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 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.
Ekatarina Bazilevskaya
Ph.D., Soil Chemistry and Biogeochemistry, Penn State
M.S., Geosciences, Penn State
Dr. Ekaterina Bazilevskaya is an assistant research professor in ecosystem resource management. She leads research and extension activities related to soil chemistry and soil health. Dr. Bazilevskaya collaborates with industry and farms on sustainable practices of using biochar as a soil remediation agent. She also serves as a director of Soil Research Cluster Lab in the College of Agricultural Sciences, which trains researchers and students on methods and instrumentation for soil analysis.
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.
Jennifer Clemons
Ed.D., Educational Leadership, University of Delaware
M.S., Energy and Geo-Environmental Engineering, Penn State
B.S., Chemical Engineering, Penn State
Dr. Jennifer Clemons is an associate teaching professor in the ESP and RESS programs. Previously, she was an instructor at the community college level for 15 years, focusing on solar (PV) design and energy efficiency. Dr. Clemons has led study abroad courses to Denmark, Switzerland, and Japan. She was a CO-PI on the NSF National Energy Center (createenergy.org) and author of the 6th edition of Energy: Its Use and the Environment (2024), published by Cengage. She was awarded the 2024 Clean Energy Education & Empowerment (C3E) award sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy for her leadership in education.