President Ángel Cabrera Named President and CEO of the Aspen Institute

After leading Georgia Tech through one of the most successful periods in its history, President Ángel Cabrera has been selected to serve as the next president and CEO of the Aspen Institute, one of the world’s foremost nonprofit organizations dedicated to leadership, dialogue, and addressing society’s most pressing challenges. 

The Aspen Institute’s Board of Trustees voted today to appoint Cabrera to the role, recognizing a career dedicated to education, innovation, leadership, and service. 

Since becoming Georgia Tech’s 12th president in 2019, Cabrera has overseen record growth across enrollment, research, innovation, and philanthropy. Under his leadership, Georgia Tech has grown to enroll more than 56,000 students annually, an increase of 55%, while becoming one of the nation’s most sought-after public universities. The Institute has achieved record levels of student applications, enrollment, graduation rates, research funding, startup formation, invention disclosures, and philanthropic support. 

“Georgia Tech transformed my life, first as a student and later as president," Cabrera said. “Leading this extraordinary institution has been the honor of a lifetime. I leave with immense gratitude for the students, faculty, staff, alumni, and supporters who have made our shared progress possible and with tremendous confidence that Georgia Tech’s best days are still ahead.”

Working alongside more than 5,700 faculty and staff, Cabrera led the creation of Progress and Service for All, Georgia Tech’s strategic plan for expanding opportunity, advancing discovery, and increasing the Institute’s impact in Georgia and around the world. 

During his tenure, annual sponsored research awards have surpassed $1.4 billion, helping propel Georgia Tech to No. 1 nationally in research expenditures among universities without a medical school and No. 2 nationally in federal research funding, while expanding the Institute’s leadership in artificial intelligence, neuroscience, space research, and entrepreneurship. Georgia Tech also expanded and modernized its campus significantly and advanced the development of three innovation districts in Atlanta: Tech Square, Science Square, and Creative Quarter. 

Throughout his presidency, Cabrera has remained focused on delivering exceptional value for students and families. Georgia Tech has consistently been recognized as one of the nation's best investments in higher education and among the strongest returns on investment in the country. 

“President Cabrera’s true impact on Georgia Tech goes well beyond the numbers,” said Sonny Perdue, chancellor of the University System of Georgia. “Since rejoining his alma mater, he’s brought energy, warmth, and engagement to our students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the entire Tech community. He’s been a constant, visible force, listening to stakeholders at every level, cheering on their success, and solidifying Georgia Tech’s reputation as a world-class, global research institution. That personal touch has made a profound difference everywhere from Science Square to the new Fanning Center. 

“The scale of what Ángel achieved is clear,” Chancellor Perdue continued. “Under his leadership, Georgia Tech enrolled more in-state undergraduates than ever while raising graduation rates and pushing total enrollment to the highest in the state. Tech’s annual economic impact on Georgia grew to $5.8 billion — a quarter of the entire university system’s total output. The university’s federal research expenditures climbed to more than $1.2 billion, ranking it second in the nation. The Tech community likes to say, ‘We can do that,’ and Ángel has done it, which means we have our work cut out for us to maintain this momentum when he leaves. The system is grateful for his leadership, and we wish him and Beth the very best.” 

Georgia Tech celebrates Cabrera’s selection to this important national leadership role and the lasting impact of his presidency on the Institute. Cabrera plans to remain at Georgia Tech until November to support a smooth transition. The University System of Georgia will announce plans for Georgia Tech’s next leadership chapter at a later date.