Dr. Ioannis Brilakis, assistant professor in construction engineering, was appointed to the Governing Board of the Architecture, Construction, and Engineering (ACE) Mentor Program, Atlanta chapter. This important 
program serves high school youth who are exploring careers in architecture, construction, or engineering. The mentors involved are professionals in leading design and construction firms who volunteer their time. Dr. Brilakis is currently the only academic serving on the Governing Board of the Atlanta chapter. In this role, he looks forward to opportunities to influence Atlanta's youth in the areas of architecture, construction, and engineering.
The ACE Mentor program uses a multidisciplinary, team-mentoring model where up to 25 students and 10 mentors from four or five firms meet biweekly after school for two hours. Through a year-long curriculum, teams work on planning, design and scheduling either a real or a ``virtual'' construction project. Assignments include weekly lectures, site visits, and a semester project. The program also provides scholarships for youth.
The program's mission is to engage, excite and enlighten high school students to pursue careers in the integrated construction industry through mentoring; and to support their continued advancement in the industry through scholarships and grants.
ACE is a unique partnership among industry professionals — architects, interior designers, landscape architects, mechanical, structural, electrical, environmental and civil engineers, construction managers, college and university representatives, and other professionals from related corporations and professional organizations — who work together to attract young people to their professions.
For information about the ACE Mentor program, visit: http://www.acementor.org/.