Thomas Stelson was a faculty member at Carnegie Mellon University for 20 years before being selected as Georgia Tech's dean of engineering and assistant vice president of academic affairs in 1971. 

He served in the role until 1974, when he was named vice president for research. He held the post until 1988, when he was named the first executive vice president (provost) of Tech. He helped President John Patrick Crecine reorganize the university into five colleges. In 1990, he left to become a founding administrator at Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Stelson's time at Georgia Tech marked an increased focus on basic research, applied research, and academics. With this increased research focus, more funding was allowed for academics, which in turn allowed campus to begin its steady rise in the rankings.