Erich W. Schienke
Ph.D. Science and Technology Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
M.S. Science and Technology Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
B.A., Technology Studies and Physics, Hampshire College
Dr. Schienke has been researching and teaching on sustainability related issues for the past 20 years. His background is in environmental policy, ethics of complex systems, sustainability strategy, ecological indicators, multi-scale power analysis, with a geopolitical focus on China. Dr. Schienke is also co-lead of the RESS program and oversees the Sustainability Management and Policy track and certificate and has been working with the program since it launched in 2013.
Mark Fedkin
Ph.D., Geo-Environmental Engineering, Pennsylvania State University
M.S., Geo-Environmental Engineering, Pennsylvania State University
B.S., Geology, Moscow State University
Dr. Fedkin is an Assistant Teaching Professor and Lead Faculty in the Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems program at Penn State. He is also the main contact for Graduate Certificate in Solar Energy. Dr. Fedkin has worked over ten years for the Earth and Mineral Sciences Energy Institute, where he led experimental research on hydrogen energy, fuel cells, thermochemical cycles, carbon storage and sequestration, and materials for energy applications. In his courses, Dr. Fedkin emphasizes the systems approach for analyzing connections and interactions between the natural and technological environments and explores holistic frameworks for technology assessment.
Seth Blumsack
Ph.D., Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University
M.S., Economics, Carnegie Mellon University
B.A., Math and Economics, Reed College
Dr. Seth Blumsack's research focuses on policy-driven issues and technological change faced by the electricity and natural gas industries. He studies regulation, network reliability and resilience, and technological change in the power grid and natural gas supply systems.
Brandi Robinson
M.S., Geography, Penn State
B.A., Environmental Studies and Geography, University of Pittsburgh
Brandi Robinson is an instructor for the energy and sustainability policy program as well as the renewable energy and sustainability systems master's program. She brings expertise in policy formation and analysis relative to carbon markets to her teaching, as well as local-scale greenhouse gas inventorying and mitigation strategy development.
Susan Stewart
Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Penn State
Dr. Susan W. Stewart is an associate teaching professor of aerospace engineering and leads the Graduate Certificate in Wind Energy program. She has developed and taught multiple online renewable energy courses as well as led several winning teams of students in the annual Collegiate Wind Competition. Dr. Stewart also directs an outreach program involving wind energy applications for K–12 students. Her teaching and research encompass renewable energy technology, resource assessment, project development, design standards, and project finance.
Andy James
B.S., Marketing, Penn State
Andy James is course author and instructor of Sustainability-Driven Innovation. In addition to his role at Penn State, he is vice president, corporate strategy at New Pig. He has more than 10 patents pending for his work in understanding and resolving environmental risks from industrial spills. Prior experience includes his time as senior manager at Olson Zaltman, where he provided consumer behavior research and brand strategy consulting to brands including Audi, T. Rowe Price, and MillerCoors.