In late February 2026, EEM colleague Professor J.P. Helveston engaged in a fascinating televised discussion with the Director of the GW Alliance for a Sustainable Future, Frank Sesno. In the discussion, Dr. Helveston provided a compelling look at the uncertain future of the U.S. auto industry, and what’s at stake if the nation continues its EV path of isolation. Dr. Helveston also published a paper on that topic in the Journal Science, entitled “How collaboration with China can revitalize US automotive innovation: Strategic collaboration, not protectionist barriers, should be pursued.” An abstract of that paper can be seen at https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adz0541.
Professor JP Helveston and Frank Sesno discuss electric vehicles
EEM Ph.D. graduate Steven Burns recently was named Vice President for Energy & National Security at the Institute for Security and Technology. Steve reports that, after leaving his previous position as Chief of Energy and Infrastructure in the Bureau for Europe and Eurasia at the U.S. Agency for International Development, he spent a couple years focused on Ukraine support and then at the White House working on energy and national security issues. Before his work at USAID, Steve was the Manager of Clean Energy Technologies at Pace Energy Systems. More information cam be seen at https://securityandtechnology.org/person/steven-burns/.
Steve Burns at USAID
EEM Master’s graduate Alice Dasek recently enrolled in the Business School at American University to work on a Master of Science degree in Sustainability Management on a part-time basis while remaining in her job as a Senior Advisor for Energy Management, Planning, and Financing at U.S. Department of Energy.
At AU, she is taking two classes focusing on sustainability strategy and sustainability reporting systems and analysis in the Spring 2026 semester. Alice says that “the full curriculum for this degree will expand my knowledge beyond energy efficiency and give me the perspective to develop innovative solutions that will support sustainable development more broadly.”
Alice Dasek
EEM Professor Dr. Rachael Jonassen led a team that prepared a paper on “Co-Design of Regulations and Solutions: Prototypes for Future Climate Challenges” in the Fall 2025 semester. The paper addresses the problem that, although labelled an existential threat, responses to climate change have collectively failed to curb the drivers or respond to the current and expected impacts of this existential threat. Co-authors of the paper were GW Environmental and Energy Management Institute Directors Alex Beehler, Edward Saltzberg, Mark Pollins, Scott Sklar, and Jonathan Deason.
Dr. Rachael Jonassen
GW EEMI Affiliates Dr. Abdullah Abonamah and Dr. Salah S. Hassan, EEMI Director for Global Business Sustainability, recently co-authored an article on AI and environmental sustainability. The citation is: Abonamah, A., Hassan, S., & Cale, T. (2025). “Artificial intelligence and environmental sustainability playbook for energy sector leaders,” Sustainability, 17(14), 6529. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146529.
Dr Salah Hassan
On February 10, 2026, EEMI Director for International Affairs Dr. Andras Simonyi published an article comparing his experience from years under Soviet domination in Hungary with the current situation in Cuba. In 2002, Andras was named Hungarian Ambassador to the United States, just a decade after the Soviet occupation ended and democracy was established. In the article, Andras offered lessons to counties that are still under dictatorships. He related his engagement with the Cuban community in the US, working with such notable figures as President George Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Florida Governor Jeb Bush under the concept that “what was possible in Central Europe, will be possible in Cuba.” Andras’ article can be seen at
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/cuba-needs-set-free-andras-simonyi-ocpde/.
Ambassador Dr. Andras Simonyi
Katia Marchesini, who received her Master of Science degree in Environmental and Energy Management in May 2008, recently enrolled in the Quantic School of Business and Technology to pursue her MBA.
Katia Marchesini
Phillip Graeter, who received his Master of Science Degree in Environmental and Energy Management from GW in 2014, recently completed work with the Wyoming Energy Authority to highlight the opportunities and challenges facing the coal industry. Phillip presently is a Director at Energy Ventures Analysis, Inc. EEM Master of Engineering Management grad Nathan Campeau is Vice President and Senior Water Resources Engineer at the Barr Engineering Company. Nathan recently commended employees of Barr and their partner companies Kimley-Horn and Confluence who won an Engineering Excellence Award for innovative stacked infrastructure at the Highland Bridge redevelopment project in Saint Paul, Minnesota. More information can be seen at https://www.barr.com/news-events/articles/barr-and-partner-kimley-horn-win-engineering-excellence-awards-for-innovative-stacked-infrastructure-at-highland-bridge-redevelopment/.
Phillip Graeter
EEM Master of Engineering Management grad Nathan Campeau is Vice President and Senior Water Resources Engineer at the Barr Engineering Company. Nathan recently commended employees of Barr and their partner companies Kimley-Horn and Confluence who won an Engineering Excellence Award for innovative stacked infrastructure at the Highland Bridge redevelopment project in Saint Paul, Minnesota. More information can be seen at https://www.barr.com/news-events/articles/barr-and-partner-kimley-horn-win-engineering-excellence-awards-for-innovative-stacked-infrastructure-at-highland-bridge-redevelopment/.
Nathan Campeau
Mark Rohan, who received his Master’s degree in Environmental and Energy Management at GW in 2014, joined Heron Power in Mountain View, California, as Chief of Staff and Head of Programs in January 2026.
Mark Rohan
Dr. Gürkan Kumbaroğlu, who served as a Fulbright Visiting Professor in GW’s Environmental and Energy Management Institute in 2020, was named Director of the Energy Policy Research Center at Boğaziçi University in Istanbul, Turkey, in January 2026. Gürkan recently hosted the Director of the Innovation and Research Center of the Bakü Higher Petroleum School to collaborate on biorefinery energy development.
Dr. Gürkan Kumbaroğlu
Michael Nosbisch, who completed his Master of Engineering Management degree in Environmental and Energy Management at GW in May 2000, will be speaking at the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering 10th Annual Northeast Symposium in May 2026. Mike presently is the Director of Project Controls Consulting Services at Strategic Management Solutions, LLC.
Michael Nosbisch
