Helen E. Grenga Photographs on Women in Engineering

Helen Eva Grenga obtained a B.A. in Chemistry in 1960 from Shorter College and a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Virginia in 1967. She was employed by the Food and Drug Administration prior to her career in academics. She served Georgia Tech for more than twenty-five years, first as the first fully tenured female engineering professor, and later as an able administrator.

Grenga came to Georgia Tech in 1967 as a postdoctoral fellow in chemistry. A year later, she became a professor in metallurgy. In 1981-1982, she served as President of the Society of Women Engineers. She later held administrative positions on campus, serving as Director in the Office of Graduate Studies and Research and Dean in the Office of Academic Affairs. After her retirement, she held the position of Professor Emeritus in the Materials Science and Engineering Department.

In 2001 Dr. Grenga published a book entitled Movies on the Fantail. The book contains an edition of the diary of her brother James, who served as a yeoman aboard the destroyer ship USS Barr in World War II, as well as the accounts of other sailors who served on the Barr.

Helen Grenga died on April 14, 2006.