Bryan Willson is the executive director of CSU’s Energy Institute, holds the Presidential Chair in Energy Innovation and continues to teach mechanical engineering in the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering. He founded CSU’s Engines & Energy Conversation Laboratory and its Powerhouse Energy Campus in 1993, which paved the way for the Energy Institute.

Willson’s experience reaches well beyond CSU, including a program director role with the Department of Energy’s ARPA-E after which he continued as an adviser. He’s also contributed to multiple works as an entrepreneur, co-founding four companies and supporting the launch of numerous others through the Energy Institute and a DOE-funded energy incubator.

He has made important contributions through his research in hydrogen energy systems, internal combustion engines, oil and gas production technology, advanced electrical grids, biofuels and technology for the developing world.

Willson earned his B.S. at Texas A&M, and his M.S. and Ph.D. from University of Texas at Austin, all in mechanical engineering.