“My purpose is to make a better life for those who come behind me. I feel I can accomplish this by ensuring our next generation of leaders are well-equipped with the tools they need to make our world a better place.” Dr. A. Renee Gourdine, Research Security Industrial Security Associate Chief at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), shared these words when speaking about why mentoring young adults and being a civil servant is important to her.

Dr. Gourdine served in the army for 20 years in information technology. She began specializing as a chief message center operator and then went on to become a senior information technology chief. Dr. Gourdine says she has always been a technical person, so pursuing a career in information technology was fitting. In 2004, she received her Bachelor's degree in Management Studies from the University of Maryland. She then received her Master's in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix in 2009. In 2010, Gourdine retired from the army as a Master Sergeant.

In 2010, Dr. Gourdine joined GTRI as a Research Security Specialist. She began as a temporary employee. However, due to her stellar performance, she was selected for a permanent position. While she was an RS Security Specialist, Renee's supervisors entrusted her with additional responsibilities due to her previous leadership and military experience. Dr. Gourdine obtained her Doctorate of Business Administration and Leadership from Capella University in 2017 during her tenure in the role. In 2019, she was promoted to research security manager senior at GTRI and quickly moved to the associate chief of industrial security.

Dr. Gourdine, who has worked at GTRI Research Security for 14 years, is not only an accomplished information technology professional, but also a multifaceted professional who balances many roles. Outside of her time at GTRI, she dedicates her time to volunteering, serving on several boards and mentoring youth. 

In a recent interview, Dr. Gourdine shares why she is passionate about mentoring the next generation and the importance of giving back to our local communities.

Q: Can you share your involvement with mentoring students or young professionals? Can you also share about your participation in your local community?

A: In 2020, I was selected and sworn in by the City of Stockbridge (Georgia) mayor to sit on the Stockbridge Youth Council Advisory Committee. Through this position, I have mentored and guided the youth in the city of Stockbridge. The Stockbridge Youth Council (SYC) consists of 15 youth who were interviewed and selected by a twelve-member advisory committee. The committee members were chosen for their motivation and dedication toward their civic duty in their community. Our main purpose is to support the City of Stockbridge youth population. 

This SYC also conducts numerous hours of community service to assist other organizations in the community with their initiatives. To mention a few: Adopt a Highway; Read Across America, for elementary-aged students; Operation Lunch Box; Henrt 4 Music; partnering with the local city and county police departments; and many more.

In January 2021, I was selected as Chair of the Stockbridge Youth Council Advisory Committee. On Jan. 8, 2024, I was sworn in for another two years of service as the Stockbridge Youth Council Advisory Committee Chair. 

On Nov. 19, 2020, I joined the Stockbridge High School Parent Teacher Organization. Because of my hard work, dedication and diligence, the PTO president asked me to fulfill the vice president’s position. I accepted the role in 2020 when the sitting vice president resigned. In May 2022, the president's tenure came to an end. I was then nominated and selected to fulfill the role of the PTO president for the 2023-24 school year.

During my tenure, I ensured the parents and students had a direct link to the high school principal and teachers to address their concerns. I also have a direct relationship with the Henry County Board of Education superintendent and the Henty County Board of Education District #2 representative to ensure the voice of the Stockbridge High School is heard. 

Without a doubt, I love what I do at Georgia Tech, GTRI, GTRI Research Security and in my community. 

Q: Can you elaborate more on your role at the City of Stockbridge and what it was like?

A: We have 15 on the youth council from ninth to 12th grade. We provide community volunteerism and community service because we want to teach the kids not to be selfish with their time. You have to give back to society in some fashion or form to make it a better place. 

We also have a street called Tye Street that we adopted as the Stockbridge Youth Council. We all come out once a month and clean up that street for the homeowners and the city of Stockbridge.

We are also a part of the Georgia Municipal Association, which is right here in Atlanta. That organization has oversight over all the mayoral council members in the State of Georgia. The youth council falls under the Georgia Municipal Association, and we teach the kids about municipalities for their cities. So, my students have different leadership roles, similar to a city’s mayor and council members. I have a mayor, a mayor pro tempore, a city clerk and a city manager. Those are our four primary positions of leadership. We teach the students how to run a city and what it takes to run a city. We give them guidance on how to run a meeting and prepare notes according to Robert's Rules of Order.

We also take them on college tours, invite members from different organization, such as local businesses, the military, non-profit organizations, and government/school officials. Our goal is to make sure that they have the knowledge and tools needed to be whatever they want to be. We are not saying you have to go to college. You don't have to. You may not want to. There are other things out there that may interest our young adults. We just want our children to be successful.

We also have a great partnership with the City of Stockbridge Police Department (SPD) where we the SPD and the youth have meaningful discussions on making our community a better place. This initiative isn’t solely for the 15 youth I mentor; it intended to benefit all the young people in Stockbridge. My 15 youth serve as representatives for the entire youth population. One of my youth council members, my son, was initially the youth advisor to the Citizens Police Advisory Council. We make sure that we incorporate all of our youth in the City of Stockbridge because we want to hear everybody's voice. Our job is to make sure Stockbridge is a better place not just for adults, but also for the youth in the community. 

Q: What made you passionate about serving the youth or giving back to the community? Why is that so important to you?

A: It started when I was a kid. My parents were always in the community, and always gave back to the community. They would give to the community before they gave to us or themselves. It wasn't to neglect the home, but it takes a village not just to raise a kid, but to survive. 

My dad was a game warden, which is also known as Department of Natural Resources Enforcement Officer. He hunted and fished. We did a lot of field work. I can remember being in the field when it was hot and picking fruits and vegetables. We would take the food to the elderly people or the people in the community who needed it because we had an abundance. It's always better to give than receive.

My mom and dad always belonged to organizations or boards. My dad was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives for District 102. I was always taught, “What can we do to make mankind a better place?” That is how I was raised.

In the military, I wasn't able to plant my feet and be a staple in my community as much. However, I tried as much as I could because we moved every two or three years in the military. When I retired from Fort McPherson, I knew I wanted to make a difference. I also had a young three-year-old son at the time. I said, "I want to give him what my parents gave me. I want to make a difference in the community and give back to the community.” We have always been civil servants, unselfish with our time and resources.

Q: What advice would you give to a young adult trying to navigate their career?

A: I would tell them to take every opportunity they can to learn. If you want to be part of the youth council, if you want to be part of clubs and organizations in school, or if you want to do a summer job, take every opportunity that you can. You don't know which opportunity you really would take to. It might be something you never thought you would be interested in or a career you would have never thought to go into. You would never know. Take every and any opportunity that you can to learn different things. Don't just pigeonhole yourself to one thing. A job is cool but a career is awesome. It gives you so much more and you'll be so much more fulfilled. So, take every opportunity that you can.

Q: Are there any other awards or accomplishments that you didn't get the chance to share in your submission that you'd like to share, whether at GTRI or your personal life? 

A: I am a part of a couple of things. I was recently honored with the Presidential Volunteer Award, which was signed by President Joe Biden. One of the leaders in Stockbridge nominated me for the Presidential Volunteerism Award, which I was awarded back in May.

I’m a part of so many different organizations. I'm a member of the Kentucky Colonel Award, which was bestowed upon me by the governor of Kentucky, Mr. Andrew Graham Beshear. I'm a member of a military sorority called the Kappa Epsilon Psi . 

I try to stay focused by being involved in different organizations. It can be overwhelming but it is also rewarding. My son always tells me, “Mom, you have to find time for yourself so that you can build yourself back up". And I say, “That is what I'm comfortable with. That gives me strength, and that fulfills me.” It’s not like it's work. It's fun because I'm giving back. If I don't give back, I think that would be draining and unfulfilling. 

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The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is the nonprofit, applied research division of the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). Founded in 1934 as the Engineering Experiment Station, GTRI has grown to more than 2,900 employees, supporting eight laboratories in over 20 locations around the country and performing more than $940 million of problem-solving research annually for government and industry. GTRI's renowned researchers combine science, engineering, economics, policy, and technical expertise to solve complex problems for the U.S. federal government, state, and industry.