POTSDAM — Clarkson University says it is partnering with leading industry executives to introduce a new one-credit seminar course, called “Introduction to Energy and Utilities,” during the spring 2026 semester. The class will introduce students to both the technical and business aspects of the field and will be presented through the Center for Electric Power […]
POTSDAM — Clarkson University says it is partnering with leading industry executives to introduce a new one-credit seminar course, called “Introduction to Energy and Utilities,” during the spring 2026 semester.
The class will introduce students to both the technical and business aspects of the field and will be presented through the Center for Electric Power Systems Research (CEPSR). The public is invited to attend the weekly lectures free of charge and can sign up on Clarkson’s Introduction to Energy and Utilities web page through this link: https://shorturl.at/G1EJu.
The weekly seminar will feature executive guest speakers who will cover a wide range of industry topics, including construction, power generation, transmission, distribution and industrial applications, Clarkson said in an Oct. 15 announcement. Sessions will also address the evolving role of utilities in serving new types of power users, such as data centers.
“Hearing directly from industry leaders gives students and industry professionals valuable insight into the complex challenges facing today’s energy sector, from integrating renewable resources to modernizing the grid and maintaining reliability,” Matt Barnett, National Grid’s chief operating officer for New York Electric, said in the Clarkson announcement. “These conversations help to provide a clearer understanding of what lies ahead.”
Students will gain insights into emerging business models and geo-political influences. The course will also cover the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in grid modernization and digital energy security. Additional topics include renewable and clean-energy growth, energy storage, fuel cells, green hydrogen, smart grids, microgrids, and electric vehicles.
“Our industry’s ability to deliver affordable and reliable electricity is facing significant short-term and long-term challenges, particularly with rising adoption of electricity-driven technology and AI,” Hala Ballouz, founder of Electric Power Engineers, said in the announcement. “I’m excited for the opportunity to inspire students and industry professionals to apply their passion and ingenuity to our energy industry, to roll up our sleeves together to develop the game-changing innovations the grid of the future demands.”
Offered through Clarkson’s Wallace H. Coulter School of Engineering and Applied Science, the seminar will be open to graduate students and upper-class undergraduates, including non-engineering majors. The course will be taught and moderated by Fram Akiki, a 1986 Clarkson graduate and president of Joun Technologies. Akiki has more than 35 years of experience in the semiconductor industry, including executive roles with IBM, Qualcomm, and Siemens.
Speakers for the 2026 course include Hala Ballouz, founder of Electric Power Engineers; Phil Barker, professor of practice and coordinator of the Power Engineering MSEE Cohort Program at Clarkson University; Matt Barnett, chief operating officer of National Grid New York; Richard Dewey, CEO of the New York Independent System Operator (NYISO); and many more.
Introduction to Energy and Utilities is the second seminar course of its kind at Clarkson, following on the success of last spring’s Introduction to Semiconductors speaker series, the university noted. In Introduction to Semiconductors, students heard from weekly guest speakers who are leading the global semiconductor industry.
