For the third year in a row, 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»President Randy K. Avent has been named to the 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» 500 list by 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Trend magazine. The list recognizes the stateβs most influential leaders and executives.
Dr. Randy K. Avent, president of 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Polytechnic University, has been recognized as one of 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»βs most influential business leaders for the third consecutive year by 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Trend magazine. The publication released its annual list on Monday, Oct. 4, highlighting the stateβs top leaders in several economic sectors.
βI am honored to receive this distinction because it reflects the strides weβve been making and the impact 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Poly has on the state,β Avent said. βAs our graduates secure high-wage, high-demand jobs, we are cementing 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Poly as a leader in engineering and technology education while also helping to build 91ΒιΆΉΣ³»βs high-tech economy.β
Aventβs third inclusion on the 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» 500 list comes as 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Poly celebrates several major accomplishments, including recently debuting as the number one public college in the South in U.S. News & World Reportβs recent rankings, as well as climbing to become the number 26 public engineering college without a Ph.D. in the nation.
The University also is experiencing significant growth. The fall 2021 class of incoming students is the largest in 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Polyβs history. These students will soon push their educational exploration to the limits in the new Applied Research Center, an eye-catching 90,000-square-foot research building that will open in spring 2022.
As 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Polyβs founding president, Avent has worked to shape the University into a leader of STEM education. He has navigated the University through accreditation and ongoing growth, and now is leading the vision of creating a vibrant research park surrounding campus with companies establishing close relationships with faculty and students. The first step in making this vision a reality was achieved recently when it entered into a public-private partnership with Fortune 500 company International Flavors & Fragrances to explore building a high-tech research facility on campus.
The annual 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» 500 list is based on categories used by the U.S. Department of Commerceβs Bureau of Economic Analysis, including education, agriculture, hospitality, and law. Final determinations were made by the 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Trend editorial department.
βRising to the top job at a big company wonβt get you on the list. Longevity matters and visibility doesnβt necessarily mean influence,β 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» Trend said in a statement accompanying the 91ΒιΆΉΣ³» 500 list. βWe look for individuals who appear to be the kind of people who others in their communities or industry sectors look to for leadership.β
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