Energy Initiative - University of Illinois at Chicago

Director of Partnerships and Strategy

I was promoted to this role in order to provide executive-level leadership of this initiative while still fulfilling the responsibilities I had as Director of Programming, Outreach, Research & Education. I continue to drive initiatives which support collaborative scientific research and education relating to global energy challenges while spearheading development of competitive solutions to energy needs.

In addition to heading up operations, I also oversee staffing and training needs as well as senior administrative and financial functions. As a public facing representative, I conduct presentations, participate in industry events, and form strategic relationships with sector representatives.

Key Contributions Include:

• Drive EI’s brand, visibility and growth by upgrading/maintaining organization’s website; developing/executing marketing strategy; and managing e-newsletters and other social media channels.

• Secured capital contributions by developing funding partnerships with NSF, DOE, DoEd, NIST, Exelon, IL ELE, Clean Energy Trust, Energy Foundry, IPCE.

• Created UIC Sustainable Mobility – taking what began as lecture series and, by identifying/securing funding, growing it into robust program which supports demonstration and pilot projects around challenges and opportunities facing traditional and emerging mobility paradigms.

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

NREL Energy Executive

I am one of 21 selected to participate in the 2019 Energy Executive Leadership program at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which convenes non-technical business, governmental, and community leaders, to gain knowledge about advanced energy technologies, analytical tools, and financing to drive data-driven, solutions-oriented executive decisions and strategic planning, and develops a deep national and global network of expert leaders from public and private sector institutions.

As part of this prestigious program, I will propose and present an innovative energy project for implementation, work with prominent scientists, engineers and professionals, have access to experts to guide the data, tools and techniques for successful implementation, and join a large national and global network of #EnergyExecs to support the continued integration of research and practice at public and private sectors to advance a clean energy future.

Center for Urban Resilience and Environmental Sustainability (CURES)

Executive Leadership Team & Co-Founder

As one of the four co-founders managing a diverse team over 150 subject matter experts from the University of Illinois system, I provide executive and strategic leadership and business development for this unique start-up. We work closely with cities and stakeholders, develop integrated sustainable solutions with short- and long-term impacts, and drive innovations and strategic approaches for implementation.

I lead the business development activities in energy and sustainability solutions for CURES, drive new projects in energy, sustainability and human environment interface, and develop and manage teams for implementing data-driven solutions for these areas. We work with cities and municipalities to identify challenges and develop roadmaps for short- and long-term implementation, through the development and utilization of a diverse set of tools to address these interconnected systems, and through the strong foundational partnerships with public and private entities which bring respective expertise and knowledge.

ThalesNano Energy

Clean Technology Startup Consultant

As a clean technology startup consultant, I provide a wide range of market research services in order to support projects which are essential to my clients’ growth and scalability goals. I also contribute my renewable energy sector expertise as well as analytical and strategic-planning skills when investigating market potential, examining technology applications and exploring scaling viability.

A am currently working with a client who’s overall mission is to develop successful and innovative electrolysis systems for gas generation to increase safety, expand chemistry capabilities, improve energy efficiency, and reduce environmental impact

University of Illinois at Chicago

Technology Commercialization Fellow

I recently took on an additional role at UIC’s Office of Technology Management (OTM) where I provide key insights as a subject matter expert on energy and sustainability innovations. I work with and advise the OTM’s Senior Technology Manager on projects and help to guide faculty stakeholders on product development and start-up strategies.

This role also allows me to support the OTM’s project portfolio by contributing ideas and problem-solving guidance. Central to this is assisting with determining technology commercialization pathways, milestones and execution strategy.

Key Projects:

• I have been a contributor to new projects/initiatives involving EV charging solutions, solid state batteries, and carbon capture technology. Managed market research, exploration of go-to-market viability, partnership acquisition, specification assembly, and information dissemination.

University of Illinois at Chicago

Adjunct Assistant Professor, Instructor, and Faculty Fellow (Urban Planning and Public Affairs)

My educational leadership at UIC involves teaching student courses on energy sustainability and energy storage for grid and transportation. Due to the sizable nature of UIC, I am responsible for teaching 120 students and leading 15 project and research interns annually.

I place heavy emphasis on providing educational guidance by mentoring pupils and continuing to interact with alumni. I believe it is incredibly important to instill an interest in solving real-world energy problems in the emerging generations. With that said, it is my objective to engage my students, make them aware of public affairs matters, and inspire them to take action, even if in a small way.

Key achievements in this role:
• Developed undergraduate curriculum incorporating coursework in sustainability and energy, urban environmental issues, and impact of energy policy in scientific, technological, political, economic, and social contexts.
• Developed Minor in Sustainable Cities for College of Urban Planning and Policy.
• Grew Master of Energy Engineering program by developing and leading Energy Storage course.

Cities of the Future: Synergies between Smart Energy and Greenways

Szent István University

A unique perspective on the connection between smart energy and green spaces is presented in this paper.

Cities of the Future: Synergies between Smart Energy and Greenways

Szent István University

A unique perspective on the connection between smart energy and green spaces is presented in this paper.

Energy, society and science: The fifty-year scenario

Elsevier

A vibrant, interactive, and rapidly advancing global society needs an adequate, low cost, predictable and diverse supply of energy; a stable climate; and an international market for energy that mediates across countries, regions, and energy carriers. The science discoveries needed to achieve these energy and societal outcomes are analyzed.

Cities of the Future: Synergies between Smart Energy and Greenways

Szent István University

A unique perspective on the connection between smart energy and green spaces is presented in this paper.

Energy, society and science: The fifty-year scenario

Elsevier

A vibrant, interactive, and rapidly advancing global society needs an adequate, low cost, predictable and diverse supply of energy; a stable climate; and an international market for energy that mediates across countries, regions, and energy carriers. The science discoveries needed to achieve these energy and societal outcomes are analyzed.

Ecological Restoration in Urban Parks: Achieving Historical Fidelity

EDRA Connection (forthcoming December 2014)

This essay discusses the fundamental need to expand the limits of historical fidelity in the urban landscape. Urban planners who extend the concept of ecological restoration to new applications can reconnect city dwellers with nature and foster new relationships between users and the built environment.

Cities of the Future: Synergies between Smart Energy and Greenways

Szent István University

A unique perspective on the connection between smart energy and green spaces is presented in this paper.

Energy, society and science: The fifty-year scenario

Elsevier

A vibrant, interactive, and rapidly advancing global society needs an adequate, low cost, predictable and diverse supply of energy; a stable climate; and an international market for energy that mediates across countries, regions, and energy carriers. The science discoveries needed to achieve these energy and societal outcomes are analyzed.

Ecological Restoration in Urban Parks: Achieving Historical Fidelity

EDRA Connection (forthcoming December 2014)

This essay discusses the fundamental need to expand the limits of historical fidelity in the urban landscape. Urban planners who extend the concept of ecological restoration to new applications can reconnect city dwellers with nature and foster new relationships between users and the built environment.

Making the sustainable energy colloquy quantitative and accessible to all

MRS Energy & Sustainability: A Review Journal

MRS Energy & Sustainability Journal―A Review Journal publishes reviews that are set in an integrated context of scientific, technological and sociological complexities relating to energy, the environment and sustainability.The intended readership is a broad spectrum of scientists, academics, policy makers and industry professionals, all interested in the interdisciplinary nature of the science, technology and policy aspects of energy and sustainability.

Cities of the Future: Synergies between Smart Energy and Greenways

Szent István University

A unique perspective on the connection between smart energy and green spaces is presented in this paper.

Energy, society and science: The fifty-year scenario

Elsevier

A vibrant, interactive, and rapidly advancing global society needs an adequate, low cost, predictable and diverse supply of energy; a stable climate; and an international market for energy that mediates across countries, regions, and energy carriers. The science discoveries needed to achieve these energy and societal outcomes are analyzed.

Ecological Restoration in Urban Parks: Achieving Historical Fidelity

EDRA Connection (forthcoming December 2014)

This essay discusses the fundamental need to expand the limits of historical fidelity in the urban landscape. Urban planners who extend the concept of ecological restoration to new applications can reconnect city dwellers with nature and foster new relationships between users and the built environment.

Making the sustainable energy colloquy quantitative and accessible to all

MRS Energy & Sustainability: A Review Journal

MRS Energy & Sustainability Journal―A Review Journal publishes reviews that are set in an integrated context of scientific, technological and sociological complexities relating to energy, the environment and sustainability.The intended readership is a broad spectrum of scientists, academics, policy makers and industry professionals, all interested in the interdisciplinary nature of the science, technology and policy aspects of energy and sustainability.

Energy Safety

MRS Bulletin Energy Quarterly

Energy transitions have historically required careful evaluation of the safety hazards surrounding emerging technologies. The safety of lithium-ion and next-generation batteries holds a special place in these transitions. Batteries are required across the board, for firming wind and solar generation, for powering electric cars, and for decoupling generation from demand on the grid.

Cities of the Future: Synergies between Smart Energy and Greenways

Szent István University

A unique perspective on the connection between smart energy and green spaces is presented in this paper.

Energy, society and science: The fifty-year scenario

Elsevier

A vibrant, interactive, and rapidly advancing global society needs an adequate, low cost, predictable and diverse supply of energy; a stable climate; and an international market for energy that mediates across countries, regions, and energy carriers. The science discoveries needed to achieve these energy and societal outcomes are analyzed.

Ecological Restoration in Urban Parks: Achieving Historical Fidelity

EDRA Connection (forthcoming December 2014)

This essay discusses the fundamental need to expand the limits of historical fidelity in the urban landscape. Urban planners who extend the concept of ecological restoration to new applications can reconnect city dwellers with nature and foster new relationships between users and the built environment.

Making the sustainable energy colloquy quantitative and accessible to all

MRS Energy & Sustainability: A Review Journal

MRS Energy & Sustainability Journal―A Review Journal publishes reviews that are set in an integrated context of scientific, technological and sociological complexities relating to energy, the environment and sustainability.The intended readership is a broad spectrum of scientists, academics, policy makers and industry professionals, all interested in the interdisciplinary nature of the science, technology and policy aspects of energy and sustainability.

Energy Safety

MRS Bulletin Energy Quarterly

Energy transitions have historically required careful evaluation of the safety hazards surrounding emerging technologies. The safety of lithium-ion and next-generation batteries holds a special place in these transitions. Batteries are required across the board, for firming wind and solar generation, for powering electric cars, and for decoupling generation from demand on the grid.

Contemporary Urban Nature: Chicago’s Urban Parks Going “Back to the Future’

EDRA 42 Proceedings

Cities of the Future: Synergies between Smart Energy and Greenways

Szent István University

A unique perspective on the connection between smart energy and green spaces is presented in this paper.

Energy, society and science: The fifty-year scenario

Elsevier

A vibrant, interactive, and rapidly advancing global society needs an adequate, low cost, predictable and diverse supply of energy; a stable climate; and an international market for energy that mediates across countries, regions, and energy carriers. The science discoveries needed to achieve these energy and societal outcomes are analyzed.

Ecological Restoration in Urban Parks: Achieving Historical Fidelity

EDRA Connection (forthcoming December 2014)

This essay discusses the fundamental need to expand the limits of historical fidelity in the urban landscape. Urban planners who extend the concept of ecological restoration to new applications can reconnect city dwellers with nature and foster new relationships between users and the built environment.

Making the sustainable energy colloquy quantitative and accessible to all

MRS Energy & Sustainability: A Review Journal

MRS Energy & Sustainability Journal―A Review Journal publishes reviews that are set in an integrated context of scientific, technological and sociological complexities relating to energy, the environment and sustainability.The intended readership is a broad spectrum of scientists, academics, policy makers and industry professionals, all interested in the interdisciplinary nature of the science, technology and policy aspects of energy and sustainability.

Energy Safety

MRS Bulletin Energy Quarterly

Energy transitions have historically required careful evaluation of the safety hazards surrounding emerging technologies. The safety of lithium-ion and next-generation batteries holds a special place in these transitions. Batteries are required across the board, for firming wind and solar generation, for powering electric cars, and for decoupling generation from demand on the grid.

Contemporary Urban Nature: Chicago’s Urban Parks Going “Back to the Future’

EDRA 42 Proceedings

Finding Nature in the City: A Case Study of Ecological Restoration in an Urban Park

ProQuest LLC

Cities of the Future: Synergies between Smart Energy and Greenways

Szent István University

A unique perspective on the connection between smart energy and green spaces is presented in this paper.

Energy, society and science: The fifty-year scenario

Elsevier

A vibrant, interactive, and rapidly advancing global society needs an adequate, low cost, predictable and diverse supply of energy; a stable climate; and an international market for energy that mediates across countries, regions, and energy carriers. The science discoveries needed to achieve these energy and societal outcomes are analyzed.

Ecological Restoration in Urban Parks: Achieving Historical Fidelity

EDRA Connection (forthcoming December 2014)

This essay discusses the fundamental need to expand the limits of historical fidelity in the urban landscape. Urban planners who extend the concept of ecological restoration to new applications can reconnect city dwellers with nature and foster new relationships between users and the built environment.

Making the sustainable energy colloquy quantitative and accessible to all

MRS Energy & Sustainability: A Review Journal

MRS Energy & Sustainability Journal―A Review Journal publishes reviews that are set in an integrated context of scientific, technological and sociological complexities relating to energy, the environment and sustainability.The intended readership is a broad spectrum of scientists, academics, policy makers and industry professionals, all interested in the interdisciplinary nature of the science, technology and policy aspects of energy and sustainability.

Energy Safety

MRS Bulletin Energy Quarterly

Energy transitions have historically required careful evaluation of the safety hazards surrounding emerging technologies. The safety of lithium-ion and next-generation batteries holds a special place in these transitions. Batteries are required across the board, for firming wind and solar generation, for powering electric cars, and for decoupling generation from demand on the grid.

Contemporary Urban Nature: Chicago’s Urban Parks Going “Back to the Future’

EDRA 42 Proceedings

Finding Nature in the City: A Case Study of Ecological Restoration in an Urban Park

ProQuest LLC

The Big Picture – Accepting Diverse Views on Energy and Sustainability

MRS Energy & Sustainability: A Review Journal

By removing boundaries and facilitating interactions between differing scholarly and scientific communities, we hope for our readers to benefit from each other’s wisdom and start dialogues that promote a clearer understanding of energy and sustainability.

Cities of the Future: Synergies between Smart Energy and Greenways

Szent István University

A unique perspective on the connection between smart energy and green spaces is presented in this paper.

Energy, society and science: The fifty-year scenario

Elsevier

A vibrant, interactive, and rapidly advancing global society needs an adequate, low cost, predictable and diverse supply of energy; a stable climate; and an international market for energy that mediates across countries, regions, and energy carriers. The science discoveries needed to achieve these energy and societal outcomes are analyzed.

Ecological Restoration in Urban Parks: Achieving Historical Fidelity

EDRA Connection (forthcoming December 2014)

This essay discusses the fundamental need to expand the limits of historical fidelity in the urban landscape. Urban planners who extend the concept of ecological restoration to new applications can reconnect city dwellers with nature and foster new relationships between users and the built environment.

Making the sustainable energy colloquy quantitative and accessible to all

MRS Energy & Sustainability: A Review Journal

MRS Energy & Sustainability Journal―A Review Journal publishes reviews that are set in an integrated context of scientific, technological and sociological complexities relating to energy, the environment and sustainability.The intended readership is a broad spectrum of scientists, academics, policy makers and industry professionals, all interested in the interdisciplinary nature of the science, technology and policy aspects of energy and sustainability.

Energy Safety

MRS Bulletin Energy Quarterly

Energy transitions have historically required careful evaluation of the safety hazards surrounding emerging technologies. The safety of lithium-ion and next-generation batteries holds a special place in these transitions. Batteries are required across the board, for firming wind and solar generation, for powering electric cars, and for decoupling generation from demand on the grid.

Contemporary Urban Nature: Chicago’s Urban Parks Going “Back to the Future’

EDRA 42 Proceedings

Finding Nature in the City: A Case Study of Ecological Restoration in an Urban Park

ProQuest LLC

The Big Picture – Accepting Diverse Views on Energy and Sustainability

MRS Energy & Sustainability: A Review Journal

By removing boundaries and facilitating interactions between differing scholarly and scientific communities, we hope for our readers to benefit from each other’s wisdom and start dialogues that promote a clearer understanding of energy and sustainability.

The Value of Nature for Nature’s Sake: A Look at Lincoln Park’s Ecological Restoration

EDRA 43 Proceedings

Cities of the Future: Synergies between Smart Energy and Greenways

Szent István University

A unique perspective on the connection between smart energy and green spaces is presented in this paper.

Energy, society and science: The fifty-year scenario

Elsevier

A vibrant, interactive, and rapidly advancing global society needs an adequate, low cost, predictable and diverse supply of energy; a stable climate; and an international market for energy that mediates across countries, regions, and energy carriers. The science discoveries needed to achieve these energy and societal outcomes are analyzed.

Ecological Restoration in Urban Parks: Achieving Historical Fidelity

EDRA Connection (forthcoming December 2014)

This essay discusses the fundamental need to expand the limits of historical fidelity in the urban landscape. Urban planners who extend the concept of ecological restoration to new applications can reconnect city dwellers with nature and foster new relationships between users and the built environment.

Making the sustainable energy colloquy quantitative and accessible to all

MRS Energy & Sustainability: A Review Journal

MRS Energy & Sustainability Journal―A Review Journal publishes reviews that are set in an integrated context of scientific, technological and sociological complexities relating to energy, the environment and sustainability.The intended readership is a broad spectrum of scientists, academics, policy makers and industry professionals, all interested in the interdisciplinary nature of the science, technology and policy aspects of energy and sustainability.

Energy Safety

MRS Bulletin Energy Quarterly

Energy transitions have historically required careful evaluation of the safety hazards surrounding emerging technologies. The safety of lithium-ion and next-generation batteries holds a special place in these transitions. Batteries are required across the board, for firming wind and solar generation, for powering electric cars, and for decoupling generation from demand on the grid.

Contemporary Urban Nature: Chicago’s Urban Parks Going “Back to the Future’

EDRA 42 Proceedings

Finding Nature in the City: A Case Study of Ecological Restoration in an Urban Park

ProQuest LLC

The Big Picture – Accepting Diverse Views on Energy and Sustainability

MRS Energy & Sustainability: A Review Journal

By removing boundaries and facilitating interactions between differing scholarly and scientific communities, we hope for our readers to benefit from each other’s wisdom and start dialogues that promote a clearer understanding of energy and sustainability.

The Value of Nature for Nature’s Sake: A Look at Lincoln Park’s Ecological Restoration

EDRA 43 Proceedings

The energy-storage frontier: Lithium-ion batteries and beyond

MRS Bulletin

This article takes a fresh look at the path to next generation energy storage by looking at the 40 year history of Li-ion R&D