CoE communicator Walter Rich works in the Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering. In addition to writing about all things biomedical, he spends a lot of his free time fostering cats in need with his wife – at one point in time they’ve had 13! Read about his path to Tech and passion for cats in this month’s staff spotlight.
Where did you grow up, and where did you go to college?
My father was in the Air Force and we lived in England, California, Philippines, Florida and Georgia.
I have a computer information systems (CIS) undergraduate degree and an MBA degree—both from Georgia State University (GSU). My first professional job offer was working as a programmer, but I took a software QA and technical support job instead because of better pay and benefits.
What did you do before you worked at Tech and what brought you here?
I worked at Georgia State University doing communications and marketing for the CIS Department at the Robinson College of Business for nearly seven years. So, I ended up returning to GSU as a staff member after working for 20 years in industry. A communication manager’s position was posted in the Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Georgia Tech and Emory University, and I thought that it would be an interesting opportunity which kept me in the University System of Georgia and shortened my commute to work.
What do you enjoy about working in the College of Engineering? What have some of the highlights been?
Frankly, I’ve found Tech to harbor a very cordial and professional culture with smart, thoughtful leadership. The faculty at Tech and the research work they do, particularly in biomedical engineering, is significant, interesting and impactful. I seem to run into President Bud Peterson and Buzz (the mascot) at a few events each year, and I always enjoy our brief and warm greetings. It may sound silly, but president Peterson and CoE Dean Steve McLaughlin always say hello to me—I really appreciate that.
Do you have any causes that you are passionate about, on or off campus? If so, what are they?
My wife has enlisted me in cat rescue. We’ve had up to 13 cats in the house being fostered until they can be adopted and/or nursed back to good health. My cat knowledge has skyrocketed over the past year. We work with Half The Way Home cat rescue, and they do terrific work for such a small, local non-profit organization. They find homes for more than 70 cats and kittens a month, which is much more than some of the larger, national organizations helping cats in Atlanta.
Tell us about your experience with cat fostering. Why is this a cause close to your heart?
We’ve had six cats and all of them were very sweet and loving animals that would follow you around the house. Another perk: bugs were eradicated pretty quickly in our home. I’ve learned that treating a cat with love and care creates a trusting furry companion, but that it can take a year for that to happen with some cats. I enjoy helping cats and helping people to live properly with cats as part of their family.
What are some of your favorite restaurants and/or coffee shops close to campus?
4 Rivers BBQ, Fellini’s, Jersey Mike’s, and Taqueria Del Sol. You can get to OK Café very fast using interstate 75. I miss Piccadilly cafeteria.