Associate Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

A message from Chiara Lo Prete

In my view, valuing diversity means fostering an open mindset that recognizes differences and takes actions aimed at overcoming stereotypes with opportunities for growth. Constructive dialogue and exchange of ideas yield new visions that enable personal growth and contribute to the improvement of organizations. In my role as Associate Head of DEI, I intend to promote the integration and implementation of this culture in the John and Willie Leone Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering (EME). I would like to contribute to creating a positive and inclusive environment where students, faculty, and staff can express their ideas, learn from and relate to others, and feel that their contributions and perspectives are valued and respected. Below are some initiatives our department has taken in recent years to foster a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive EME environment:

• Cultivating a sense of belonging: Every month, women faculty, staff, postdoctoral researchers, and visiting scholars are invited to meet for dinner, leveraging generous support from departmental funds. Starting from AY 2024-25, the dinners will also feature external guests such as directors of College- and University-wide centers and faculty whose research interests align with those of EME faculty. These gatherings aim to provide opportunities to build camaraderie and connect regularly in an informal setting. 
• Promoting gender diversity in research and engineering: Like a leaky pipeline, the representation of women in engineering drops significantly along the educational pathway. For example, in 2022, women earned only about 27% of engineering doctorates (Women In Academia Report, February 14, 2024). Lack of interest and motivation to pursue advanced-level degrees in engineering eliminates a crucial pathway to develop skills and experience that infuse creativity in the field. To support and promote women in science, EME launched a seminar series to celebrate women doing energy and water research. The first objective of the series is to connect undergraduate and graduate students at Penn State with engagement experiences that may lay a foundation for lasting interest in research, and influence future career development and life decisions. This is accomplished through experiential seminars in which students learn about the career paths of successful women scientists and understand the broader impact of their research. The second objective of this program is to provide opportunities for women graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty to build or expand their professional networks and establish mentoring relationships with well-established researchers. Overcoming barriers to making connections is important for all faculty, but especially for pre-tenure ranks. The series has helped jump-start research collaborations and proposal development with other academic and research institutions.
• Advancing professional development: The implementation plan of the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences’ Assessment of the Living, Learning, and Working Environment (ALLWE) notes that “creating a culture focused around doing what should be done and doing it well, managing relationships at and across all levels of the EMS community, and fostering respect and belonging often hinge on a constant process of updating and expanding our knowledge bases and capacities.” To promote professional development in support of DEI activities, EME is planning (in collaboration with the Earth and Environmental Systems Institute) a seminar series focused on the broader impacts of research in Spring 2025. The objective of this series is twofold: (1) spotlight opportunities for faculty to partner with entities at Penn State that can support these efforts, and (2) learn from funding agencies about key criteria used in proposal selection related to broader impacts and best practices in developing these aspects of proposals.  

Going forward, we will continue to look for opportunities to increase representation across our teams, ensure that opportunities are provided for all to succeed and grow, and foster a workplace culture that is welcoming and enhances meaningful engagement with our guests, alumni and stakeholder communities.

Chiara Lo Prete
Associate Professor of Energy Economics
Associate Head of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
John and Willie Leone Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering

Chiara Lo Prete is an Associate Professor of Energy Economics in the John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering at Penn State University. She is a John T. Ryan Jr. Faculty Fellow and a faculty member in the Intercollege Graduate Degree Program in Energy, Environmental, and Food Economics at Penn State. Since July 2021, she has been associate head of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering.

Her research centers on the economics of energy markets, focusing on the areas of competition and design of electricity markets, natural gas market design to enhance grid reliability, geopolitics and energy security, and the impacts of environmental regulations on electric power generation. She and her team develop mathematical models and apply empirical methods to study electricity market structures for resource adequacy and wind energy integration, interdependent natural gas and electric power systems, the weaponization of electricity trade, emission leakage and cross-product manipulation.

Before joining Penn State, Lo Prete was a Ziff Environmental Fellow at Harvard University. She earned a B.A. in economics (summa cum laude) from LUISS University, an M.A. in energy economics from the Scuola Mattei, and a M.S. and Ph.D. in geography and environmental engineering from The Johns Hopkins University.

For additional information on Lo Prete’s research, see her research map.