School of Energy Faculty and Staff
Rob Cox, Founding Director
Founding Director Robert (Rob) Cox focuses on advancing research in grid resiliency and energy utilization through data-driven methods, resulting in improved energy management across building systems. He serves as Executive Director of the Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC) and The Duke Energy Distinguished Scholar in Power Engineering Systems at UNC Charlotte, where he previously held positions as Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Assistant Director for the Energy Management Research Vertical, and Associate Director of EPIC. A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, he brings extensive research experience through the National Science Foundation’s Industry / University Cooperative Research Center for Sustainably Integrated Buildings and Sites, working closely with leading industry partners including Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Ingersoll Rand, Duke Energy and Atrium Health.
| Leadership |
|---|
| Rob Cox, Ph.D., Founding Director & The Duke Energy Distinguished Scholar in Power Engineering Systems |
| Valentina Cecchi, Ph.D., Associate Director & Associate Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering |
| Jim Gafford, M.S., Associate Director of Applied Research & Professor of Practice |
| Administrative Staff |
|---|
| Kimberly Baker, Workforce Development Program Manager |
| Marion Cantor, Executive Assistant |
| Christina Kopitopoulou, Assistant Director for External Partnerships and Special Projects |
| Robin Moose, Business Officer |
| Academic Faculty & Staff |
|---|
| Ankit Agarwal, Ph.D., Assistant Professor |
| Yamilka Baez-Rivera, Ph.D., Teaching Associate Professor & Associate Chair of Undergraduate Programs |
| Aidan F. Browne, Ph.D., Associate Professor & Program Director for the M.S. in Applied Energy and Electromechanical Engineering |
| Michelle Demers, M.S., Senior Lecturer |
| Douglas N. Eshenbaugh, Research Operations Manager, Electromechanical Engineering Technology |
| Austin Fifield, M.S., Senior Lecturer & Program Director for Electromechanical Engineering Technology |
| Christopher Green, Ph.D., Teaching Assistant Professor & Program Director for Mechanical Engineering Technology |
| Shouling He, Ph.D., Teaching Associate Professor |
| Rodward Hewlin Jr., Ph.D., Associate Professor |
| John Nettles, M.S., Lecturer |
| Maciej Noras, Ph.D., Associate Professor |
| Jaewon Oh, Ph.D., Assistant Professor |
| Rachel Powell-Rangel, M.S., Academic Advisor, Mechanical Engineering Technology & Fire and Safety |
| Joel Pritchard, Research Operations Manager, Mechanical Engineering Technology |
| Sheldon Yunchao Xie, Ph.D., Assistant Professor |
| Michael Smith, Ph.D., Associate Professor |
| Weimin Wang, Ph.D., Associate Professor |
| Wesley Williams, Ph.D., Professor |