Mary Lynn Realff

Mary Lynn Realff is Associate Professor and Associate Chair for Undergraduate Programs in the School of Materials Science and Engineering at Georgia Tech, where she also serves as Cox Faculty Fellow and Co-Director of the Center for Women, Science, and Technology. She earned her B.S. in Textile Engineering from Georgia Tech and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and Polymer Science & Engineering from MIT.

Her research focuses on transforming educational environments through effective team dynamics, inclusion strategies, and curricular innovations across K-12 to graduate levels. She founded the Center for Effective Team Dynamics to cultivate strengths-based collaboration, impacting over 9,000 students and 2,200 faculty/staff. Dr. Realff integrates materials science expertise with leadership development, having published extensively on polymer mechanics and educational methodologies.

Her recent articles explore pedagogical innovations in engineering education (2021-2024), biomechanical robotics (2017), and advanced textile characterization (2000-2019). Research consistently addresses material behavior under stress and systemic educational reform.

Scientific Awards:

• ASME Ben C. Sparks Medal
• Undergraduate Research Mentor Award
• CETL/AMOCO Junior Faculty Teaching Award
• ANAK Award for teaching excellence
• Fellow of ASME (2007)
• MSE Faculty Teaching Award

She leads NSF initiatives on graduate education innovation and has redesigned undergraduate labs to integrate team dynamics training. As operational director of interdisciplinary centers, she partners with teaching specialists to certify facilitators in evidence-based collaboration frameworks.