.
What happens next
The 14-member committee will finalize a list of three to five candidates for the permanent president position to be submitted to the board of regents.
Further reading
For more information on university leadership, visit the People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WSB-TV Channel 2 - Atlanta.
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