Elise Morgan, Dean, College of Engineering

Elise Morgan is Dean of the College of Engineering and the Maysarah K. Sukkar Professor of Engineering Design and Innovation at Boston University. She holds a primary faculty appointment in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and additional appointments in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and in the Division of Materials Science and Engineering in the College of Engineering, as well as an appointment in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery in the Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. She was the founding director of the Center for Multiscale and Translational Mechanobiology at Boston University, and she co-directs the University’s Graduate Training Program in Biological Feedback Control. Prior to serving as dean, she was the College of Engineering’s Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development.

Morgan leads an internationally recognized research program in the mechanical behavior of bone and its capacity for regeneration. She has published more than 100 full-length papers, including seminal studies in biomechanics and mechanobiology that have been widely used to evaluate orthopaedic procedures and devices, to guide strategies for bone tissue engineering, and to develop new predictors of the risk of bone fracture in the elderly. Honors for Morgan’s research include awards from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, as well as membership in the College of Fellows of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering. Morgan’s research has been cited more than 14,000 times and has received funding from multiple federal agencies, foundations, and industry partners.

In addition to her current and prior leadership positions in the College of Engineering, Morgan has served in varied capacities in her professional communities, including serving on boards of the Orthopaedic Research Society and journals such as the Journal of Biomechanics and Bone. She is a past chair of the Skeletal Biology, Structure, and Regeneration study section of the NIH Center for Scientific Review.

Morgan is strongly committed to expanding access and opportunity for all individuals in science and engineering. She is passionate about the power of engineering to create opportunities for individuals, communities, and entire nations, through technological innovation and upward mobility.

Ayse Coskun, Professor (Electrical & Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering)

Ayse Coskun leads the Performance and Energy Aware Computing Laboratory (PeacLab), solving problems towards making computer systems more intelligent and energy-efficient. Coskun is also the Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development and the Director of the Center for Information and Systems Engineering (CISE) at BU. Coskun’s research interests intersect design automation, large-scale computer systems, and applied machine learning. Her research outcomes are culminated in several technical awards, including the IEEE CEDA Ernest Kuh Early Career Award, an IBM Faculty Award, and an IEEE TCAD Donald O. Pederson Best Paper Award. Coskun currently serves as the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE Transactions on Computer Aided Design. Coskun recently took on the Chief Scientist role at Emerald AI to implement flexible computing at scale in real-world data centers. Coskun received her PhD degree in Computer Engineering from University of California San Diego.

Emiliano Dall’Anese, Associate Professor (Electrical & Computer Engineering, Systems Engineering)

Emiliano Dall’Anese is affiliate faculty with the Center for Information and System Engineering and the Institute for Global Sustainability. He received the PhD in Information Engineering from the Department of Information Engineering, University of Padova, Italy, in 2011. His research interests span the areas of optimization, control, and learning, with applications that include power systems and autonomous systems. He received the National Science Foundation CAREER Award in 2020, the IEEE PES Prize Paper Award in 2021, the IEEE Transactions on Control of Network Systems Best Paper Award in 2023, and the best paper award from the IEEE PES ISGT Europe in 2024. He is currently serving as the chair of the IEEE CSS Technical Committee in Network Systems.

Sean Lubner, Assistant Professor (Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering)

Sean Lubner is a core faculty member of the Institute for Global Sustainability. His research focuses on materials and systems for direct air capture of CO2 and long-duration, high-temperature thermal energy storage to enable deep integration of renewable energy. Prior to BU, he was a research scientist at MIT and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, and is a recipient of the AFOSR Young Investigator Award.

Sharad Rastogi (ENG’91) – CEO, Work Dynamics at JLL

Sharad Rastogi, as CEO of Work Dynamics Technology at Jones Lang LaSalle, is responsible for technology products and solutions for occupiers of Commercial Real Estate. His focus areas include developing next-generation data & insights platform powered by artificial intelligence, new dynamic services for a hybrid world, and sustainability solutions to reduce carbon footprint.

Sharad is a global technology executive with a strong track record of transforming businesses and increasing shareholder value across a broad range of leadership roles in high-growth and turnaround situations. Before JLL, as CPO/SVP at Dell Technologies, Sharad was responsible for a diverse portfolio of software and appliances for the $3B+ Data Protection Division. In the past, Sharad has held senior roles in general management, products, marketing, corporate development, and strategy at leading companies, including Cisco, JDSU, Avid, and Bain. He is also on the Dean’s Leadership Advisory Board at Boston University, College of Engineering.

Sharad holds an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, an MS in engineering from Boston University, and a B.Tech. in engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology in New Delhi. He enjoys traveling worldwide and engaging in new experiences.

Emily Ryan, Associate Professor (Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering)

Session: America’s Energy Future: Engineering the Transition
Emily Ryan is a Founding Faculty Member of the Faculty of Computing and Data Sciences, and an Associate Director of the Institute for Global Sustainability at Boston University. She received her PhD in mechanical engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 2009. After graduating from Carnegie Mellon she worked as a post-doctoral research associate and staff computational scientist in the Computational Mathematics and Engineering group at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Since joining Boston University in 2012, she founded the Computational Energy Laboratory, which focuses on the development of computational models of advanced energy systems, including batteries, fuel cells, carbon capture technologies, and fuel injectors, and BU’s Energy and Sustainable Technologies collaborative laboratory bringing together faculty across BU working to advance sustainability. Her research is funded through the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy, state of Massachusetts, foundations, and industry.

Devika Gholap, (ENG’18), CPO, OptraScan

Devika Gholap is the Chief Product Officer of OptraSCAN, a global leader in digital pathology solutions. With a mission to democratize access to precision diagnostics, she has spearheaded the development of innovative technologies including AI-powered cancer screening tools, virtual staining platforms, and digital imaging scanners used in over 30 countries.

Devika earned her undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering from Boston University and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School. Her work sits at the intersection of healthcare, technology, and global impact, and she was recognized on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in Healthcare for her contributions to advancing digital diagnostics.

Passionate about healthcare equity, Devika is committed to expanding access to cutting-edge diagnostics in underserved regions. She is also actively involved in mentoring women in STEM and supporting early-stage founders in the healthtech space.

Huntley Myrie, (ENG’95), Former Vice President, Strategy and Business Development – Commercial, Spirit Aerosystems

Huntley B. Myrie is a high achieving leader with an exceptional record of growing and transforming global businesses and introducing new products and technologies in the aerospace industry. His career spans 32 years, marked by his work across multiple aviation platforms and systems. He has held senior leadership roles at companies including General Electric, Eaton, and Spirit Aerosystems. Huntley also served as President and Director of Nexcelle, a joint venture company that develops aircraft propulsion systems.

Huntley has been recognized not only for his contributions to the aerospace industry, but also for his philanthropic and community involvement. His engagement includes serving on the Mayor’s Alliance for Unity and Culture in Southlake, Texas, serving as executive sponsor for a STEM partnership between General Electric and Cincinnati Public Schools, and leading charitable events with the United Way. Huntley’s career and philanthropic work highlight his dedication to both professional excellence and contributing to the community.

Prior to starting his career in the aerospace industry, Huntley served honorably for six years in the United States ARMY Reserve.

Huntley holds a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from Boston University. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the State University of New York – Stony Brook and an Associate Degree from City University of New York.

Ryan Eriksen (CAS’10, ENG’15) – Co-founder & CEO, Sol Clarity

Session: Alumni Spotlight: From BU Lab to Global Impact
Ryan Eriksen is a materials scientist and entrepreneurial engineer with 10 years of experience in R&D, technology development, and project leadership across the cleantech sector. As Director of Engineering at Heliotrope, he leads the development and testing of advanced optical coatings designed to boost solar panel efficiency through spectral conversion. Prior to joining Heliotrope, Ryan co-founded and served as CEO of Sol Clarity, where he secured over $1 million in funding and led the design, prototyping, and deployment of an electrodynamic solar panel cleaning system. His work spans product commercialization, cross-functional team management, intellectual property strategy, and scientific innovation at the intersection of materials and renewable energy.

Annie Rabi Bernard (ENG’15, ENG’20) – Co-founder & CTO, Sol Clarity

Session: Alumni Spotlight: From BU Lab to Global Impact
Annie Rabi Bernard is an engineer, researcher, and entrepreneur passionate about building technologies that drive real-world impact. With a PhD in Electrical Engineering from Boston University, Annie’s work bridges advanced research and urgent climate challenges—most notably through her development of Electrodynamic Screen (EDS) technology, a novel solution that improves the efficiency of solar panels while conserving water. Annie is the co-founder and CTO of Sol Clarity, a clean energy startup born from BU’s Applied Electromagnetics Labs, and now the Chief Engineer at Clear Solar, where she continues to lead innovation that accelerates access to sustainable energy solutions. Her work has been recognized with awards from the U.S. Department of Energy and Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, and featured by the likes of Wood Mackenzie and Tools Top 500 Female Founders in Climate. Annie is driven by a belief that engineering should solve meaningful problems. She’s committed to making science actionable, accessible, and joyful—bringing bold ideas out of the lab and into communities that need them most.

Russ Wilcox, CAS ’13, CEO at ArtifexAI

As CEO of ArtifexAI, Russ Wilcox applies AI and natural language processing to inform and transform urban planning. Throughout his career, he has led the adoption of AI and natural language processing technologies at both startups and established companies.

An expert in the responsible use of AI, Wilcox has represented the United States as a delegate, served as a data strategist for political campaigns, and advised policymakers at the state and federal levels. He has published AI insights in Forbes, delivered TEDx talks, spoken at the World Economic Forum, and lectured at UCLA and Northeastern University.

Wilcox earned his bachelor’s degree in physics with honors from BU and received the University of Michigan’s Rackham Merit Fellowship for his achievements in geophysics and inverse problems. He is a member of the American Society for AI, a national organization dedicated to advancing responsible AI.

Tomás Villalón Jr., (ENG’18, 18), CTO at Phoenix Tailings

Tomás Villalón Jr. is a materials scientist and engineer, currently serving as the Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of Phoenix Tailings, where he has played a pivotal role in developing innovative technologies for extracting value from mining tailings in an economically sustainable and environmentally friendly manner. Previously, at Digital Alloys, Villalón contributed to research in additive manufacturing, leading projects on novel microstructures and thermophysical properties.

Holding a PhD in Materials Engineering from Boston University and a BSc from MIT, his academic journey includes research on electrochemical refinement of reactive metal oxides into pure metals. Villalón’s multifaceted expertise, coupled with his leadership roles and academic achievements, underscores his desire to impact the realms of materials engineering and metals processing.