Meet Our Advisors
Katelyn Hall
Katelyn Hall, a third-year student majoring in Biomedical Engineering on the pre-health track, hails from Morgantown, WV (LET'S GO MOUNTAINEERS!). Apart from her academic pursuits, Katelyn is an avid knitter, reader, and dabbles in (mediocre) cosplay. On campus, you can find her volunteering as she leads shifts for the GT Campus Kitchens Project (CKP) or dedicating her time to knitting preemie hats for MadHatter Knits. Additionally, when at Emory, she can be spotted heading to her research lab, where she delves into the factors that influence the development of myopia. Since arriving on campus, Katelyn has wholeheartedly embraced personal growth. In fact, she is currently training alongside her dad to run a marathon in the upcoming spring, aiming to inspire others to embark on their own journeys of self-improvement.
As a first-generation seedling, Katelyn experienced the profound impact of pushing past self-imposed limits within a supportive and nurturing community. This transformative experience led her to serve as the co-vice president of the SEEK Discomfort Club during her second year. With SEED's "courage over comfort" mindset at her core, Katelyn fearlessly pursued activities she had always yearned to try. Whether it was painting herself yellow and attending a GT football game, skydiving, or even hosting a memorable maid cafe on campus, these experiences have become cherished memories and stories that she happily shares with everyone she meets. With SEED, Katelyn aims to foster an environment where new seedlings can create their own empowering stories and embark on transformative journeys of their own.
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Grant Espy
Grant Espy is a second year mechanical engineering major from Duluth, Georgia. In his first year he became deeply involved in both his career and passions becoming leadership in Georgia Tech Solar Racing, working with two research labs, the nuclear engineering lab RED^2 and the robotics lab LIDAR, he was also in charge of working with other schools in order to showcase an expo on the environmental health. In his freetime Grant loves reading novels, playing video games, playing Dungeons and Dragons, going on runs (completed the Atlanta Publix Marathon last year), playing sports, rock climbing, and volunteering his time to the local community. He is involved with ORGT rock climbing as well as being somewhat involved with ORGT whitewater kayaking. He loves challenging himself to seek new discomforts everyday and grow stronger, faster, smarter, and kind-er whenever he gets the chance.
When Grant joined SEED, he was surrounded by a group of people who helped motivate him and encouraged him to push his limits instead of labeling them as strange. It gave him an organization where he was able to reach out to people with crazy out of the blue ideas and be celebrated and have people join him for it. The community Grant was able to build around him gave him a home and a place to seek his own growth while being able to encourage the growth of others. He hopes to be able to inspire the same time of community for the next group of seedlings and help support them throughout it all.
EK McClelion
Emma Kate (EK) McClelion is a second-year electrical engineering major from Alpharetta, Georgia. She spent her first year exploring new experiences, including Muay Thai classes, an effective altruism seminar, designing a mechatronic exhibit, bikepacking with ORGT, and more. She plans to continue experimenting, and, in the meantime, spends her free time doing yoga or anything outdoorsy, reading nonfiction and sci-fi, going to concerts, and writing. She seeks to challenge herself both physically and mentally, and she loves to trade ideas about doing so with everyone she can. She aims to unapologetically blaze her own trail and encourage others to do the same.
When EK joined SEED, the philosophy gave her an unwavering reason to try things she would’ve brushed off otherwise and to find value in unusual places, every day. The new mindset skyrocketed her ability to grow and introduced her to friends exceptionally open to facing their fears, too. The people in SEED all prioritized personal progress and approached life with care and love; they acted with unrivaled genuineness and changed the way she sees friendship. She can’t wait to help build a new community fueled by the same values and meet more brilliantly unique people.
Thomas Chin
Thomas Chin is a second-year computer science major from Houston, TX. He’s travelled to over 50 different countries and lived in 5. On campus, you will find him playing volleyball at the CRC, hacking away in the data science club, and leading external affairs for GT’s International Ambassadors. Thomas also loves the adrenaline of cold showers and enjoys playing the piano, especially OST’s such as HTTYD and Pirates of the Caribbean. However, he finds the most joy when surrounded by his loved ones and friends.
Initially, Thomas came into SEED with little understanding of what seeking discomfort meant. As a seedling, he found himself surrounded by an incredible and supportive community that encouraged him to break out of his comfort zone. Throughout his journey, he accomplished many personal feats such as mustering up the courage to play the piano at Willage, learning how to “thrift” and properly shop for clothing, training for the marathon (but injuring himself before he could run it), and becoming a confident public speaker. SEED was a life-changing chapter for Thomas, and he is excited to guide the future generation of seedlings to embrace their own seek discomfort journeys.
Aditya Prabhakar
Aditya Prabhakar, AP, is a second-year neuroscience major on the pre-health track (some may say otherwise). On campus, you can find him near the Ramblin’ Reck with the Ramblin’ Reck Club, in the Flag Building with SGA, or nose deep in the BioQuad working on research. He loves to spend time immersing himself with everyone on campus, so if you need a hype man, he’ll be there for you. Outside of school, AP LOVES to cook and eat all types of cuisines. He tries to go hiking at least twice a month, and is currently in the process of buying an OverLander after selling his precious E46.
SEED had offered AP an outlet to open up to a community of strangers without feeling a sense of judgment and getting over the fear of embarrassment. The FLO gave him a greater scope on how different people are and how beautiful it is to celebrate these differences rather than to scrutinize them. This was all found out by performing tasks he would never do on a day to day basis. Whether that be practicing rejection therapy, holding a “Free Hugs” sign up, or participating in very rigorous physical activity, he was able to see that everyone shared a common goal of improving themselves in some way. Having this positive outlook on life and wanting to grow everyday as a person are some of the few things SEED has helped AP achieve. As an advisor for the 2023-2024 school year, he hopes to foster the same environment for the next group of SEEDlings, offer them a home away from home, cultivate a friend group of a lifetime, and embark on the journey of self-improvement.
Stacey Doremus
Stacey Doremus is currently fulfilling her passion of investing in students’ leadership development as an instructor, leadership coach and program director within the Office of Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) at Georgia Tech. Before coming to Georgia Tech, Stacey held a variety of positions within the corporate world focusing on marketing and innovative product design and development. She has a professional affiliation with the International Leadership Association and the Institute of Coaching at McLean, a Harvard Medical School Affiliate (a non-profit organization dedicated to ensuring scientific integrity in the field of coaching). She holds a Master’s in Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University. How does this apply to her work at Georgia Tech? Aside from sparking her passion for teaching, her MDiv experience taught her the importance of practicing compassion to self and others while seeking to improve the human condition and creating solutions to the world’s social problems. As Mahatma Gandhi once said - “Compassion is a muscle that gets stronger with use”. She believes it is not enough to show empathy we must take action as well.
Outside of Georgia Tech (or at Tech) you will find her training her “Porkie” (Yorkshire Terrier and Pomeranian mix) puppy, Blitz, and pushing her limits in swimming, weight training and scuba diving. Her training is in preparation for a Great White cage dive off the coast of Australia.
She is beyond excited to work alongside all of you as you step into your discomfort zone, the place where your mind is most open for learning. She hopes that you will join us on this growth journey towards your best self!