Ruffin has been the College of Lifetime Learning’s interim chief catalyst and associate dean of Academic Affairs since January. He is responsible for the development, approval, and deployment of credit-bearing programs in the field of learning systems, while also leading faculty affairs. 

Before that, he led Georgia Tech’s portfolio of professional education programs and the Global Learning Center as GTPE executive director. He also served as GTPE’s associate dean of Academic Affairs, providing curricular oversight and management of online degrees and professional development programs. 

“The innovation, excellence, and impact of Georgia Tech’s AE School is recognized more widely than ever,” Ruffin said. “I am thrilled to work with our faculty, staff, and students in this role to further expand the value we bring to our learners and to our critical partners across the state, nation and world.” 

Ruffin’s research focuses on high-temperature gas dynamics, compressible flow aerodynamics, and airframe propulsion integration. He leads the Aerothermodynamics Research and Technology Laboratory, where his team conducts computational research for a variety of flowfields and applications, from low speed through hypersonic. 

Ruffin also is director and principal investigator of the NASA-funded Georgia Space Grant Consortium (GSGC). GSGC conducts student research and design team activities, internships, scholarships, fellowships, and workforce development programs via a statewide network of 26 universities, non-profits, and industry partners.