The School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) has introduced new advisory board members and leadership changes for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

“This board brings together individuals with wide-ranging experiences that reflect both depth in their fields and breadth in their perspectives,” said Arijit Raychowdhury, Steve W. Chaddick School Chair. “Their insights will help us evolve our programs and partnerships to better serve students, strengthen the national workforce, and advance the broader innovation ecosystem.”

New Advisory Board Members 

Four new members have joined the advisory board: 

• Josh Hix (EE 2003) is co-founder and CEO of Season Health, a Food-as-Medicine platform focused on improving health through nutrition. He previously co-founded Plated, a meal kit company acquired by Albertsons in 2017. Hix holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.

• Rahul Jain (EE 2000) is co-founder and chief product officer at Pendo.io. His background includes leadership roles at Cisco and 3Com, as well as venture capital experience at Core Capital Partners. Jain earned an MBA from the University of Maryland. 

• Vivek Maddala (EE 1995) is an Emmy-winning composer and founder of Maddala Music in Los Angeles. His work spans film, theater, and dance, blending technical expertise with creative expression. 

• Nick Otto (EE 2005) is head of Global Strategic Partnerships at IBM. He has over 15 years of experience in consulting and corporate strategy, with a focus on aligning technology with business transformation. Otto holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. 

Leadership Transitions 

Mary Gordon (EE 1981) has transitioned to the role of immediate past chair after four years of service as chair and vice chair.  

Gordon’s leadership helped guide the School through a period of significant change and growth. During her tenure, the board launched new student support initiatives, established an Advisory Board Endowment to provide unrestricted support for the school chair, and supported a smooth transition to new School leadership. 

Stepping into the role of board chair is Shan Pesaru (Cmp.E. 2005), who will serve a two-year term. Pesaru is the founder and CEO of Sharp Hue, an IT professional services firm that architects and implements digital business models based on modern Web.Cloud.Apps. technologies. 

In addition to his computer engineering degree, he holds an MBA from the University of Arkansas. Pesaru has previously served as president of the Young Alumni Council and currently sits as a trustee of the Alumni Association. 

Joining Pesaru in board leadership is Laura Huffman (EE 1979, MS ECE 1981), who will serve as vice chair. A senior attorney at King & Spalding in Atlanta, she specializes in intellectual property litigation. Huffman received her Juris Doctor degree from Emory University, and currently teaches courses in technology law and computer law at Georgia Tech.