Georgia TechFOCUSFOCUS 2008—The 17th Anniversarystudents converse in a group

ALUMNI INTERVIEW

DR. COMAS HAYNES

M.S. ME 1997, Ph.D. ME 1999
Research Engineer, Georiga Tech Center for Innovative Fuel Cell and Battery Technologies
FOCUS 1994

Dr. Comas Haynes
"Just as I know Georgia Tech was the place for me to gain the training and exposure needed for the technical career [I've] since embarked upon; I know that FOCUS was an integral precursor of what to expect. In particular, the comradeship seen and experienced at FOCUS helped me to know that I was not only picking a technically stellar university but a nurturing one as well."

Q. How did you learn about FOCUS at Georgia Tech? And what factors influenced your decision to attend?
FOCUS was an integral part of Tech's support of/link with the "FAMU Feeder Program" wherein Florida A&M University (FAMU) had relationships with various universities' graduate programs to promote African-American FAMU undergrads continuing their education. My participation in the feeder program and initial interest in Georgia Tech equated to me attending FOCUS by invitation.

Q. Describe your overall experience at FOCUS.
I was enthused by the effort and success of Ga. Tech to first of all have such a relatively large critical mass of Black grad students in science and engineering already, and then it was all-the-more impressive to see the many prospective grad students such as myself gathered together during this special weekend. Finally, the departmental breakout (for me Mechanical Engineering) all-the-more added to my delight when I experienced firsthand the genuineness of the department's interest in both recruiting and retaining me.

Q. What impressed you the most about the FOCUS program?
The sheer number of Black actual and prospective grad students in science and engineering gathered in one setting.

Q. Did your experience at FOCUS contribute to your decision to attend Georgia Tech? If so, in what ways?
Definitely. The undoubted effort of Tech to court so many African-American students clearly confirmed Georgia Tech's desire to be a leader in recruiting and cultivating grad-level, Black scientists and engineers, hence attracting me more.

Q. Describe your overall experience at Georgia Tech.
It was a blessing to have been "covered" by so many senior peers that technically and socially could give me insights as to the workings of Tech, and it was also a blessing from Christ to have had the advisor (Dr. Bill Wepfer, Mech. Engr.) I had.

Q. Did FOCUS prepare you for your experience at Georgia Tech? If so, how?
Indirectly in that it gave me preliminary introduction to senior peers who again helped to guide me during my early time there.

Q. What is the most valuable lesson you learned at Georgia Tech?
That regardless of the specific endeavor, structured discipline is the paramount requirement for success (e.g., above pure intelligence).

Q. How has your experience at Tech (educational and otherwise) prepared you for your current career?
I'm actually a research faculty member at Georgia Tech in the Fuel Cells/Battery Center, so the fuel cells research background gained and learning some of the inner workings at Tech helped me to get off to a "running start".