Greg Lavender Returns to UGA

Greg Lavender, B.S. Computer Science ‘83, returned to the University of Georgia for the first time in nearly three decades. The last time he was on campus the 90’s were in full swing with the internet still in infancy and flip phones as the height of technology. Now, many years later, Lavender is the Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Intel and AI is abundantly present in his day-to-day activities. 

As CTO, Lavender is responsible for driving Intel’s future technical innovation through his leadership of Intel Labs, Intel Federal LLC, and Intel Information Technology. He is also responsible for defining and executing Intel’s software strategy across artificial intelligence, confidential computing and the growing need for open accelerated computing to support Intel’s range of business and hardware offerings.

Lavender spent two days on campus in November, sharing advice and knowledge with students, faculty, staff, and alumni. He presented two campus lectures framed around the topic of “Standing on the Shoulders of Giants: Cultural Evolution of Computational Thought from Pythagoras to the AI Era,” examining the history of computer science and AI and the impact of the past on our future. He recounted how the current landscape was derived from the historic accomplishments – dating back as far as 1503 in Margarita Philosophica where Arithmeticae presides over a calculation contest of the ancient “calculating board” method versus the new “symbolic math” methods of Algebra. In small group and one-on one breakout sessions, Lavender was generous and engaging in discussions with participants across campus, from computer science and anthropology to classics and engineering. He noted that multidisciplinary approaches are key to solving societal issues – for over 2500 years we have benefitted from a dualist world view – abstract and concrete, arts and sciences, metaphysics and physics, theoretical and applied, software and hardware as well as left brain (logic) and right brain (creativity). 

Lavender's commitment to positively influencing the next generation of innovators is embodied by the scholarship he established in honor of one of his role models, UGA professor emeritus of Mathematics Jeffrey Smith. Lavender spent time with the current School of Computing scholarship recipient Hannah Le, sharing valuable insights on technological advancements, advice for her future, his favorite memories at UGA and more. Lavender noted that his current job as a chief technology officer keeps him on the move internationally, visiting Japan, Singapore and South Korea in a recent two-week span. During these travels, he takes time to visit local spots and immerse himself in the culture. For him, meeting people helps foster his creative thinking by experiencing new points of view and provides a broader perspective on life and work.

Whether it’s working on AI, leading large teams or creating new systems, Lavender is still excited by the opportunity to solve difficult problems and push the boundaries of technology at the forefront of innovation. He’s also passionate about applying technology in areas like archaeology, one of his hobbies. He serves on the board of the American School of Classical Studies in Athens, Greece, and for the past 30 years, has been combining his love for technology and archaeology by bringing tech tools to the field, including drones and 3D mapping to explore archaeological sites and help preserve them. Next year, he plans to travel to Turkey and Greece on a history tour that includes stops in Troy and Ephesus.

Lavender sat for an interview with Hannah Le, who expressed her gratitude to Lavender's commitment to future innovators. 

“This scholarship has truly eased my financial burdens, allowing me to focus wholeheartedly on my challenging coursework and extracurriculars," Le said. "It has also inspired me to push forward and one day make a meaningful impact—financially and through mentorship—in the same way Dr. Lavender has honored Dr. Smith’s legacy. As I pursue a future in cybersecurity, I’m passionate about advancing women in computer science and giving back to support future students in the field.” 

Read the interview. 

Lavender is a widely accomplished individual and has held executive and leadership roles at VMware, Citigroup, Cisco Systems, and Sun Microsystems. Lavender holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree and doctorate in computer science from Virginia Tech. He also served as a faculty member and associate chair in the department of computer science at the University of Texas at Austin.

Image: Students with Greg Lavender and Dean Stenport, following Lavender's lecture in the larry Walker Room of the Rusk Center Nov. 6. Photo by Audrey Bradstock.