He received a Master of Science in Chemistry from the Georgia School of Technology in 1934, and attended the University of Wisconsin for his PhD.

[2][4] As a graduate student at Georgia Tech, Whitley began working as a chemistry instructor.

After receiving his PhD at the University of Wisconsin, he returned to Georgia Tech where he was named a full professor of chemistry in 1944.

[2] His association with the Engineering Experiment Station (now known as the Georgia Tech Research Institute) began in 1955 as chief of the chemical sciences division.

[2] Additionally, the construction of the Baker Building (currently home to the GTRI Electro-Optical Systems Laboratory) was well underway when Whitley retired in 1968.